38 MR. E. W. BINNEY ON THE ORIGIN OF IRONSTONES. 



able ores occur. Above the four feet mine at Patricroft, and 

 extending under Chat Moss, is a bed of the carbonate of 

 protoxide of iron, about 2 feet 6 inches in thickness. This 

 was found in sinking the shafts of Messrs. Lancaster and Co., 

 at Patricroft, not far from the Liverpool and Manchester 

 Railway. On analysis, the ore yielded about 72 per cent, of 

 carbonate of iron, and the gentleman, a medical man, who 

 analyzed it, told me that it was pure enough to be used for 

 medicinal purposes. 



Above the three-quarters mine at Bradford, and over the 

 main limestone at Ardwick, are beds of blackband of 12 and 

 6 inches respectively in thickness, the representatives, beyond 

 all doubt, of the red stone of the Pottery coal field, as their 

 geological position, and the fossils they contain, are exactly 

 the same. 



Some of the above beds of ironstone only want thoroughly 

 investigating to make them worthy of attention. Coal is, no 

 doubt, much in demand for manufacturing purposes through- 

 out the district, but for the last five years the average price 

 has not been greater, if so much, as that paid by the iron- 

 masters in South Staffordshire. Limestone is not very 

 favorably placed, for both the Derbyshire, North Lancashire, 

 and Clitheroe deposits are at considerable distances. The 

 two last, however, are now accessible by rail, 



The thick bed of carbonate at Patricroft before mentioned 

 is free from the remains of fossil shells and fish, which will 

 cause it to be in a great measure destitute of the compounds 

 of phosphorus and sulphur, so detrimental to many of the 

 argillaceous and blackband ores found in the carboniferous 

 strata, and which are known to make so much cold short 

 iron. 



On the Origin of Ironstones. 

 All iron ores appear to have had their origin from volcanoes, 

 however much they have since been mingled with the super- 



