Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-15

book. "of an abundance and variety OF
mineral materials. many Of which have
been worked since early Colonial days.
especially the coal iron ores and brick
clayS. About forty mineral materials
are now exploited, many OF them on
Z large scale, which afford basis OF i'm
portant commercial enterprises, and
, give to the State prominence in a varied
. and extensive mining industry. which
4, amounts annually to more than
10000. 90"
THE. PIONEER ~ PROFITABLE:
IRON ORE MINING
Continulnc tho hand book brings out
the fact that the mining OF iron ore
in Virginia in ls0? by the jamestown
coloniSts was the first iron ore mined in
the United States. Al present the total
number Of blast furnaces i'm the state
is twcnty-SiN. The commercial deposits
OF iron ore in Virginia are confined Ia
the Piedmont and APPALACHIAN region.
The annua! production OF iron ores in
: Virginia amounts to about $4,000 long
, tons, valued ut approximately sl.50o.o00.
Tho production of pig iron in Virginia
is valued a about s?.o0000n.
. Virginia has long held the position Of
first producer OF pvrite iron sulphidc
used in the manufacture OF sulphuric
acdp. among pNrite- producing States
in the United states. Commercial py-
rite occurs in Louisa. Stafford, Spotsyl-
vania and Prince William Counties. tand
mines are opened in each county. The
ryrite mines OF Louisa and Prince Will
liam Counties are the largest ones in
, the United States ryrrhotite. mag
nc.ic pyritc used for the same purpose
sas pyrite. occurs in crea, abundance in
. Floyd. Carroll aud C;rayson Counties
: The annual production OF pyritc and
pyrrhntite in Virginia exceeds 100000
in value
Gold in FauGuicr. Stafford. Culpcper.
Orange, Spotsylvania. Louisa. Fluvanna.
GooChland and buckingham Counties
Gold mining in the state dates from
the year 1891. and from 1881 to 1850
the production vas reasonably steady.
the annual value being between $4,000
and 100000 Al present the production
is Very small. hU: considera BILE activity
Is now being manifested in the mines OF
this belt, which should Weld steady and
proftahle returns il properly managed.
copper ores are found in parts OF Hall
fax. Charlotte. Warren. Fauouier. Ran
rahannock. Madison. Page. Green
2 Floyd, Carroll and Grayson Coun,ie.
Lead mining in Virginia dates back
more than -" years. and the old lead
mres OF Austinville. Wythe County.
were the first to be worked Mining
Of zinc ores IN tho State dates from the
opening Of the mine at Bertha. Wythe
County. In 1919 The Bertha spelter
is Of exceptional purity, and has a
Worldwide reputation.
VIRGINIA coal >ND
SIcYI,r o,, ,.,,,
As 20 coal production. the hand book
tells US that the Virginia areas which
have produced or are producing coal
are rs, follows:
80, .'"' urPos''S OF 'he ttlrhin"nd
men covers par' OF the
-. ,'S ~ C"nh''cs t"nrico. Chcs
,na,;a ''o'''''"''" an"
80
me reatr'ck county area includes
- 49,. ,,- 800" r"'1S H'S'r'''' IN the
~! p" ~! 20" Oh INC county, ana
IT. u ''''" l'He'
49,, SuS'' ,"un'F area includes
..t '>oI'" '''Neti Hlstrist' In the north
vs. co. ,ef '|' augusta county. and
me Contiguous para OF Rockingham
'''''''"'' COUNTY area IN
.he southwest corner or Eote-
oh'ro'nerN- Fulhski Counties
H'e" 'hr'u"t> lrire ana Brush Noun
,.lhs, III Montgomery County. and
10Y" ana Little Walker Mountains. in
shi CUNT.
h."n",N vine counties area
par, Of Island C,or,ty ava -, n,,,
eru part Of W'vihc county
= The Southwest Virginia are, forms
the southeastern portion OF tho K.n.
whs basin ana COMPRISES the poo,
hon;as o. Ela,-Top ana the Rig stone
Gap coal fields 81 the fo,lo,,inr co,,,,
ties: Ta&ewel russcll scott, Dicken.
son. buchanan Wis., ,,d nt 49,.
Wise ard Tqzev.u ,.nr,,i.
most important producers a, rrcsort
1t is due 70 the Snu-bwcs, vi.ni,,i,
feld that Virginia is entitled IN ,.un
rank amone tin. nriu,ir,I go, ,r,,,,
ing states Wise and .rayewe,i ,.n,,,
ties arc The two most jmror,an, mr.,