iron. 633 



cess in this region on account of the quality of the ores and their very low 

 average contents of phosphorus. 



4. Abundant fluxing ingredients can be obtained in most cases in the 

 mining of the soft ores. The hard ores and others will not usually afford 

 such supplies by their immediate environment, but there is so much suitable 

 material of this class within easy reach that its exhaustion is impossible. 



5. Sulphur as a contamination is rarely a serious detriment to the ores of 

 the Central Mineral Region, and never so deleterious that a ready remedy 

 can not be applied by mixtures of ores or the use of simple correctives in the 

 charge. 



6. Silica, in very many cases, is not present in greater proportions than is 

 allowable in the smelting processes, although some of the ores carry too much 

 for use by themselves without water-jacketing the furnace or composing the 

 charge for a basic slag. In the hard ores, and in most of the sandy ores, the 

 excess of silica can be removed by magnetism, or by jigging with simple ap- 

 pliances. The soft ores and the concretionary ores can not be thus benefited, 

 and the only recourse with them will be to mix the more siliceous varieties 

 with those which carry more iron. From the conditions already described 

 the experienced metallurgist will readily understand that this means the prac- 

 tical prohibition of certain ores reported in our list. 



7. The titaniferous ores are not liable to become immediately available, 

 although the progress of iron metallurgy may eventually produce a demand 

 for them, as it has been proved that titanium has important hardening quali- 

 ties, now regarded as objectionable on account of attendant evils. Worse 

 enemies than this have, however, come to be recognized as friends in disguise 

 by iron and steel producers, and vague hints of this possibility have appeared 

 in certain investigations of late years. But it must be confessed that there is 

 now no known method of employing these ores advantageously. Perhaps 

 the percentages of titanium are rarely high enough to interfere with the suc- 

 cessful working of such ores as we have of this class, but they will necessa- 

 rily require mixing with the other varieties, and very few of them can be 

 cheaply assorted so as to pay to work without washing to free them from 

 sand or quartz gangue. 



