Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 05 October 1883
The Discovery of Iron Ore at Conisboro’
The discovery of an extensive field of iron ore at Conisboro’ just at the time that the rail trade of South Yorkshire is migrating coastwards, is a very happy coincidence to say the least of it, and Messrs. Warburton and Rothery, mining engineers, the discoverers, will have the well wishes of the thousands connected with local industries.
It has been assumed for generations past that the coal measures lie under the magnesian limestone of the district, but that idea does not seem ever to have been tested by the boring of the limestone or in any other decisive manner. Recent discoveries have made this more remarkable.
Professor Green, in his last work, refers to there being on Clifton Common, Conisboro’, a broad spread of red purple sandstone, and remarks that the rock is strongly impregnated with sesquioxide of iron, and contains nodules of hematite. He further says that it would seem to have been once melted as an iron ore, for slags were seen lying about; and a few flint flakes and fragments of rude pottery were picked up.
Messrs. Warburton and Rothery have themselves ascertained that ore has been worked in the district, and they have found traces of three different establishments of works. These they believe to have belonged to the Romans, who are known to have worked iron ore in other districts.
Since that time, as we have said, the ore has remained an unpenetrated secret of the earth, and this state of things is the more surprising when it is remarked that the farm servants when ploughing in the fields, and labourers when making drains, have been sorely troubled with a hard substance, which they have designated “kank,” but having thrown the material on one side, they have not troubled themselves any further about it.
The two mining engineers who have made this discovery, and are endeavouring to profitably utilise it, have not yet ascertained if ironstone exists under the limestone. So far they are convinced that it abuts upon the limestone cliffs in the village, where it is a considerable thickness, and extends southwards for about three miles, tapering towards the surface of the earth.
They have ascertained that it is about one mile across, and during the next fortnight they hope by sinking and other operations to obtain something like a reliable idea as to its thickness. The ore has been found to consist of four different qualities, and it is said that the worst is superior to the superior Frodingham ore. Some of the stone is marvellously impregnated, and there is also hematite similar to that of Cumberland.
As soon as practicable permanent operations will be commenced, and there will be opened out to the ancient village a very different future to what the past has been. There will then be within close proximity of each other hematite, coal, and limestone, and local steel rail manufacturers will derive substantial benefit by saving the carriage of the raw material from the north.
It is calculated that the result—should the Conisboro’ discovery prove equal to present indications—must be that, in the matter of steel rails alone, this district will be able to compete with, if not surpass, houses nearer the coast.
With such probabilities for the near future, it is not surprising that various schemes have been mooted as to the provision of railway accommodation. Already an impetus has been given to the long-lagging Rotherham and Bawtry scheme. By some this is not considered so well adapted for the new industry as the older proposals which were floated some fifteen years ago; but the existing scheme is to pass through Maltby. This would be but a short distance from the ironstone, and this distance might be obliterated, either by deviation or a branch line.
Until permanent operations for working the Conisboro’ ore have been actually commenced, the question of railway accommodation is not of the greatest moment, but if it should result in the completion of the long-delayed Rotherham and Bawtry scheme it will prove a blessing to the neighbourhood in more ways than one.
Sheffield Telegraph.
The Manchester Guardian is responsible for the following: A statement has lately been circulated that a new ironstone field has been discovered at Conisboro’ near Doncaster, yielding ore superior to that of the Frodingham iron deposits. It is, however, no new discovery. The bed has been well known to engineers for some time. It is between five and six miles in length and about 400 yards in average width, but there are believed to be serious faults in it which would render its profitable working doubtful. The rumours that the Midland and Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway Companies contemplated the construction of lines to open out the new iron district are at present without foundation.