IRON ORES OF THE BLUE RIDGE.
From this point north the Blue Ridge will be recognized as a common name. South of the New River it is known by various names, and the name has even been applied to the eastern mountain-ranges in North Carolina.
The pioneers of North Carolina, approaching these ranges from the east, might well mistake these Azoic mountains for the Blue Ridge of Virginia, since both topographi cally and geologically the eastern side of one resembles the other. But the Potsdam sandstone forms the highest elevations of this mountain-range, if we except the granite peaks to the east, and, as this rock underlies the limestones and follows them, the Blue Ridge proper must be parallel to the valley.
The ores of Laurel Dale, just alluded to, lie in the ridges projecting from this moun tain and in the eastern range of brown hematites. From this point in Pulaski county to Botetourt county, this ore has not been practically developed, but evidences of its existence are plentiful along the entire line. At the Clover Dale furnace in the latter county, it has been in use for over thirty years for the production of gun-metal, which has supplied the BeIlona and Tredegar gun-foundries since their establishment for the manufacture of most of their guns. During the rebellion it was in full blast, and we understand several furnaces in the vicinity were repaired and put in operation, while other new furnaces were built.
Still further north, on this range, is Glenwood furnace, which, however, does not produce the best iron, on account of some impurity of the ore. But near this point,
and north of the pass through the Blue Ridge, where the James River leaves the valley, are the "North River ore-banks," which supplied the Westham furnace with most of its ore. The deposits, however, are limited, and the "nests" irregular, but the ore is very good, and may be traced in unbroken lines to the Buena Vista furnace, some twenty miles further to the north. Occasionally this ore is mixed with manganese, and from the pass of the James River to the head of the Shenandoah streaks of this mineral exist parallel with the ore. In some places it is found in large quantities to the injury of the iron.
From the Buena Vista furnace, in Rockbridge county, to Harper's Ferry, this range of ore has been worked at various places; but, on account of the scarcity of the timber, most of these old ore-banks are now abandoned. Still the ore exists, and in former times large quantities of iron were produced by the furnaces in this part of the valley.
We cannot mention all the localities in the valley of Virginia where the brown hematites exist in prominent masses, but may state that on both sides of the valley, and at many points in its interior, large and valuable deposits have been practically developed. We may name those at the Roaring Run furnace, Etna, Vesuvius, Coto paxi, Clifton, Dolly Ann, &c. &c.