278 On Smelting of Lead. 



flags and whetstones from Hutlon-Roof, about six miles 

 norlli-east from Lancaster. 



There is a thin seam of coals, which apparently originat- 

 ing in a valuable but limited colliery near Inglcton in York- 

 shire, extends by Hornby to within a few miles of Lancas- 

 ter, when it hassets, (in the language of miners,) ur runs 

 out upon the common above the town. It is not IbunJ ia 

 a stratum of argillaceous stone, but (contrary to what oc- 

 curs in this country, and in general in this kingdom) in a 

 most compact quartzose or flinty one; the particles of 

 which are so compact and hard, as not only to strike fire 

 with steel, but to be almost inaccessible to the tool. 



L. On Smelting of Lead. By Mr. John Sadler*. 



Dear Sir, JVIost of the lead of commerce is obtained 

 from that species of ore which is bv mineralogists called 

 galena, potter's 07e, or sulphuret of lead. Indeed, it is 

 the only species of lead ore which is found in sufficient 

 quantities to be worth working. 



There are many other species of lead ore met vi'ith occa- 

 sionally; but these, occurring but seldom, are regarded as 

 curiosities, and are generallv carefully selected for the cabi- 

 net of the mineralogist, or as ornaments for the mantle- 

 piece of the miner. 



The ore, as it is first raised from the mine, is mixed with 

 a considerable proportion of the matrix or gangue of the 

 vein, from which it must be in great measure freed before 

 it is fit for the operation of smelting. 



For this purpose, the ore is delivered to the dressers, who 

 either break it into small pieces wiih hand-hannncrs of a 

 peculiar construction, which are called Imckers, or it is 

 passed between rollers worked by machinery, or under 

 stampers. It then undergoes the operation of washing, to 

 separate it from the lighter foreign matter, after which it is 

 ready for the smelter. 



Construction of the Ore Hearth. 



The smelting of lead is performed difl'erently in ditferent 

 districts. In most parts of the North, particularly in Cum- 

 berland, Durham, and Nortluunberland, smeitina; is per- 

 formed in the ore hearth by means of l)ell()ws. In some 

 parts of York;,hire, in Derbyshire, and in North Wales, lead 



^ From Cleunell's New Agricultural and Commercial Magazine. 



