Kinahan— On Irish Metal Mining. 251 



NICKEL. 



[This mineral as yet has not been found in sufficient quantities to he profitable. It has, 

 however, been detected in the pyrrhotites of the Maam and Gleninagh Valleys, 

 Co. Galway. Hardnian has found it in serpentine or allied rocks ; such as ophiolyte, 

 Lissoughter; talcyte(?) Mullaghglass, Co. Galway; ophyte, Croagh Patrick; steatyte, 

 Bofin, Co. Mayo ; and ophyte, or eklogyte, Slishwood, Co. Sligo. 



In America there is a magnesian rock which is worked profitably for the nickel it 

 contains; therefore attention may be directed to a rock found S.W. of Leenaun, to 

 the north of Glenisky Peak, Co. Galway, and to a similar one in Achill Island, 

 Co. Mayo ; as in appearance they are very like the American rock. As yet neither of 

 these have been tested for nickel. 



Magnetic pyrites (pyrrhotite) crystals that occur at Earnesbeg, Co. Donegal, were 

 found by Scott to have traces of nickel and cobalt.] 



titanium:. 



[Titanium is rare in Ireland, or has not been recorded. Specimens of rutilite, or rutile, 

 the native oxide, have been found at Cushanacurragh, near Eurrishoole, to the north- 

 east of Clew Bay, Co. Mayo. In the Co. Donegal, Sir C. Giesecke records it as found 

 in quartz peebles, River Dale, and in mica slate, Arranmore, while Mr. J. V. Stewart, 

 records it at Malinbeg and Ards. Becently bunches of small crystals have been 

 found in Bosscuile, in the same county.] 



MOLYBDENITE. 



[This mineral appears to occur in rather considerable quantities disseminated in a wide 

 endogenous granitic vein in the townland of Murvey, near Eoundstone, Co. Galway 

 (sheet 63). Elsewhere it does not appear to be recorded in quantity. Haughton 

 found it in oligoclase veins at Garvany, near Castle Caldwell, Co. Fermanagh ; 

 while E. H. Scott found it in an elvan at Lough Laragh, near Glenties, and 

 J. V. Stewart at Lough Anure, both in the Co. Donegal.] 



ALUM AND COPPERAS. 



[Alum shales frequently occur in the Lower Coal Measures, especially in the Province of 

 Munster, while pyritous shales, suitable for the manufacture of copperas, are also 

 found, especially in the Upper Coal Measures. To the pyritous shales special attention 

 was directed by Kane, in 1844, but since then no one seems to have endeavoured 

 to utilize them. Near Castleisland, Co. Kerry, are pyritous shales, called Lapis 

 Hibemicus Auctorum ; these at one time were used in the manufacture of copperas at 

 Tralee. 



Some few years ago Mr. "Walter Jameson, of Glenarm, discovered an alum-clay 

 {alumyte) in connexion with the lithomarge and iron ores of the Co. Antrim. This is 

 at present worked in different places, but more especially near Ballintoy. 



r i he alumyte must not be confounded with the French Beauxyte, or the German 

 Woheiryte, both of which are ferriferous, and in aspect more or less similar to some 

 of the varieties of the Antrim lithomarge and bole. The lithomarge and bole have 

 not as yet been worked for alum ; yet they seem to be allied to the alumyte, the 

 latter appearing as if it was a secondary product ; having been at first lithomarge, 

 out of which the iron was leached by the associated lignyte, as the alumyte is always 

 accompanied by the latter. — See County History.'] 



