MINES 277 



The transition limestone which constitutes the body of Esthonia contains lead ore at 

 Arossaar near Fellin. These ores were worked when these provinces belonged to the 

 Swedes. It was attempted in 1806 to resume the exploitation, but without success. 



MINES OP THK UEAL MOUNTAINS. 



This chain of mountains, which begins on the coasts of the icy sea, and terminates 

 in the 50th degree of latitude amidst the steppes of the Kirghiz, after having formed, 

 through an extent of more than 40 leagues, the natural limit between Europe and 

 Asia, contains very rich and very remarkable deposits of metallic ores, which have 

 given rise to important mines of iron, copper, and gold. These explorations are 

 situated on the two slopes, but chiefly on the one that looks to Asia, from the environs 

 of Ekaterinbourg to about 120 or 130 leagues north of that city. They constitute the 

 department of the mines of Ekaterinbourg, one of the three belonging to Siberia. 



The copper mines are pretty numerous, and lie almost wholly on the oriental slope 

 of the chain. They are opened upon veins of a very peculiar nature, and which, 

 although very powerful at the surface, do not extend to any considerable depth. These 

 veins are in general filled with argillaceous matters, penetrated with red oxide of copper, 

 and mingled with green and blue carbonates of copper, sulphuret of copper, and native 

 copper. The most important workings are those of Tourinsk and Nijni-Taguil. 



The first are situated ] 20 leagues north of Ekaterinbourg, towards the (iOth degree 

 of N. latitude, at the eastern base of the Uralian mountains, near the banks of the 

 Touria. They amount to three, opened in the same vein, which turns round an angle 

 presented by the chain in this place. The rock consists of a porphyry with a horn- 

 stone basis, of clay-slate, and of a white or greyish limestone, which form the roof and 

 floor of the vein. The ore yields from 18 to 20 per cent., and these mines produced 

 annually in 1786, 10,000 metric quintals (2,200,000 Ibs. avoird.) of copper. 



The mine of Nijni-Taguil is remarkable for the fine masses of malachite which it 

 has produced. 



At Bogoslowsk copper ores have also been largely worked from a contact-deposit 

 between greenstone and limestone. 



The beds of iron ore occur generally at a certain distance from the axis of the 

 central chain. Those of the western slope lie sometimes in a grey compact limestone, 

 which contains encrinites and other fossils, and appears to be much more modern 

 than the rocks of the central chain. Both the one and the other seem to form large 

 veins, which extend little in depth, or rather fill irregtilar and shallow cavities. The 

 most common ore is the hydrous oxide of iron, haematite, or compact iron ore, some- 

 times mixed or accompanied with oxide of manganese, and occasionally with ores of 

 zinc, copper, and lead. Black oxide of iron, possessing magnetic polarity, likewise 

 frequently occurs, particularly in the mines of the eastern slope, on which, in fact, 

 entire mountains of loadstone repose. All these ores, mixed with a greater or less 

 quantity of clay differently coloured, are worked by open quarries, and most usually 

 without using gunpowder. They yield rarely less than 50 or 60 per cent., and keep 

 in action numerous smelting-houses situated on two flanks of the chain ; the oldest of 

 them have been established since 1628, but the greater number date only from the 

 middle of the 18th century. The most celebrated mines are those of Blagodat and 

 Keskanar, situated on the eastern slope from 30 to 50 leagues north of Ekaterinbourg. 

 In the foundries of the eastern slope, anchors, guns, shot and shell, &c. are manu- 

 factured ; and in the whole a considerable quantity of bar iron. The products of the 

 works on the western side are directly embarked on the different feeders of 'the Volga, 

 from which they are at no great distance. Those of the eastern slope are transported 

 during winter on sledges to the same feeder streams, after crossing the least elevated 

 passes of the Urals. 



The quantity of materials manufactured by the iron works of both slopes, amounted 

 annually, as far back as the year 1790, to more than 11,000.000 Ibs. avoird. This 

 country is peculiarly favoured by nature for this species of industry; for vast de- 

 posits of excellent iron ores occur surrounded by immense forests of firs, pines, 

 and birches ; woods, whose charcoal is excellently adapted to the manufacture of iron. 



The copper mines of the Uralian mountains, and the greater part of the iron mines 

 and foundries, form a portion of the properties of some individuals, who may be in- 

 stanced as among the richest in Europe. The Eussian Government lias neglected no 

 opportunity of promoting these enterprises. It has established at Tourinsk a consi- 

 derable colony, and at Irbitz a fair, which has become celebrated. 



There is only one gold mine in the Ural mountains, that of Berezof, situated three 

 leagues N.E. of Ekaterinbourg, at the foot of the Urals, on the Asiatic side. It ia 

 famous for the chromate of lead, or red lead ore, discovered there in 1776, and -worked 

 in the following years, as also for some rare varieties of minerals. The ore of Berezof 



