1854.] OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTION. 435 
that at this period (about the year 59) the great superiority of iron 
over every other kind of metal in the manufacture of cutlery was 
only partially acknowledged. 
A glance was next taken at the different ores of iron. Upwards 
of forty species have been described, the metal occurring in all rocks, 
into the composition of the greater number of which it enters as a 
base to silicic acid. 
The following ores (as the most important) were exhibited and 
described : — 
1°. Specular, oligistic, and micaceous iron, of which there are 
several varieties differing greatly in appearance, but all when pure 
represented by the formula Fe, O,. The principal localities in this 
country are Ulverstone in Lancashire, where it often occurs in large 
botryoidal masses, and is hence called kidney ore; and the Forest of 
Dean, where it is much mixed with carbonate of lime; the specular 
variety is found in Cornwall. This variety of ore always yields good 
and strong iron; it greatly improves all inferior ores, and forms an 
excellent flux in the blast furnace. It is from the specular ore that 
the celebrated “‘ damask iron” of Persia, and the ‘‘ wootz” of India 
are manufactured. 
2°. Hydrated oxide or brown Hematite-—This ore, which usually 
contains about 14 per cent. of water, and is represented by the 
formula 2 Fe, O, + 3 HO, is not found in any quantity in this 
country, though it occurs at Alston Moor and in Durham; it abounds 
however in Normandy, Berry, Burgundy, and Lorraine, and supplies 
the greater number of the French iron-works. 
3°. Aimantine or magnetic Iron ore-—This ore, the richest of all 
in metal, and composed of Fe O + Fe, O,, is not found in any 
abundance in this country. It exists plentifully in Norway and 
Sweden, in Germany, in India, and in the states of New York and 
New Jersey in America. The iron furnished by it is of the finest 
description. 
4°. Carbonates.—Of the pure white carbonate, Spathoze iron, side- 
rose or ion spar, we do not possess any large quantities in this 
country. It has lately however been found in Somersetshire, and is 
remarkable for containing a large per centage of manganese. 
The Ironstone of the Coal formations.—It is to the richness of our 
coal fields in the argillaceous and blackband ironstone, that the sur- 
prising increase in the production of iron during the last hundred 
years is to be attributed. It is calculated that this ore supplies 
7*5ths of the entire iron produced. It is not found in all coal fields; 
those of Northumberland, Durham, Lancashire, Leicestershire, and 
Somersetshire do not furnish any important supplies. The coal 
basin of South Wales, comprising an area of 1045 square miles, yields 
the largest quantity of iron; then follow Staffordshire, Shropshire, 
Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and North Wales. This ore is especially 
valuable, from its occurring in close proximity to the very materials 
required for its smelting, viz. to coal and limestone. It is frequently 
