MINERALS

333

and ranges” seem to be formed of the purest variety of
haematite, and throughout India, wherever metamorphic
-ocks prevail, there are to be found beds and veins of
magnetite.
Iron ore exists in the Ranigange coalfields, where it is
associated with certain beds of shale, and there it is
reckoned to be in fuller development than anywhere else
in India. The beds of laterite, which are such a conspicuous
 feature in most parts of the Central Provinces, is
very rich in iron ore, which has been largely worked by
native smelters from time immemorial ; but the primitive
methods of working which remained undeveloped in India
throughout the medieval ages no longer suffice for its
production at a cost which can compete with English
importations, although it is a mistake to suppose that the
ancient systems of working were entirely devoid of science,
or guided by mere rule of thumb. Few people are aware
that the once world-famous Damascus blades were fashioned
 from iron brought from a remote Indian village
which once figured in the world as the source of the
Enest steel in existence, and which has since passed into
obscurity.
That distinguished Indian geologist and writer, Mr. V.
Ball, attributes much of the decadence of Indian ironworking
 to the gradually increasing want of fuel, a want
which is not likely to diminish, and he considers that
[ndian-made iron can never again compete successfully
with European production, nor does he hold out any
hope in the future of a revival of the industry under
European supervision. “The best that could be hoped
for by any one firm having constantly the same materials
to deal with, would be to be able to turn out regularly a
particular quantity which would steadily reach a recognised
 standard, so that consumers of iron in India would
probably still find it necessary to order from Europe iron
having particular qualities for special purposes, to which
the Indian iron was not applicable. That a single factory
could ever supply all the different qualities of iron required
in any one province in India is not to be expected. . .