Mr. Weaver on the Geological Relations of the South of Ireland. 25 



given rise to mining operations at different periods, which seem in general to 

 have been attended with little advantage. The greater part of the workino-s 

 were shallow. 



To the westward of tlie river such operations were conducted upon fifteen different veins in 

 the face of the cliffs, three being worked for lead, and the remainder for copper. Latterly, re- 

 searches have been extended more inland, upon some old workings at Monachoe, to a depth ex- 

 ceeding fifty fathoms, but they yielded only a small quantity of copper ore, the vein not having 

 improved in depth. On the other hand, on the east of the river, a vein of copper ore discovered 

 more recently at Ballinasisla, yielded valuable returns to a considerable depth, but latterly it has 

 become nearly barren. On this part of the coast the old trials were conducted on seven veins for 

 copper, and two veins for lead. 



These metalliferous veins affect, for the most part, a nearly north and south course, the dip beino- 

 to the east or west, or to both in the same vein at different depths. They, however, frequently 

 ramify both on the line of range and dip. 



(35.) The metalliferous relations in the county of Cork, refer chiefly to the 

 lead mines of Ringabella and Doneen, and to the copper mines of Audley, 

 Ballydehob, and Alii hies, 



(36.) In the small inlet of Ringabella, on the western side of the entrance to Cork harbour, 

 the slate, which is displayed on both banks, ranges east and west, and dips 80° south, and on 

 the south side of the inlet rises a small low hill, in which is situated the Ringabella lead mine. This 

 undertaking is conducted on a bed in the slate, composed of quartz and sparry iron ore with in- 

 terlaminated slate, which contains galena, pyrites of copper and iron, and some calcareous spar. It 

 is irregular in form, varying from a few inches to one and a half feet in width. The two first- 

 mentioned substances predominate, the sparry iron ore often forming a drusy assemblage of cry- 

 stals. T".ie lead ore appears in bunches, the copper ore is sparingly disseminated, while the iron 

 pyrites is more abundant. I am informed that the trial has not been conducted to a greater depth 

 than twenty fathoms*. 



(37.) In the southern cliffs of Doneen Inlet, on the western side of Clonekilty Bay, are the 

 remains of old works, close to the sea, conducted, as reported, to the depth of thirty or forty 

 fathoms. Judging by those remains, the object of research would appear to have been a bed in 

 the slate, between one and two feet wide, composed of sparry iron ore and quartz, with dissemr- 

 nated galena, and pyrites of copper and iron, and hence, in formation, bearing considerable aiialogy 

 to that noticed in the Ringabella mine. 



The range of the slate on this part of the coast is generally east and west, the strata being nearly 

 vertical, or inclined at a high angle to the south. 



Upon the strand below the northern cliffs of Doneen, are displayed beds of sulphate of barytes, 

 with intervening strata of slate, the former being mostly compact, or minutely granular-foliated, 

 with some appearances also of the large lamellar structure. There are three of these beds, the 



obliging all adventurers in mines to lodge among the records of the county, in which any such 

 mine was situated, a plan and section of the mine when abandoned, together with a report of its 

 then state and circumstances, and the cause of its abandonment. 



* It is in the slate of Spring Hill, situated on the northern side and near the western extremity 

 of Ringabella inlet, that the fine specimens of the Cork wavellite have been obtained. 



VOL. V. SECOND SERIES. E 



