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



(83.) In the Coal Formation. — I am not aware of any material metallic deposit having been 

 found either in the North or South Munster coal tracts, beside that of the clay ironstone. But this 

 substance appears so thinly scattered in the coal shales of both districts, that it will probably be 

 scarcely available for the manufacture of iron ; for whicli purpose also the coal is for the greater 

 part wholly unfit, being commonly deteriorated by iron pyrites. 



I may mention, however, that a trial for lead was made a few years since on the left bank of the 

 Shannon, south of the river Cashen, on the townland of Mineghane. The cliffs at the place ex- 

 amined, consist of alternating thin beds of brown sandstone and sandy shale, gently undulated 

 both in the line of range and dip, and exhibiting occasionally, though very rarely, a few im- 

 pressions of indistinct bivalves. In these beds may be sometimes observed a layer of quartz, 

 carious or crystallized, and in a few places small veins of the same substance, both bearing 

 iron ochre, and occasionally small portions of galena ; but seldom reaching to a few inches in thick- 

 ness, and commonly to not more than one or two inches. Analogous trials were made also in 

 Knockpoge West, about half a mile inland from the Shannon. The object of research was in 

 each case unimportant. 



(84.) General Observation on segregated metallic deposits. The details 

 which I have given of incidental, metalliferous appearances in various parts of 

 the counties of Waterford, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, and Clare ', are corroborative 

 of a remark which 1 formerly made*; that the diffusion of metallic substances 

 through the mass of rocks (especially of the primary, transition, and car- 

 boniferous epochs), is far from being an uncommon occurrence; appearing 

 in isolated particles or portions of greater magnitude, or in layers, veins, 



and for the following information respecting them I am indebted to my friend Mr. John Taylor, 

 who has opened mines upon these deposits. The principal at Ballyhicky, near the village of 

 Quin, a few miles to the eastward of Ennis ; a second at Kilbricken, about two miles N.W. 

 from the former; and a third at Milltown, in the parish of Tullagh. Mr. Taylor considers these 

 deposits as erect contemporaneous masses in the limestone rock*, the principal substance composing 

 them being white calcareous spar, in which the lead ore (galena) is distributed very irregularly. 



The first work undertaken was that of Kilbricken, in September 1834, and the mass has since 

 been explored eight or nine fathoms in depth, the produce amounting to 25 tons of lead ore, the 

 lead from which, yields 130 ounces of silver in the ton. The ore itself is not so rich in lead as 

 that from the other mines, being considerably mixed with blende ; and though it has declined 

 in quantity in descending, an effectual trial of the deposit will be made to a greater depth by means 

 of a steam-engine now erecting. 



On the mass at Milltown, it was found, that a considerable excavation had formerly been made, 

 open at the surface. The calcareous spar is speckled wiih lead ore, but there are no bunches in 

 view which can be called rich. The lead ore obtained from this work by the present adventurers, 

 amounts to about 70 tons, and the lead produces from 50 to 60 ounces of silver in the ton. More 

 extended operations may lead to profitable results. 



In the deposit at Ballyhicky the ore was found very near the surface, and rich bunches have 

 extended 9 or 10 fathoms in depth, the deepest part being now 13 fathoms from the surface. The 

 produce hitherto obtained from this adventure, amounts to about 2500 tons of ore, which is re- 

 markably rich in lead, yielding 80 per cent., but the silver contained in this lead is only 15 ounces 

 in the ton. Small quantities of rich yellow copper ore are also found in the mass. This deposit 

 will also be effectually explored to a greater depth, for which purpose a steam-engine is provided. 

 {March, 1837.) 



' See in this Memoir, §§. 18. 34, 36 to 39, 43 to 46, 76, 78, and 81 to 83. 



- Geol. Trans., First Series, Memoir on the East of Ireland, §.86. See likewise §§.18,28, 

 38, 99, 105, 109 to 112, 118, 128, 181, and 185, ibid. 



* Stehende Stocke of tiie Germans. 



