31 



II. — On the Origin of Ironstones, and more particularly 

 the newly discovered Red Stone at Ipstones, near 

 Cheadie, Staffordshire ; with some Account of the 

 Ironstones of South Lancashire, 



By E. W. BiNNEY, F.G.S. 



\_Read November Ibth 1863.] 



The almost universal distribution of iron throughout the 

 world is well known. This valuable metal, in addition to its 

 wide range over the surface of the earth, occurs more or less 

 in rocks of all ages, from the most ancient plutonic rocks up 

 to the most recent peat bog deposits. Indeed, it is now 

 sometimes seen in the very process of filling up the fissures 

 in the sides of active volcanoes by sublimation from below. 

 It is also found associated with a great variety of mineral 

 substances and in most organic bodies. 



The ores at present used in the manufacture of iron are, 

 for the most part, the protoxide and sesquioxide. The former 

 comprising the argillaceous and blackband ores, and the latter 

 the haematites. 



In ancient times, before coal came into general use for 

 smelting purposes, iron was made in many districts of Great 

 Britain and Ireland, by employing wood as fuel, in places 

 where scarcely a trace of the manufacture is now left. Thus, 

 in the weald of Sussex, many oolite and lias districts, as well 

 as in limestone shale and devonian countries, furnaces were 

 supplied with ores yielded by these respective formations. 

 The occurrence of argillaceous iron ore, coal, and limestone 



