Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-02-06
Altfarr0rla QBaz&ttte
WEDNESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY G
Eastern Virginia EEIneraIs.

. Eastern Virginia EESneraEs.
, Mr.. Hugh Thomas Douglas, Of Catletts Va,
2 sends US the following report from Prof ".
K. Dean of Vincennes, Ind, conceroiDg the
t quality of some samples of iron ore from Eau
1 quier and Warren counties Virginia. -
, hsve been deeply Interested in the specl,
mems sent me for examination, particularly the
magnetic ores, numbers from l TO 5 inclusive,
and the brown hematites, number 81; Of til
Lodestone Ridge" This specimen dissolved
carb. of soda, gave peroxide of iron 60.0O;
oxide of manganese TO- Oh; metallic iron 42 per
cent.
No. g. magnetic ore.-This specimen dis
} solved and precipitated by succinnate of soda,
gave oxide of iron $780, oxide of manganese
$50; metallic iron 1855. No. l. magnetic orc,
treated as No. 3, gave oxide of iron GS; cxide
of manganese 40; metallic iron 47.60.
No. 5.-This specimen, treated with acid as
above, gave oxide of iron SO; oxide of manganese
10; metallic iron 4l.30. These ores are of such
a character as would attract attention
from any one unskilled in mstallurgy, present.
ing as they do by outward characteristics
all the evidence OF superior class OF
ores rich in iron. They form part Of that
great magnetic range. extending from the Hud-
son river in Northern New York to Georgia,
a distance of some twelve hundred miles. and
| covering larger area than is embraced 10 the
magnetic deposits of Continental Europe. They
do not give as large q per cent. OF metallic
iron as the black magnetic ore Of Lake Super.
or, or the magnetic deposits Of Shepherd Noun.
tain, Missouri, but the quality OF the iron -
1 l>1o md fnIp
average of the same cass Of ores all the world
| over
| Much prejudice has existed in this country.
| and much still exists against the use Of this
| class of ores, for the reason that when used
alone the corrosive action upon the furnace is
| so great as to make its use Improbable to the
| manufacturer, Notwithstanding the very su'
perior quality Of the iron produced. Although
| these ores are found in great abundance IN
| seven of the Atlantic States it may be said
that they are known in a manufacturing point
of view in two OF them only, New jersey and
Pennsylvania, 10 the former state at Franklin,
aud in the latter on the banks of the Lehlgh.
| AS class these are the richest Of all the ores
of iron, yielding not Only the largest per cent,
| but giving metal of the very finest quality.
| In this country the experience OF iron masters
| has been that to use it With profit to them
selves it must be mixed with moro than one
| half inferior hematlte ore, which admlxturc
detorioratcs the quality Of the metal, and is the
only reason why iron made in this country from
| our rich manganiferous magnetic ores fails to
| compete in the markets of the world with the
| best Swedish and Russian iron. The remedy
| for all this. however, is very clear, and if tho
prejudice of ironmasters could DC overcome or
| led in tho right direction, the United States,
with her exhaustlcss beds of rich megnctitcs,
| could drive both Russia and Sweden from lt5
markets with an iron superior to either.
Passing now to number 20 Of the list, and
classified as magnetic Jaspery Hematlte: -
was interested in this specimen, as it iI rare
| product of our moro western iron ore deposits,
| and would prefer to speak of it as granular
brown oxide," as when placed under power.
| ful magDlGcr it is seen to be composeasof we'll
| formed crystalline grains, large enough to give
| to the surface of fracture very tough, hard
| feel, and arc imbedded in a rather soft gapguc
of argiIlaceous and calcareous paste. The fresh
surface when breathcd upon gives forth strooG
| odor OF clay. The specific gravity is low for aD
ore SO rich iu iron, being oaly 2.3. Ot this
specimen 4So grains was csIclncd with l2O OF
| charcoal, by which the contained iron was reg
dcrod soluble 10 bydroohoric acid. This on
precipitation gave oxide of iron S.; oxide Of
manganese TO-; silica TO-. aumina t.; line ] s;
water l3.; metallic iron 1890.
| This ore, If ii is f0und 10 quantity in the dis
trict, would furnish an invaluable product as a
mixture with the siliclous brown hematitcs sent
10 your collection, being easily reduced, and
! furnishes wrought iron CT most excellent
quality, as we'll as good steel.
| Coming now to the brown hematitcs Of the
collection, No. 81 presents itself as character
istic specimen, and from the large per cent. Of
silica it contains approaches in character the
| German ores Of the same class. This specimen
gave by its precipitation from its acid solution
peroxide Of iron. g.; oxide of manganese, 9,05;
msgnesia, 25.; alumina, T.; lime $40; silica.
49,; metallic iron, 43.40. This is an excellent
the brown hena!ites ofSWedcn. 1t mcltsread
lily in the furnace, and Can be treated profaby
without fux, other than that contained 10 the
most favorable condition in the ore itself. 1t
will not afford cast iron equal to +hat from the
red hematites. but the bar iron will be both
very malleable and hard, owing 10 the large
per cent. of manganese contained 10 it, and will
consequently furnish an iron possessing all tho
desirable qualities Tor conversion into steel.
will endeaVor at an early day to give you
more full report, as | desire to examine them
more fully, as also tho other minerals other
than iron accompanying them. You are at liberty
to use this report as you deem proper.
w. X. DEAN.
In letter written to Mr.. Douglas since the
above report was made, Prof. Dean says:
"As to being able to produce high grade OF
iron and steel from your magnetic ores alone
you need have no misgivipgs, and with pro-
per mixture of the different varieties. which
you have 10 Unlimited quantities, you can con
slider your venture an assured fact. What is
wanted is beginning, and the nucleus once
formed capital will follow lu your case as it did
iu North Alabama East Tennessee and North
her in the list as one of the first iron producing
| states in the Union, is a well directed energy
in the utilization of her natural resources"
Prof. Deans report will give the results Of
several analyses made by hin of the ores Of our
Blue Ridge, extending from Asbby's Gap to
Chester's Gar .arnciraallz from the surfaca in