Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-01-08
Tho Iron Interests of virginia.

| have been fortunate 10 sccui'us '''t
ANALYSIS OF the iron ores of Lodestons Ndseaoo
the brown hemsli of the Blue Ridge. Tue re-
port of Prof. w. X. Deau, Of Vlocennoes' lndI'
ana, will be published 10 the American Mao
ufacturer," Of PntsburE. His statements are
80 clear and full that there can be no doubt re-
naming on the minds Of disinterested persons
resneetipp The value and purity of cur Blue
Ridge iron ores, especially those located between
Ashby's and Chester Gaps. lie fully estab;,
fishes the fact, BY critical aud exact analysis or
those ores, that Vireinia possesses deposits OF
iron ore, 10 the Blue Ridge, between those Gaps,
Astounding 10 unlimited wealth, only waiting its
proper development, 10 become one OF tho
most renowned iron ore regions OF The ao0rld
To authorization of the publication OF Prof.
Deans report 10 the Gazette, will give you
report of my observations, prepared after my
return from the Centennial Exposition. Alter
81 ending three weeks at The Centennial apd
thorough examination OF the iron ores on cX'
hibiton from all the countries OF the world, even
including Liberia aud Angola, Africa, and
AFTER a careful examination Of the class Of mag.
netic ores of the Llurentisn system, as exhibit.
ed from Canada, Sweden, Norway and Russia.
nv views respecting the magnei, iron ores OF
Fauuuier county, Va. have been more than
confirmed also the collections from the Lake
Superior region, as well as those from Missouri
and Arkansas, corresponding with The iroa ore
formations of Virgini1. The magnetic and
specular ores of those Countries belong 10 the
Llurentian system and correspond In their
litholopical characteristics with the rocks and
ores of Lodestone Ridge. The magnetic iron
ores of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and the
Port Henry district of New York, wire fully
represented by large and splendid collections Of
spc cimens, very pure, and rich in metallic iron,
The CRYSTALS generally being very large. after
forming conglomerate of ore, but they we're
not very compact, and they easily crumblc into
small fragments. This is more particularly the
case with the Port Henry ores Tbs ores of
the Azoic region of New jersey are more com.
pact, fine crystallized grains. They are more like
the Blue Ridge ores of Virginia and North
| Carolina. The iron formations of Canada the
foe grained, compsct, black oxide Of iron, with.
their accompanying re cks, granite. gnelss, sye-
mite, hornblende, greensboro, DO. are very sim
liar to the magnetic and specular ores OF Eau
ouier, and their accompanying rocks specially
similar to those Of Lodestope Ridge, and they
are c!assed by the Canadian biologists as be-
longing to the Laurentiao system. They are a
yery pure and valuable class Of iron ores A
large amount of the ores of Canada are, 10 the
| present depressed condition of the iron trade,
being shipped to Cleveland, to be used as a
mixture with the ores of Lake Superior. The
rock formations of Norway are so very similar
| to thos, of our Blue Ridge that they might be
mistaken for the typical rocks of that mountaio
range, or be mistaken for our granite, gneiss,
syenite, greensboro, &c. The iron ores also
| resemble in q most remarkable manner the
ores of L,destoue Ridge. The same resem.
| blance is true respecting the rock formations
and the magnetic and specular iron ores Of
Sweden, Norway and Russia. Those iron ores
are found ia the Llurentian system, and We
| have the strongest reason to classify our Eau.
ouier iron ores as belonging to the same system.
| As the cres of Canada, Sweden, Norway and
| Russia are celebrated the world over as being
the purest and richest primitive ores Of the
earth, we may reasonably expect whenever the
ores of our Blue Ridge are properly opaned
up and developed, that they will then prove to
be the equal 10 all respects OF the ores Of those
countries-pr1nalttve pure iron ores-suitable
for the manufacture OF the best and highest
grades of iron AID steel. The examination of
the iron ores, as exhibited. by lodia. out of
which tho famous Wootz and the Madras stees
correspond with our Blue Ridge ores. and thus
the purity and value of our Lodestone iron
ores are confirmed. Their primitive age es.
tablished, and their massive character deter
| mined, they belong to the Laurentlan system,
their deposits being not 10 veins, but in masses,
IN great Ieds of ORE" To sustain my state.
ment will give an extract from the Canadian
Geological Survey report of progress from its
commencement to 1863, page 81: -
| "Some veins containing the magnetic, and
others the specular oxide of iron, have been
met with 10 the Laurentian, but they are Of
little importance The great iron ore deposits
of the system are in BEDS The intrusive masses
of the Laurentian series consists chiefly of syo.
ute and greensboro
| Such is also the experience of the biologists
of Sweden, Norway and Russia and we may,
with good reason, expect 10 find our ouicrops
on L1destone Ridge belonging to masses Of ore,
| to beds, for We have The formations Of syenite
and greensboro. Our close grained, compact,
magnetic iron ore belongs to the Laurentan
system, as We find every Indication. by tests
made with the Surveyors and the miners com.
pass, and the large amount OF surface ore 10 large
| masses, proves The existence of immense lie.
posts of ore. mass of ore, a mountain Of iron.
| AS an additional evidence Of the DEPOSITS of
give an extract from "Notes on the Iron Ores
| of Canada and their Development by 3. j.
Harrington. Chemist and Mineraogist 10 The
Canadian Geological Survey" page 5th:
In the undoubted beds, the magnetic. 81
far as have observed, is generally granular or
| 10 cleavabe masses. but does not occur 10 large
crystals of de6oite form. The mere occurrence
| of crystals. however, would, in itself, be DO
| proof of the deposit being VEIN. a.
At Lodestone Ridge The crystals of the mag:
netio ore are very small and minute, many
requiring the aid of magnifyiug glass to bring
| them into view. l have before me specimen
of ore from the celebrated mines of Dame mora,
Sweden. also specimen from Lodestoue
Ridge. The specimens arc very similar in their
appearance, cfystiliz alton, color hardness and
! compactness. The analysis of the Swedish ores
and of our L3destone ores. as reported by Prof.
Dean, shows the same constitution existing 10
the ores, and nearly the same per cent. of me.
tallic iron. The average of metallic iron 10 the
Lodestone ores will agree very nearly with
those of Sweden. The ore comes out in cleave
able masses and is generally granular. At ut.
J.