336 On Metallic Minerals. 



The geological position of specular iron ore is generally 

 among the primary formations, but sometimes also with 

 transition. The largest known deposit of this ore is in the 

 Island of Elba, whei'e it forms mountain masses. It has 

 been long known and admired for its splendent lustre and 

 for its beautiful pavonine tarnish. It is considered, when 

 abundant a profitable and valuable ore. *' It furnishes 

 good iron both cast and malleable, but the latter is said 

 to be harder than that obtained from magnetic iron. It 

 generally yields from 65 to 7^ per cent." — Cleaveland. 



RED OXIDE OF IRON. 



This ore has been noticed in two or three places in 

 Canada, but most abundantly in the neighbourhood of 

 Henderson's Lake, on the Gannanoqui, where it forms 

 apparently an extensive bed in a ferruginous sandstone 

 (ohl red sandstone). — (Note 5.) 



At the Furnace Falls aljout three miles below this deposit 

 there was formerly a smelting establishment, where some 

 few articles were manufactured, not however from the 

 ore above alluded to, as that was discovered long after these 

 works wei'e deserted, and none of it appears to have been 

 smelted for any other purpose than experiment, which is 

 said to have been favorable. 



The red oxide of iron (red ochre) found at Marmora 

 associated with sparry ore &c. is like the latter used as a 

 flux for the more obstinate ores. 



On the Magdalen Islands, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, 

 a very fine description of red ochre is obtained well adapted 

 for a pigment. — (See 1st vol. of the Transactions, p. 44.) 



The position of the Furnace Falls is one highly favorable 

 for the establishment of a smelting furnace, and if there be 



