CHAPTER I. 



MATERIALS USED IN IRON MAKING, AND ASSO- 

 CIATED MINERALS. 



It is fitting that a document which treats of the Mineral Re- 

 sources of Alabama, should begin with an account of those 

 concerned in that Industry which has done so much to give to 

 this state its present commanding position in the industrial 

 world, viz., Iron Making. 



THE ORES. 



The iron ores of Alabama in the order of their economic im- 

 portance are (i) The Red Ore or Hematite, (2) The Brown 

 Ore or Limonite, (3) The Gray Ore or Magnetite, and (4) 

 Black Band and Clay Iron Stone. Only the two first have 

 been mined on any large scale. 



These ores are used in the manufacture of pig iron for 

 foundries, mills and pipe works, and for making basic iron 

 for open hearth steel plants. As a rule, they are too high in 

 phosphorus for making Bessemer steel. 



Practically all the ore mined in Alabama is smelted in the 

 state, the shipments out of the state being about equal to what 

 is received from other states. 



Alabama stands third in iron ore production among the 

 states of the Union. The product for 1902 was 3,574,474 

 long tons, which was a little over ten per cent, of the iron ore 

 mined in the United States. This output had a value at the 

 mines at $1.10 per ton, of $3,936,812. This valuation is less 

 than that obtaining in any other state except Texas, the aver- 

 age in the United States being about $1.84 per long ton. 



There are 42 coke furnaces and 6 charcoal furnaces in ope- 

 ration in the state. The charcoal furnaces are gradually go- 

 ing out of blast, and will soon be a thing of the past. 



