Washington telegraph., 1851-04-30
From the " O. Commercial Bulletin.
GEOLOCY.-NO. &.

IRON ORES Or ARKANsAs-There are three dis
tinct species Of from which iron is made, viz
the black oxide; the hvdrous brown oxide; and ar
giIIaceous iron Besides these, there are seve-
raj kinds which are seldom or never used for max
ing ron both because they are OF difficult reduction
and brcanse the iron, when obtained, would be Of
little value on account ofthe deleterious substances
which combined with it. These are princl.
pay sulphur, arsenic and maganese. All the
workable kinds exist TO greater or less extent in
Arkansas.
The first is the black oxide, called also the mag
netic oxide Of iron, or ''loadstone." This species
is always found connected either with igneous
rocks, or with such as have been much altered by
heat, and is of much more rare occurrance than
the oIher kinds. Its only known locality is in the
neghborhood Of the Hot Springs, at curious
place called the Magnet Cove; place which bears
unmistakeable signs of having been subjected to
great heat. This heat was doubtless the a gent
by which the ore converted from its original
state, which was undoubtedly of the argiacious
kind, into that of the magnet, by partial reduc-
tion Although this place has attracted considera-
be attention account oil its singular appearance,
and curious combination of minerals il is ,oubtlul
whether it affords the requisite facilities for tn.
manufacture Of iron to advantage. The 'Cove"
is in the form of volcanic crater, about half
mile in diameter; and though no lava has ever
flowed from it, yet the rocks have been totally
changed in their character by heat-sands.one has
become very hard and tough quartz rock; and slaty
clay and argiiiacious shale have been converted
into tacase slate, taic and fuers earth. Besides,
there have been elaborated out OF them by the heat
several new and rare minerals, viz: schOrlomite,
and new mineral (!) called arkansite. 1t is
place that would furnish feast for amateur
mineraogist for weeks. 1t is one Of those places,
which may be appropriately enough termed the
workshops OF nature where she exposes TO the gaze
ol day, the method by which she effects the end
less variety oi metamorphoses which characterize
the mineral kingdom. The second species of iron
ore alluded 10 above, is the hydrous brown oxide.
Its essential ingredients peroxide of iron and
water. 1t is generally found connected with lime.
stone formations. 1t is one Of the most valuable
and productive kinds known. 1t is the kud so
abundantiy worked in Tennessee and the lower
part of Kentucky, and in Pennsy mia. 1t exists
in inexhaustibe quantities in the northern counties
of Arkansas, and in the adjacent parts of Missouri,
and is Of quality equal TO that of any part of the
world. The combination of c' cumstances ia,
BILE TO its manufacture, are not exceed in any
country.
In addition to the ore, there is limestone for a
hux, fircsone for furnace, and plenty Of surplus
wood Tor its reduction and the Ouy reason why
it has not been taken hold of before ihis because
its existence has not been known in the right
quarters But its existence cannot remain un-
known much longer; and we confidently expect
that Arkansas wll ere long become as famous for
the production of iron as Tennessee or Pennsyva-
MIA now is.
The remaining kind Of ore most worked, is called
areillaceous iron ore, sometimes clay ironstone.
1t has no metalic appearance, aud its wes INT is the
vny sensible quality possesses that Indicates il to
be ore. II is nevertheless good ore, and bears a
large share in supplying the work with iron 1t is
generally found in the argillaceous beds belonging
to the coal series. 1t is almost the only kind of
-, Ind in, II II
being almost always connected with strata belong
ing to the coal series, it can generally be worked
with mineral coal, which is never the case with
either of the other kinds. This is all advantage in
respect, the production of greater quantity
of iron in proportion TO the expend,ture--but dis
advantage in another in that the quality Of the
iron is not good. There is no fuel equal to
charcoal for the production of good iron.
do not certainly know to what extent this
species OF exists in Arkansas; Tor her coal field
has been, yet, but little examined, and that little
has been solely for coal. But it exists plentuy
in all other coal fields, and has been found in
numerous places in this, in the beds 20 which it
properly belongs 1t is therefore reasonable to
suppose that it will be found to exist in workable
quantities, when her coal measures receive the
attention which their Importance demands. But
should it turn out that the hydros brown oxide is
The only species of iron which will admit Of
being proflably worked in Arkansas, both the
quantity and the quality of it such as to render
The State Of the most famous countries in the
world Tor the production of iron.
1t is no less curious than useful to know that
every metallic ore, aud olher useful mineral sub
stance, is almost universally connected with some
particular geological or rock formation, and that
it is seldom never found in such quantity or
quality to admit of being worked in any other.
1 his know ledge enables the experienced geoogi>t
almost at once to determine the character of any
place Tor productveness. Ii it is found IN the for
nation to which it properly belongs, with certain
CHARACTERISTIC accompanIInen!s, 1t seldom fails 10
be productive; but il otherwise, il almost always
fails. general knowledge Of this fact would save
many one from the pangs OF disappointed hope,
and from the runous losses attendant upon the
attempt at mining upon unproductive grounds.
b. LAWRENCE, Geo.ogst.