MINERAL PRODUCTS. 183 



IRONSTONE abounds on this coast, and has been formerly shipped in 

 large quantities to Newcastle. Inland, ironworks, established by the 

 monks, were formerly carried on near Rievaulx abbey, and further up 

 in Bilsdale, and in the valley of Hackness. The principal repositories 

 of this mineral are above the gray limestone, and below the upper lias 

 or alum shale. It is at present of no value except as ballast. No other 

 metallic ores are in sufficient plenty to deserve mention. The CALCA- 

 UEOUS NODULES which abound in the lias, have been used with success 

 in fabricating " Roman cement." 



BUILDING STONE has been obtained from every calcareous and 

 arenaceous rock in this district. The use of the chalk and marlstone is 

 very limited, but the other strata have been extensively employed in old 

 churches and mansions, and even transported to considerable distances. 

 The most valuable appear to be the calcareous grit employed in 

 the edifices of Castle Howard and JDuncombe Park ; the Kelloways 

 sandstone, of which the hall and old church at Hackness are con- 

 structed, and the freestone of the lower sandstone series, which has been 

 shipped in great quantity from Whitby, being much esteemed for piers, 

 and bridges, and other works requiring large blocks of stone. Guis- 

 borough priory and other ancient buildings in the northern part of the 

 district, prove the durability of this stone : and Whitby abbey, though 

 desolate and neglected, and exposed on a bare sea cliff, has not lost its 

 beautiful tracery. The calcareous grit and the Kelloways rock at Hack- 

 ness, seem equally durable, and are, in general, of a finer grain and 

 more uniform colour. 



FLAGSTONE, of excellent quality, is dug on the estate of Hackness, 

 and being conveniently situated near the sea, may probably be sent on 

 favourable terms to the London market. 



LIME is obtained from the chalk, coralline oolite, and gray limestone, 

 or Bath oolite ; and some unsuccessful trials have been made upon the 

 calcareous dogger. The hard chalk of Flamborough is transported for 

 this purpose to Whitby and other places on the coast, and a considerable 



