oduces over two-fifths of the total amount of ore raised in the
Kingdom, and not much less than one-half of that raised in England.
The richness of the ore (about 30% of metal) is by no means so great
as the red haematite ore found in Cumberland and north Lancashire
(Furness district, &c.). Here the percentage is over 50, but the ore,
though the richest found in the kingdom, is less plentiful, about
1-1/2 million tons being raised in 1903 as against more than 5-1/2
millions in Cleveland. There is also a considerable working of brown
iron ore at various points in Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and
Leicestershire; with further workings of less importance in
Staffordshire and several other districts. The total amount of ore
raised in England is about 12-1/2 million tons, but it is not so high,
in some iron-fields, as formerly. Some of the lesser deposits have
been worked out, and even in the rich Furness fields it has been found
difficult to pursue the ore. The import of ore (the bulk coming from
Spain) has consequently increased, and the ports where the principal
import trade is carried on are those which form the principal outlets
of the iron-working districts of Cleveland and Furness, namely
Middlesbrough and Barrow-in-Furness.

The geographical distribution of the remaining more important English
minerals may be passed in quicker review. Of the metals, the
production of copper is a lapsing industry, confined to Cornwall. For
the production of lead the principal counties are Derbyshire, Durham
and Stanhope, but the industry is not extensive, and is confined to a
few places in each county. Quarrying for limestone, clay and sandstone
is general in most parts. For limestone the principal localities are
in Durham, Derbyshire and Yorkshire, while for chalk-quarrying Kent is
pre-eminent among a group of south-eastern counties, including
Hampshire, Sussex and Surrey, with Essex. Fireclay is largely raised
from coal-mines, while, among special clays, there is a considerable
production of china and potter's clays in Cornwall, Devonshire and
Dorsetshire. As regards igneous rocks, the Charnwood Forest quarries
of Leicestershire, and those of Cornwall, are particularly noted for
their granite. Slate is worked in Cornwall and Devon, and also in
Lancashire and Cumberland, where, in the Lake District, there are
several large quarries. Salt, obtained principally from