246 8. Hyde — Deep-mining in the South-west of Ireland. 



prove that down to the depth of 1,200 feet, or 200 fathoms, copper 

 ores of high value and rich percentage are being extracted, and that 

 from lodes as well defined, characteristic and typical, as any occurring 

 in rocks of the same age and character in Cornwall ; and it is con- 

 fidently believed that over the peninsulas of Skull, Kilcrohane, and 

 Kilnamanagh, &c., west of Eoaring Water Bay, most extensive and 

 deep cojDper mines will yet be successfully developed ; and all analogy 

 with other localities and physical conditions of the district point un- 

 mistakably to this, if prosecuted upon scientific principles with 

 energy and determination. 



At the time Professor Jukes wrote (18G1?) he states that "with 

 the exception of the AUihies (Bearhaven) mines, none of the lodes 

 (whether true or false) of the south-west part of the County Cork have 

 yet been proved to have a sufficient quantity of ore in any one locality 

 to make a rich mine." Whatever may have been the author's opinion 

 and views in the year 1861, derived from an examination of the 

 county in the years 1853-6, it is now incontestably shown and proved 

 that Ballycummisk and the Bearhaven mines, etc., have fully estab- 

 lished the fact that profitable deep -mining in south-west Ireland 

 is no longer a matter of doubt. The Allihies mine is 220 fathoms 

 or 1320 feet deep, and Ballycummisk 200 fathoms or 1,200 feet 

 deep, both making large returns of ore ; the 198-fathora level at 

 the latter mine being now extremely rich in yellow and peacock 

 copper ore, and the enclosing matrix cannot be distinguished from 

 the kilias of Cornwall and Devon. ^ 



Again, it may be mentioned, that ores of many other economic 

 minerals have been worked in this area, giving conclusive grounds 

 for well-assured hope that through vigorous research much is yet to 

 be done in the south of Ireland ; and it by no means follows that 

 if in some Irish localities the ores of copper, lead, or iron appear 

 abnormal in condition, as compared with other localities, that there 

 are not, nevertheless, characteristic and normal lodes (now well 

 determined) along given and clearly understood lines of countiy. 



It is well known that the ores of copper in the south of Ireland 

 frequently occur in beds strongly impregnating the kilias, &c., in 

 which they appear, in some cases as grey copper ; but, under meteoric 

 metamorphoses when near the surface, become converted into mala- 

 chite or green carbonate, or, under other changes, into the blue variety 

 — blue carbonate (Azurite) — but their chief value is under the form 

 of the yellow and peacock copper pyrites, as occurring in well-defined 

 and regular lodes and veins. Not only is the metalliferous system of 

 veins well developed in the south-west of Ireland, but also the quartz 



1 It may be mentioned that the so-called No. 2 Big-ben, at the 198-fathom level, 

 is about 15 feet in width, and is extremely rich in the ores of copper at this depth ; 

 the specimens exhibited on the table were recently taken from that level, and there ix 

 nothing in the aspect of the lode, either in its course or depth, to show diminution of 

 produce or yield. It may not be out of place here to state also th;it the Bearhaven mines 

 are said to huve returneil upwards of £2,000,000 sterling since commencing operations ; 

 Ballycummisk, situated in the area under description, £50,000; and Coosheen £22,000, 

 the latter from operations above the adit. 



