74 JOHN BIRKINBINE 



to 67 per cent of iron from 2.5 to 5 per cent of silica, and is low 

 in phosphorus. 



In New Mexico there is a deposit where red hematite and 

 magnetite ores are obtained. The Fierro, or Union Hill, and 

 Jim Fair mmes are located in the territory of New Mexico, 

 near Hanover. Mr. D. M. Barringer, M. E., states that the 

 ore generally, but not always, occurs with eruptive granite 

 and limestone, probably carboniferous, the vein being vertical 

 or dipping at a steep angle. The ore of the Union Hill mine 

 is a mixture of approximately 75 per cent magnetite and 25 

 per cent hematite, and is quite hard. 



The ore of the Jim Fair mine is of practically the reverse 

 composition to that of the Union Hill, the greater portion be- 

 ing of the hem.atite variety, and is also quite hard. Both here 

 and at the Union Hill mine the ore stands in dikes, and is 

 quarried out in open cuts. Mr. Barrmger states that at one 

 place there is a large deposit of brown hematite ore, and at 

 one point there is also a considerable amount of specular ore. 

 The ore carries satisfactory^ percentages of iron, and is of 

 Bessemer quality. The permanency of this deposit does not 

 seem assured from the resuhs of mining operations to date. 



In the San Luis valley of Colorado, which may be said 

 to be in the heart of the Rocky mountains, brown hematite 

 ores are mined, and one mine has been phenomenal not only 

 for the quantity taken from it, but also for the low percentage 

 of phosphorus in the ore. In fact, the product has been per- 

 sistently a Bessemer ore, and it is probable that no other 

 deposit of brown hematite has produced as much low phos- 

 phorus ore as the Orient mine. This mine is located in the 

 eastern part of Saguache county, about eight miles from 

 Villa Grove, and was opened in 1882. The ore body is from 

 30 to 150 feet in width and is worked by means of tun- 

 nels, from which stopes are run. Over 1,000,000 tons of ore 

 have been obtained from this deposit, but unfortunately it 

 shows signs of exhaustion. It may be, however, that deposits 

 of similar character will be found in the same district. 



Between the Pacific coast and the Rocky mountains there 

 are a number of deposits of iron ore, but few have been ex- 

 ploited, because there has been little or no market for the min- 



