[From Lamplugh, Geology of IoM, 1903]

NORTHERN HEMATITE GROUP.

Reference has been made in preceding chapters to the occurrence of hematite iron-ore in the veins which traverse the slate-rocks in the northeastern part of the massif, and to the probability that it may indicate a former overlap of the New Red strata upon the Manx Slates in this quarter (p. 125 and p. 291). So far as is known, it is only in the north-eastern district that lodes of this mineral occur among the slates, though chalybite (carbonate of iron), and iron pyrites are abundant constituents of all the metalliferous veins, and pyrrhotine (magnetic pyrites) is also present in some places. The supposition that the hematite may, as in Cumberland, be connected with the former extension of the Triasic rocks over the area is greatly strengthened by the discovery in the deep borings in the extreme north of the Island (Chap. VII.), of Triassic rocks of considerable thickness, resting on the denuded edges of Carboniferous strata, the latter being always stained and veined with hematite.

From the conspicuous aspect of this red ore in considerable veins in the cliff on both sides of Maughold Head (p. 125), its presence must have been known in early times. As mentioned in the historical introduction to this chapter, we know that the mine at Drynane was working, in the year 1700, but no particulars are forthcoming respecting the operations previous to the nineteenth century; they probably consisted of the older part of the aditlevels into the cliff, which have since been driven, at intervals, farther and farther inland. Though in the aggregate a large quantity of ore has been obtained from these mines (see Table, pp. 496-7), the output does not appear to have been sufficient, at any time of which we have trustworthy record, to meet the working expenses, and the mines have consequently been practically abandoned since about 1874.¹ Two separate lodes or sets of lodes have yielded the chief production, the first that which traverses Maughold Head, and the second running parallel inland 1½ miles farther westward, known as the Ballajora (Ballagorra of Ordnance map) or Magher-e-breck lode. Besides these, several minor trials have been made in the district, but all apparently without result.

Maughold Head Mines.²

On the northern side of Maughold Head, at Stack Mooar, a great vein of fault-breccia and quartz, with cavities containing hematite; strikes in a south-easterly direction across the foreshore and into the cliff, with an exposure almost equal to that of Bradda Head in size and interest (p. 125). Its width at the foot of the cliff is about 40 feet, and it hades or dips northeastward at 15° from the vertical. The most important of the old workings at this point is said to have consisted of a deep adit-level driven in from a little above high-water mark for 95 fathoms, with cross-cuts for 5 or 10 fathoms both ways at the end, but it appears to have yielded no appreciable quantity of ore.

Better success attended another opening on the lode, known as the GLEBE MINE, about ½ mile S.E. of the above and close to Maughold village. At this place, about 100 yards N.W. of The Vicarage, a shaft and some shallower trials were sunk, and two levels driven on the lode, the lower going south-east for 196 fathoms and north-west for 212 fathoms. This work, according to Cumming, was principally done by a company formed in 1836; and a few years later, when a Glasgow gentleman became sole lessee of the Maughold Mines, the annual shipment of hematite from the district is stated to have been about 500 tons per month,³ seventy men being employed. The south-eastward driving of the Glebe Mine appears to have passed about 100 yards to the north of Maughold Church, and if prolonged in the same direction would have emerged in the cliff above Traie Curn, close to the extremity of the headland. Hence the lode which was followed cannot directly coincide with that of the Southern or Dhyrnane Mine next to be described. Indeed, the veins of this district in spite of their apparent strength in the cliff-sections appear all to be of limited length, forming a group of impersistent converging or radiant fissures, of which those which strike towards points between north and west are more or less metalliferous.

Drynane Mine.

This term is applied to the workings on the southern side of Maughold Head, in a little inlet 500 yards east of Port Mooar (Sh. 8). As mentioned in the footnote on p. 126, the name Drynane, written Dhyrnane, is erroneously affixed on the 6-inch Ordnance map to another inlet 200 yards farther north, in which an adit has been driven to procure umber. The Drynane Mine proper consists of a level going in from the cliff for 320 fathoms in a N.N.W. direction on a lode dipping east, with sumps on ore bodies at 10 fathoms and 37 fathoms from the entrance, and connected with a shaft from the surface at 70 fathoms. A large quantity of hematite was obtained between the mouth of the level and the shaft, but very little farther in. The chief work was done between 1857 and 1874, and is described in Sir W. W. Smyth’s reports to the Woods and Forests Office, from which the following abstracts are taken. The report for 1858 states that in driving north, the level passed through two bunches of ore, the first small, but the second 8 to lOfeet wide, and capable of remunerative work; but in the two following years we learn that no more ore had been found, though a shaft had been sunk on the vein, and a 10 fathom level driven north and south. In 1861, the adit was 95 fathoms in [beyond shaft I] but with "no appearance of promise, although the lode is some 15 feet wide. The south level has also been advanced a long way without any farther discovery of ore. The mineral is so evidently disposed in discontinuous ‘bunches’that the prospects of the mine are extremely uncertain." In 1863, the adit was 250 fathoms in, but the lode had dwindled till there was scarce a vestige of it. In 1864 we read, "On careful examination I saw that the drift was really carried on in the lode, and that it occasionally formed a vein of a foot or two in width, but utterly valueless." The later reports contain only passing reference to the workings, until 1873 when it is noted that a long way in the old level and to the east of it, on climbing a rise some 7 fathoms up, a rib of ore of minor importance was seen, "not to compare with the old deposits worked away years ago."

The Umber Mine level mentioned above, which was last in operation between 1887 and 1893, appears to be driven on a decomposed dyke of olivine-dolerite having the usual north-westerly direction. On a plan in the possession of Mr. W. H. Rowe this is shown as intersecting the Drynane level a short distance from its northward termination, with indications that the dyke may have slightly displaced the lode. It is to be regretted that no further evidence is available as to their relations.

1 Some exploratory work was done, on the old workings, a year or two ago, but has led to no result.
2 For information regarding the old workings I am chiefly indebted to Mr. W. H. Rowe.
3 "Isle of Man," p. 311.

Ballajora Iron Mine.

These workings, from which a fair amount of hematite was marketed, were carried on between 1858 and 1874 on N. and S. lodes, dipping eastward, close to the farmstead of Margher-e-breck (Magher - of old one-inch Ordnance map, Mangher of new) in the parish of Maughold. There are two old shafts N. of the farm, one said to be 18 fathoms and the other about 30 fathoms deep, in the vicinity of which the chief bodies of ore were found; an adit connected with these workings has its mouth in a cross-cut 250 yards S. of the farm. The lode seems to have been very irregular, and in its northern portion to have consisted of two branches.’ A few descriptive details have been gleaned from Sir W. W. Smyth’s reports, as follows¹ —In the report for 1859 it is mentioned that the lodes called No. 1 and No. 2 have proved large and capable of yielding a fair return of iron-ore, but "unfortunately a great proportion of this is carbonate of lime and iron yielding a percentage of iron [too small] to bear the expense of carriage." In 1861, the No. 1 level had been driven a long way "in a large lode of impure carbonate of iron," while "the ‘School-house lode’ has yielded some few cargoes of first-rate hematite, but where hitherto opened, averaging from 1 to 2 feet wide, is not large enough to insure a remunerative mine." In 1872 (" Ballajora and Maughold Head Iron Mine ",² it is noted that the adit level in the b. ground had opened in a new lode when 20 fathoms in and showed "² to 5 feet wide of a fair quality of hematite"; and in the following year "two stopes and a sink below the adit" are mentioned in these workings which soon afterwards fell into abeyance.

Other trials for iron-ore, regarding which little or no information has been obtained, are indicated at several places in this neighbourhood; on the N. side of the Smithy at Ballasaig there is a large spoil heap, marked "Iron Mine" on the 6-inch map. (Sh. 5); similar though less conspicuous traces exist in a field 250 yards S.E. of the Wesleyan Chapel at Ballagorra; 350 yards N. of this chapel is the obliterated mouth of a level which was driven for 100 yards into the hill-side; and another level, marked "Iron Mine" on the 6-inch map opens into the cliff 500 yards S. of Gob ny Garvain. (See List at p. 552.)

1 The above information has chiefly been obtained from Mr. W. H. Rowe.
2 MSS. in Woods and Forests Office.