MAGNETIC IRON ORES OF VICTORIA COUNTY. 265 
There is a good deal of hornblend intimately mixed with these 
ores. Microscopic examinations shewed a little more free silica in 
the Paxton than the other ores. 
The minerals occurring with the ores in this district are calcite, 
hornblend, actinolite, augite, felspar, mica, iron pyrites, quartz, and I 
found specimens of olevine, scapolite and serpentine. 
To obtain a true estimate of the value of the above ores, we will 
consider those of Sweden which most closely resemble them, and 
which are at the same time recognized as equal to any in the 
world. 
In a very interesting pamphlet on the actual state of the iron indus- 
try in Sweden, written in 1878, by Richard Akerman, Professor at 
the School of Mines of Stockholm, and one of the best known metal- 
lurgists of the day, a very great number of analyses of Swedish iron 
ores are given, nearly 800. ‘The average ore as shewn by these con- 
tains from 45 to 50 Y% metallic iron, and the majority requires calcin- 
ing to remove thesulphur. Mr. Akerman states that some calcareous 
ores, especially useful for mixing with the silicious ores, are mined 
as low as 20 Y% iron. This pamphlet also tells us that in Sweden, 
with a smaller population than ourselves, 484 mines were worked in 
1876, from which 787,950 tons of ore were raised. From the above 
facts it is evident that our magnetic iron ores are equal in composition 
to the celebrated Swedish ore, and they are similar in occurrence. 
Therefore, notwithstanding the fact that it does not pay to ship 
under 50 ¥ metallic iron to the United States, the majority of 
Swedish ore would be excluded- -by which fact we can rest assured 
that our magnetic iron ores must soon be much more extensively 
worked ; which, with the aid of the diamond borer for exploration 
and steam wills, will, without doubt, be most successfully accom- 
plished. 
The Cleveland and Pittsburg smelters are looking about most anxi- 
ously for new supplies of ores, as those from Lake Superior are 
becoming very expensive. They are even meditating opening up part 
of West Virginia with a Railroad 300 miles long, to getat a low 
grade ore. We have the advantages to offer them of better ore and 
cheap return freight in coal vessels to Cleveland. 
A few words on the question of iron smelting with charcoal I 
thought would not be amiss in connection with this paper. 
