The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-09-28
Iron Ores from the Arctic Circle.

It is we'll known that to the iron industry
Of Great Britain the question Of the supply
Of raw material has become one Of extreme
urgency. That was why the British Iron
and Steel Institute held two years ago its
autumn meeting at Bilbao. 1t was hoped
that other Spanish iron ore fields besides
those in the north of tho Iberian peninsula
might be turned to account, but SPANS
industrial conditions have since become
80 ~disorganized that her hematite iron
trade seems likely to be seriously af-
fected. This year, therefore, the Iron
and, Steel Institute has gone to the
north Of Europe, having held its meet
ing at Stockholm, whence a delegation
proceeded to investigate certain remark
able iron ore deposits within the Arctic
circle. The extent and value Of these new
sources Of supply, which promise to be Of
great utility to the iron and steel workers
Of Great Britain, by assisting them to COM
pete with their American rivals, are set
forth in a series OF articles contributed to
the trade journal, Industries and Iron.
The new ore fields are at Kiirunavaara
and Luosavaara, in the province Of Norr-
botten. They are situated 2 deg. so sec. east
Of Stockholm and in about 81 deg. so sec.
north latitude. The highest SUBMITS of the
mountains are, respectively, 2,456 feet and
1891 feet above sea level, while Lake
Luossajarvi, which lies between them, Is
1,64O feet above the sea. This lake is but
sixty-f1ve miles from Gellivare, whence
there is already a railway to Lulea, at
the head of the Gulf OF Bothnia; this
railway is in process Of extension
straight across tho Scandinavian penin-
sula, and is to have its Atlantic termi.
nus at Port Victoria. Norway. The ore
bearing range are surrounded on nearly
every side by extensive morasses, out Of
which rise here and there Isolated peaks OF
no great height. The K~iirunavaara ridge
is about two and a half miles in length and
consists Of a series Of peaks OF diminishing
altitude. The ridge presents an imposing
aspect from every point OF view, and the
impression Of grandeur is deepened as
we approach it and discover that the
whole Of its black crest is composed
Of iron orc without any admixture Of
other materials. All along the Kiiruna-
vaara ridge and on the highest peak Of
Luosavaara the orc lies entirely uncov.
cred. On the sloping sides OF the noun
tains, Of tho other hand, the ore and the
rocks, which carry it, are covered with
stratifled layers OF gravel and sand. OF
timber there is little or none in the neigh
borhood Of the deposits, but sandstone and
porphyry, which abound, might be en-
ployed for building purposes, and the
schist, which Is also plentiful, might be
used for roofs.
For the data relating to the quantity and
quality Of the ores obtainable from these as
yet virgin fields we are indebted to Herr
LUNDBoHM OF the Swedish Geological
Survey, who has conducted the investiga-
tion ordered by the Swedish Parliament
rather more than a year ago. According to
Herr LUNDBoHMis report, the ore at Kliruna-
vaara forms a bedlike mass, which rises to
a ridge about two miles in length, and Is
broken up into q number OF submits that
reach attitudes varying in height from 269
to S17 feet above Lake Luossajnrvi. The
ore-bed dips at an angle Of from go to 80
degrees from the horizon eastward, and its
thickness, or the perpendicular distance
from the hanging-wall to tho foot-wall,
ranges from III to 498 feet The boringS
In the ore indicate that tho thickness de-
creases as you descend, but this point is not
definitely established. On the assumption,
nevertheless, that such diminution occurs,
the total quantity of ore above the level of
the lake is computed at 21B, Ooo, 900 tons,
besides a considerable. though undeter-
mined quantity below that level. At Luosa-
vaara the quantity of ore above the level of
the lake is estimated at $4,000. 900 tons.
1t follows that the aggregate volume OF ore
above the level Of The lake in these two
fields alone Is 233. Oo0. 600 tons.
1t Ia not only on account Of the vast
masses OF ole which they contain. but also
on account OF its quality that these Swedish
deposits occupy an impressive position
among the iron resources OF the world. In
more than go per cent. of the test pits
from whHh samples were taken at Kiiruna-