Iron.
More than half the counties of the State contain mines of iron ore in
ample quantities to give employment to thousands of men for ages yet to
come.
The varieties in different localities are—
Magnetites (magnetic ore, so called because of its polarity, or mysterious
power of attracting the magnetic needle).
Limonites (more commonly called brown hematite), and
Specular, or red hematite ores.
Professor McCreath, in his "Mineral Wealth of Virginia," says of the
iron ores of Southwest Virginia:
"This iron ore region is for the most part embraced in Pulaski, Wythe,
and Smyth Counties, in Southwest Virginia. The ores lie on both sides
of New River and Cripple Creek, and the railroad line following these
streams renders the whole ore supply practically available for market.
"The limestone ores of the Cripple Creek region show as high a general
character as any brown hematite ores mined in the country. The
result of numerous analyses shows an average richness in metallic iron of
over 54 per cent. in the ore dried at 212° F., with about one tenth of one
per cent. of phosphorus. This unusually fine character is found to be very
uniform through all the numerous mines and outcrops examined. It is
somewhat extraordinary that not only is there this regularity in the percentage
of iron, but also that the phosphorus shows a great uniformity in
specimens taken widely apart; and in no case has it been found to exceed
two tenths of one per cent. The quality of the ore is such that it smelts
very easily in the furnace, and it should require a minimum amount of
both flux and fuel.
"The quantity of iron ore in the Cripple Creek region is undoubtedly
very great. The limestone deposits occur in clefts and cavities of the
limestone mixed with clay; but in this district, rarely with any flint.
The method of occurrence is such that the banks will yield widely varying
quantities of ore. Some of them have been worked for many years, and
shafts are reported to have been sunk 100 feet in ore-bearing clays with
bottom of shaft still in ore. Frequently the ore-bearing material is of
unusual richness, yielding in the washer fully one half clean ore."
