Kin ah an — On Irish Metal Mining. 307 



The principal ore in the veins of the Mineral Channel is sul- 

 phur-ore {Pyrites). This in general has a " back," or " gossan/' 

 of iron ore, or ochre ; while in places between the gossan and the 

 real lode there is a " gossan lode " principally of lead. There are, 

 however, local peculiarities hereafter to be mentioned. Some of 

 the sulphur-ore is coppery, having from two to four units of cop- 

 per, while in newer lodes there was a mixed ore, in part pyrite, 

 and in part chalcopyrite, that gave from six to ten units of copper. 

 As these mines, at the beginning of the century, were worked 

 solely for the copper in the ores they are generally known as 

 " copper mines," a title to which they are not entitled. 



The earliest workings of which we can detect traces were for 

 lead, in East Cronebane, and for iron in Moneyteigue, after which 

 history is more or less a blank till we come to near the end of the last 

 century ; for although we know iron was extensively raised, prob- 

 ably in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, at Knoch na 

 mohill, Ballycapple, and other ores elsewhere ; yet we cannot tell 

 exactly at what time or by whom the mines were worked. 1 



At the end of the last century the Ovoca mines were in the 

 hands of an English syndicate, who worked them for lead and 

 copper. But early in the present century, the Channel immediately 

 east and west of the Ovoca river seems to have been broken up 

 into five mining setts: — Bally murtagh, Battygahan, Tigroney, Crone- 

 bane, and Connary, which were let as " Copper Mines," and when first 

 worked any poor pyrites raised was run into spoil. But about the 

 year 1840, on account of the high price of sulphur, the character 

 of the mines quite changed, as instead of being working for copper 

 they became " Sulphur Mines." While the great demand for sul- 

 phur lasted, vast sums were made by the different adventurers ; 

 and, as in late years, there was a demand for iron ore, it also was 

 a considerable source of profit. The great demand ceased about 

 the year 1865, and afterwards the mines rapidly declined, and 

 now little or nothing is being done. 2 



1 From Boate's history and Petty's maps it would appear as if Wicklow was a terra 

 incognita ; the first authority does not mention anything in it (the Co. Wicklow), while 

 the second leaves the track a blank in his maps. 



2 The decline was gradual; the Spanish ore — with its 48 units of sulphur, 3 of cop- 

 per, and 25 dwt. of silver, also an unlimited supply — gradually drove the Irish ore out 

 of the English market; although for a long time the Irish " Coppery Pyrites" — 40 



2 Y 



