Conisborough Ironstone.

Three years ago considerable interest was aroused in regard to a reported discovery of iron stone at Conisborough which, it was prophesied would soon cause a fuller revolution in the appearance of that part of the country, and in the prosperity of the district.

The matter has recently been reviewed, but it does not seem probable that it will be attended by any different results to the previous movement.

A correspondent says: – “The sinking operations continue to be pushed forward, and are attracting considerable attention, not only in the immediate district, but throughout South Yorkshire. Three years ago, it was stated that the worst specimens contained 37%. of metallic iron, a large proportion 75%, – and some specimens even as much as 90%. It was likewise stated that no less than four kinds of iron ore had been found, and this may see account for the varying composition above noticed, but as a proportion of 75%, to say nothing of the 90%, is about 10%. better than any other ironstone found in the country.

The doubts entertained as to its accuracy are quite justified, especially as the well-known Barrow in Furness hematites contain less than 70% of metallic iron. The statement that hematite was found three years ago is by far the most important, although the extent to which it was noticed does not appear to have been stated.

The appearance of hematite nodules has been known for many years, but as they do not appear to exist in workable quantities the hematite deposit, unless found to a far greater extent than previously known, cannot be considered to be of much value, and from an inspection of the stuff thrown out of their shafts already sunk in Conisborough Park, about a mile south of the village, nothing can be gathered to indicate the presence of any haematite deposits.

In fact, the strain already pierced are only ordinary coal measures, shales, and sandstones, the former interspersed with beds of ordinary coal measure ironstone such as might be expected in any of the local coal measures. Two shafts have already been sunk to the stipulated depth (30ft), and a third is now being sunk, the mode of testing the existence of any beds being apparently by commencing at the edge of the estate and putting down trial shafts every two or 300 yards, it been estimated that no less than five of these trial shafts will be required.

As the ironstone field is said to extend to Shireoaks, the section of the strata in that locality containing the ironstone may prove interesting, and is as follows: –

As the ironstone has thus been proved at Shireoaks, it follows that had it been of anything like that quality is said to be found at Conisborough it would probably have been worked there sometime ago. The fact that it has not been worked is sufficient to cause doubt as to whether the ironstone can be profitably worked.

If there Shireoak section fills any light on the question, it will certainly be impossible to work the ironstone profitably, for the expense of working would be great as compared with the Lincolnshire ironstone, which possesses undoubted advantages over the meagre specimens of coal measure ironstone collected in heaps about the Conisborough trial shafts.

From what can be seen at the shafts they do not appear any symptoms of a more than ordinarily valuable bed of ironstone being found, and, moreover, with such good and cheap supply of ironstone found in Lincolnshire, and more easily worked, there is nothing to meet the Conisborough find of any value except a good bed of Hematite, of which at present there are no indications whatever.”