18 Report on the projected Survey of the State of Maryland. 



the latter consideration it may be stated, that it has been found a 

 matter of great moment to have ascertained the presence of a for- 

 eign metal in the rich iron ores of Deer creek, in Harford county. 

 This ore which contains from eighteen to twenty per cent, of the 

 metal Titanium, and is hence called titaniferous iron ore, was found, 

 in consequence of this admixture, to be exceedingly refractory. It 

 connot in fact, be smelted by itself; but requires to be mixed with 

 some poorer ores before it can be made to yield its metal. Experi- 

 ments directed by science have shown, that by mixing it, in the pro- 

 portion of two parts to three, of an ore yielding thirty three per 

 cent, of metal, it may be very readily worked. Similar considera- 

 tions apply to those varieties of ore which, for the sake of distinction, 

 might be called calciferous iron ores ; and which for a long time were 

 thought to require the addition of limestone, as a flux ; these, like- 

 wise, experience has proved, not, however, until after considerable 

 expenditure of time and money, to be perfectly manageable without 

 it. 



To be able to specify those different kinds of ore in the manner 

 now indicated, it is evident that it will be frequently necessary to 

 subject them to careful chemical analysis. The advantages, which 

 those who have to use them will derive from such a specification, it is 

 presumed, must be apparent. Nor do these considerations apply 

 with less weight to the varieties of ores of iron which are not used for 

 production of the metal. Among them, the chromiferous iron ores, 

 which furnish a substance employed in a different branch of our 

 manufacturing industry, require a separate mention. These, more 

 usually called chrome ores, are known to be extensively employed 

 for the production of several articles used as pigments and dyes. 

 The value of the products annually obtained from this source is not 

 less than fifty thousand dollars. The ore itself, too, is exported, and 

 is understood to be in demand at the present time for the supply of 

 foreign countries. The chief localities in Maryland are Harford 

 county, Cooptown ; Baltimore county, at the Bare hills, seven miles 

 from the city of Baltimore, and at the Soldier's Delight, seventeen 

 miles distant, and the northern part of Cecil county. 



The serpentine formation, which encompasses the chromiferous 

 iron ores, yields also another material for the preparation of a chemical 

 product of great value. This is the epsom salt, the base of which is 

 derived from a magnesian mineral, no where found in such abundance 

 and purity as within the state of Maryland. The quantity produced 



