1811.) 
Substances at this place, there are some 
distinct features of regularity. |The co- 
balt ore is stratified, and though near, i3 
separate from the other ores: itis chiefly, 
‘if not entirely, in the red sand-stone. It 
lies near the surface, and is evidently of 
later formation than the other part of 
the hill; as the red sand-stone, where it 
is found, always lies upon, or intersects, 
the white. The latter: stone is the repo- 
sitory of the other metals. , 
The quality of the smalt produced from 
it does not equal that made from foreign 
cobalt. Whether this inferiority arise 
from the nature of the ore, or some de- 
fect inthe process of separation, may be 
doubtful. Cobalt is one of the most re- 
fractory metals in the hands of the che- 
mical analyst. It is so intimately com- 
bined with iron, nickel, and arsenic, that 
‘its separation, in a state of perfect purity, 
is a process requiring great care, and at- 
tended with considerable difficulty. Co- 
_ balt, in its metallic form, has not hitherto 
been applied to any useful purpose, 
Amongst German miners cobalt ores 
were long known, before their nature or 
_ use was suspected. Finding frequently 
- ablack substance, which impeded their 
progress in the mines, cut across the 
‘metallic veins, and occasioned them 
much trouble, they called it cobbel, the 
name of a fearful dwmon, the genius of 
these subterranean abodes; against 
whose wicked machinations their priests 
had a Latin form of prayer, in which he 
ts styled Gubalus. In Yorkshire, where 
__ many Saxon words are retained, ignorant 
nurses still appal the terrified imagination 
__ efchildren, with the threatened approach 
‘of Cobby. 
_ The ores of cobalt are separated as 
<i “much as possible from the other minerals 
_ with which they are combined ; the blue 
Oxyd is then fused with powdered flints, 
and forms the substance called zaffre, 
__ used to give the beautiful blue colouring 
— teochina. It is also employed in forming 
blue enamels.’ With a different portion 
__ ©f siliceous earth and potash, it forms a 
blue glass, which is afterwards finely pul- 
_verized and washed ; thisis smalt; which 
_- is used to give the blue tint to writing 
#e paper, From the coarse smalts are made 
| aetbe "Cage and stone-blue of commerce, 
used by Jaundresses. For nearly the 
whole of these articles we are indebted 
_ to the Continent. I think it is highly 
parvbstile, that, were the western side of 
_ ur islaud scientifically explored, many 
positories of this valuable mineral 
Account of a Cobalt Mine in Cheshire, 
9 
would be found, The gentleman on 
whose adjoining estate the ore of cobalt 
was first found, has hitherto declined all 
offers for the purchase of it: it is be- 
lieved to be of a superior quality to that 
at Alderley. The works of the company 
at Pontefract, owing to particular circam- 
stances, and the difficulties attending 
other extensive speculations, were sus- 
pended at the close of the last year, 1810. 
The general appearance of the mineral 
substances at Alderley, their position 
and intermixtere with rounded pieces of 
quartz, prove, I think, they have been 
washed down from higher metalliferous 
hills, once existing near the place; and 
that they have been carried and depo- 
sited in their present situation by cur- 
rents and eddies, when the whole plaing 
of the counties of Cheshire and Lanca- 
shire were covered with the sea; which 
has once been the case, there can be little 
doubt. The existence of pebbles in me» 
tallic veins is mentioned by Werner as 
occurring in Hesse, and other parts of 
Evrope; and he adduces these facts in 
proof of his theory. The same appeare 
ances at Alderley, I think, prove only 
that the hill is composed from the debris 
and ruins of other mines and rocks, and 
that any’ general geological conclusions 
drawn from this place, would not be ap- 
plicable to regular mining districts. 
In a future Number I may probably , 
offer some further observations on this 
part of the kingdom, In the mean time, 
T trust you will allow me to correct a no- 
tice respecting myself, which has been 
inserted in your Magazine of the last 
month, in which it is stated that I had 
discovered a new mode of analysing soils 
and minerals. The error probably arose 
from a mistaken idea of an undertaking 
in which I am engaged for the mineralo« 
gical survey and examination of estates, 
to ascertain the quality of the minerals 
by chemical analysis, and to accompany 
the survey with a manuscript description, 
In the proposals for the execution of this 
plan, Ihave laid claim to no discoverics, 
but such as are the legitimate deductions 
from mineralogical observation and 
chemical experiment, -From these, if 
properly applied, landed proprietors 
might derive more advantage than from 
almost any other mode of national ine 
provement; for hitherto, the application 
of mineralogical science to increase the 
value of land, has been greatly neglected 
in this country. Roper? BakEWELS. 
Bury-street, St, James's. 
B Te 
