asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he will state if, to the knowledge of his Department, a copper mine had been ever worked in Valentia Island near Foilhamarrum Bay; and, if so, if he will state the period during which it had been worked and the percentage of copper found in the ore in this particular place.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Valentia Island Copper.
A Mineral Resources Memoir, published by the Geological Survey of Ireland in 1923, contains a reference to a copper-bearing lode on the south side of Valentia Island, east of Clynacartan Village, on Foilhamarrum Bay. It is there stated that the records show a production of 65 tons of ore containing 23? per cent. copper, in 1861, and of 34¾ tons with 24? per cent. copper content, in 1862. I have no further information on the subject.
It is presumed that this is the deposit referred to in the question. It should be borne in mind, however, that the figures I have given refer to the produce of the mine sold, and the copper content of the gross quantity of material raised may have differed from the percentages quoted.