Class 1.

MIKING AND MINERAL PRODUCTS.

INTRODUCTION.

Thu intention in the collection of the objects in the four Classes of the first section—Raw Materials andProduce—has been to give a practical illustration of those substances in the mineral, animal, and vegetablekingdoms, which human industry is constantly occupied in converting into the varied forms of manu-factured articles, or which are themselves, as in the case of fuel, the indispensable sources oi. manufacturingpower. If, therefore, it is desired to obtain a philosophical view of this Exhibition and its multifarious contents,it will be found useful to commence the study by the examination of those materials, which, in other depart-ments, have been caused to assume forms so diversified. From the raw mineral it is thus possible to proceedthrough the various stages of its manufacture, until it is finally seen embodying the conceptions of the mechanic,the architect, or the artist. Many of the objects comprehended under these four Classes have little or noexternal beauty, and present, consequently, no appreciable value to the uninstructed. But if it be consideredthat, in the preparation of these materials for use, and in their application to the purposes of lile, consists thedaily toil of multitudes of the human family, then the Classes of raw materials appear to take on a new andinteresting aspect.

The present Class is divisible into the following sub-classes:—A. Mining and quarrying operations. B. Geo-logical maps, plans, and sections. C. Ores and metallurgical operations. D. Non-metallic mineral products.It comprises all that relates to the procuring of metal yielding mineral substances, to their mutual geologicalrelations, and to the operations necessary for subduing them to the requirements of the manufacturer. It alsoincludes the extraction of minerals used as fuel, of marine minerals used in construction, of minerals used inmanufactures, for ornament and for agriculture. Specimens illustrative of each of these subjects are to befound in this Class ; and if it be studied attentively it will be discovered that objects representative of all thatproperly belongs to the Class are contained in this collection.

This Class is partly contained within Avenue S. of the Building, and extends from the western entrance to theSculpture Room. If the study of it be commenced at the Sculpture Room and proceeded with to the westernextremity of the Avenue, it will be found that the metalliferous minerals and the objects illustrative ofmetallurgical processes generally, are first encountered, and subsequently the non-metallic minerals, fuels,stones, and geological specimens. The arrangement of the objects in the Catalogue is, however, in the oppositedirection. Upon the walls of this avenue are arranged maps, plans, and geological sections, in addition tospecimens of decoration belonging to Class 27, which have a certain relation with the present Class.

Among the groups of objects which present themselves most prominently on entering the avenue at theSculpture Room are large specimens of lead ore and of lead in various stages of preparation. Specimens ofsilver extracted from load by the crystallizing process of silver and gold, of iron, copper, tin, zinc, and othermetals, are arranged in order along the Avenue. To these succeed mining apparatus of various kinds, andmodels illustrative of mining processes. Mineral fuels, containing every variety of coal, with specimens ofcannel coal in manufactured state, cokes, peat, and artificial fuels come next. Slates, with illustrations of theireconomical application, building stones, china-clays, cements, and artificial stones follow these, and are suc-ceeded by geological specimens, gems, &c., up to the western termination of the avenue.

This Class is also illustrated by several large objects placed outside the Building; among these are artificialcements applied to various purposes, specimens of slate, flagstones, blocks of anthracite and other coal, pillarsoi coal exhibiting sections of beds of that substance, and columns formed of single blocks of granite. Several ofthese specimens are remarkable for their size, and furnish good illustrations of the mechanical facilities ofextraction and of transport possessed by this country.

The whole of this Class may be considered well illustrative of the mineral wealth of Britain . If our suppliesof the more precious metals are limited, the resources of power and wealth are given to this country in theoxhaustlcss stores of minerals yielding the viler metals, and a fossil fuel with which it has been endowed. Theore, the fuel for its reduction, and the material for the necessary processes, are all to be found in abundance,and generally in direct geological proximity to each other. The possession of these materials, added to thedevelopment of the means of their employment, and of the applications of their products, lie at the foundationof the present commercial and productive greatness of Great Britain.—R. E.