IRON, 
523 
being a mineralogist, my curiosity was soon satis- 
fied ; I again entered the bucket, and was drawn up 
in the same manner. In this situation I closed my 
eyes and conversed in Latin with the inspector. 
He informed me, the richest ore yields 70 per cent., 
the poorest 30 ; on an average the collective mass 
gives one-third of pure mineral ; 1 2,000 tons are an- 
nually drawn from the mines, which yield 4,000 
tons of bar-iron. The mass of ore occupies a small 
compass, The length of the pits, considered as 
one, is ?6 0 feet, and the breadth from three to 
twelve. The ore runs in veins from east to west ; 
the richest is near five hundred feet in depth, and 
the Storoe Grube is not yet fathomed. The matrix 
of the ore being a calcareous earth, contains but 
little sulphur, which is perhaps the reason of the 
superior quality. 
“ The mines of Danemora were discovered in 
1488. They consist of twelve pits, belonging to 
thirteen proprietors ; of whom baron Geer possesses 
more than one-third. The proprietors work each 
pit separately, defray the expenses, and divide the 
profits according to their respective proportions. 
The ore which is dug in summer is laid out in 
heaps, and divided in the winter months, from No- 
vember to March, when it can be conveyed on 
sledges ; the proprietors send it to their respective 
forges, or sell it on the spot. Near three hundred 
persons are employed in mining and transporting 
the ore ; the miners are paid by the work, and can 
gain at most fifteen pence halfpenny per day ; the 
