TALCHEER COAL FIELD. 85 



still uadetertnined whether the rock in question be not of various ages 

 in different localities. 



In the foregoing remarks the occurrence of ores of iron in the district 

 has been only incidentally noticed, but a few more detailed observations, 

 may be useful on a matter of so much importance ; the manufacture of iron 

 beino- carried on to some extent in part of the area under consideration. 



The iron of the Talcheer field, though very similar throughout in its 



. ^, mineraloarical character, occurs under different 

 Sources of iron m tne ° 



<^t"'=t- conditions, of which three may be particularized': — 



1st. Red argillaceous peroxide, changing into the brown hydrated 

 peroxide, and containing a variable amount of siliceous sand. 



2nd. Fine sandstones and shales, much impregnated with iron, of 

 variable quality. 



3rd. The coarser sandstones of the upper group, in which (but more 

 abundantly in the conglomeritic alluvium which contains fragments of 

 them) the ore is plentifully distributed in the form of flattish irregular 

 concretions, sometimes as large as a man's head. 



This last, already alluded to, is the chief source of iron in the district. 

 These concretions are generally tolerably free from siliceous admixture. They 

 are formed of innumerable thin coatings of the argUlaceous oxide, generally 

 arranged round a central core of similar nature ; but very fine and rich. 



Whence the very large amount of iron was derived, it is very diflScult 

 to say. 



The manner in which the ore is obtained is simple enough, but the 

 labor expended is so very disproportionate to the amount produced, that 

 it would be impossible, without having recourse to a more scientific and 

 economical system, to meet any increased demand. 



At present the ore is procured by digging small pits and trenches 



. , in the surface gravely and picking one by one from 



'"^- the pieces thrown out. Those judged sufficiently 



rich are transported in wicker carts to the village, often a distance of 



