39 



served in any fragments of decaying trap, but on a large scale 

 at Ballypallady, where the basalt above the lignite in the north 

 quarry passes into ochre at the south. 



In order to account for the pisiform ores, I would offer the 

 following explanation : 



We know that, towards the close of the secondary period, 

 successive volcanic eruptions of large quantities of basalt over- 

 spread the cretaceous rocks before they entirely emerged from 

 the sea. This was followed by a pause or quiet interval, of 

 duration sufficient to allow the surface basalt to undergo the 

 ochreous decomposition, and even on some volcanic islands 

 permit the growth and decay of plants. But again the slumber- 

 ing fires awoke and belched forth fresh sheets of molten lava, 

 pouring them from their craters in the North of the country over 

 the wide ochre districts Southwards. The probable result of this 

 would be the natural roasting and smelting of the metal in the 

 ferruginous clay wherever it came in contact with this lava 

 furnace ; and we would expect that that lying nearest the volcanic 

 centres would present the purest and most refined metallic ore, 

 having undergone the longest and fiercest action of the molten 

 torrent, as well as the aggregate pressure of each outflow. The 

 examination of the four mines at present worked, together with 

 the out-crops, tend to support this theory of their origin. The 

 following is a comparative table of the mines : — 



Elevation of 

 Mine. 

 Feet. 



Superincumbent 

 Basalt. 

 Feet. 



Metallic 



Jron. 



Per cwt. 



Pisiform 

 Ore. 



Inches. 



Iron 

 Clay. 

 Feet. 



Glenravel, 1,000 



500 



65 



21 



24 



Red Bay Hill, 800 



100 



55 



18 



30 



Kilwaughter, 500 



25 



32 



12 



12 



Ballypallady, 300 







25 







25 



This shows the richest ores are at the highest elevation, and 

 have received the greatest amount of overflowing Basalt. 



Excluding the Ballypallady clays, the other ores have been 

 mined for a year and a-half, during which time about 13,000 

 tons of the raw material have been shipped to England, and that 

 at an expense of 4/- to 5/- per ton for freight alone. The want 

 of facilities for its removal are a present drawback ; but the ex- 



