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 asoi-oaicAi, sttrvb-t of oahada- 
 
 ALFRED R C. SELWYN, LL.D, F.R.S, Director. 
 
 PRELIMINARY NOTE 
 
 ON THE 
 
 GtEOXjOG-^S^ 
 
 OF THE 
 
 BOW AND BELLY RIVER DISTRICTS, 
 
 N. W. TERRITORY, 
 
 WITH 
 
 sPF:crAL ri<:fkiiencb to the coal deposits. 
 
 11 V 
 
 GEORGE M. DAWSON, D.S., F.G.S., 
 
 ASSOCIATE KOYAL SCHOOL OF MINES. 
 
 DAW^SON BROTHERS. 
 
 1882. • 
 
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GBni,0(jicAi. SriivKY op Canada, 
 7th Maj, 1882. 
 
 Thi: Kiout Honokahi,b 
 
 Sir John A. Macdonali), K.C.M.G. 
 
 Minister of tfie Interior. 
 
 >SiR,— r have (lie h(.nor to (i-aiiHmit, for the infoimation of the 
 (Jovernment, the ac'c(.inpaiiyiu^' intorestiii<jj and important notes 
 hy Dr. (J. iVr. Dawson, embodying the resultis of his exploration, 
 m:ido hist Biimmer, ot iho extensive coal deposits in the North-west 
 Territory, Several so;is(ms' work will bo required to obtain the 
 necessary data for a full rej)ort, and for the construction of an 
 accurate map of these coal fields. As, however, they are likely to 
 attract considerable attention during the ensuing simimei-, with a 
 view to theii- practical development, it has been thought desirable 
 that the publication of the facts that have already been ascertained 
 should not bo delayed. 
 
 I have the honor to bo. Sir, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 ALFIiEl) E. C. SHLWVN, 
 J)irector of the Geological. Survey. 
 
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PRELIMINARY NOTE 
 
 ON TUB 
 
 Geology of the Bow and Belly River Districts, 
 
 WITH 
 
 SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE COAL DEPOSITS, 
 
 BY 
 
 GEORGE M. DAWSON, D.S., F.G.S., 
 
 ASSOCIATE KOYAI. srHOOI. OK MINKS. 
 
 OlTTMNE OP THE (lEOLOQY OF THE ReOION. 
 
 In submitting the following preliminary i-eport, I may state that It 
 is intended as an outline of the work done dui-ing the past summer 
 (1881). Jn the prosecution of the exploration I was ably assisted by 
 Mr. H. (}. McConnell, B.A. 
 
 The region examined forms the south-western angle of the North- 
 West Territoiy, and is drained ehiefly by the Bow and Belly Rivers 
 and theii- tributaries, though a portion of it lies in the Mis,souri Basin 
 and is drained by the Milk Eiver. 
 
 It is proposed at present to give merely a short preliminary account 
 of the geology of the district, with special i-oferen(!e to the coal beds. 
 After the completion of next summer's work it is intended to construct 
 a geological nuip on the scale of 8 miles to an inch, cori-esponding 
 with those alreatly published for British Columbia and the Peace River 
 and Upper Saskatchewan country, and to embody all the necessary 
 details of structure in a general i-e])or(. The region which has now 
 been partially mapped and examined, extends from the lllth meridian 
 westward to the Rocky Mountains, and is bounded south and north by 
 the 4!t(h and Slst parallels of latitude. The ai-ea of this region- 
 drawing the western line at the edge of the Paheozoic rocks— is 
 slightly over 20,000 square miles. 
 
 A portion of the Rocky Mountains was also explored and mapped ; 
 but as the mountainous district must form the subject of a separate 
 investigation, it will be necessary to state hei-e, merely that the south 
 
w 
 
 \ \\ 
 
 'M 
 
 2 OEOLOOICAL SURVEY (iK CANAItA. 
 
 Kooliiiiie I'uHH, till' (Vow's N(*s(, l*ii.ss, und tlio «'aMtern portion of tlio 
 IJow KMvor I'uHs, wort' the diHlriclH |uirlic'uUu'ly cxainincd. Tin; most 
 inlorcHlin/^j renliiro ol' these (ixploriitions wuh the (liscovtiry that in the 
 region ol' Iho ('row's Xcst I'nss, wido valloys luised on C Cretaceous 
 r()ci<s occur west ol'lhe first ran^e formed of the l*ala'o/,oic liniesloneH, 
 and that, in these Cretaceous rocks, an in»j)ortant intercalation of 
 volcanic material appeal's. It is possihle that in «onio of those now 
 isolated troughs of Cretaceous rocks coal bods may yet he found, in tho 
 heart of the rangt'. The existence of a seam was indeed reported 
 ahout twenty miles west of the summit of the Crow's Xest Pass, hut I 
 was unaMe to reach the locality. 
 
 The rocks of the foot-hills and j^Iains east of the mountains, are, so 
 far as ascertained, entirely of Cretaceous ami Laramie age, overlain hy 
 houldei' clay and other beds referalde to the glacial j)eriod, a>id 
 alluvium, in the eastern portion of the district they are horizontal 
 or very nearly so, being freipiently affected by light undulating dips 
 si-arcely greater than may be supposed to have chai'acteri/ed the 
 original surface of dojwsition. On approaching the liase of the 
 mountains this uniformity suddenly ceases, and the beds become more 
 or less sharply coi-rugated, the disturbance being in some instances 
 so great as to I'osult in overturned folds. The belt of country affected 
 by this disturbance constitutes the foot-hills. The exposures of the 
 newer I'ocks nearest the actual margin of the J'alicozoie, very often 
 show comparatively light south-westerly or westerly- dips toward the 
 base of the mountains. A sei-ies of great faults with downthrow 
 eastwai'd nuist separate these newer rocks from those of the mountains, 
 and it is by a I'cpetition of similar faulting in the mass of the i-ango, 
 that the isolated areas of Cretaceous i-ocks already alluded to have 
 been intn»duced. 
 
 (Jn the iiow IJivor Valley, the width of the disturbed belt from tlie 
 edge of the I'ala'o/.oic (which hero falls back somo miles from its 
 general line) is about twenty-seven miles. On the Ilighwood Kiver 
 and its tributaries, the limit of the region has not yet been ascertained. 
 On the North Foik of the Oldnum it is about twelve miles in width. 
 On the southern branches of the same stream, including Mill and 
 TNncher Creeks, about thirteen miles. On the Waterton (Kootanie), 
 Helly and St. Mary JUvers, ahout eighteen miles. 
 
 The geology of the regi(m in the immediate vicinity of the 
 mountains is also complicated by the fact that the beds there change 
 considerably in lithological charactei', the change being such as would 
 be expected to occur on tho approach to a shore line. Saudstoues are 
 much more abundant and coarser in texture, and in a few places 
 conglmeorates holding pebbles doi'ived from tho mountains, occiiJ'. 
 
BOW AND BEI-I.Y HIVKR htSTIirOTS. 
 
 3 
 
 One ol' tlio most iiltundaiil tniiliM-iulH in tlioso cojirHor rorks is llio 
 clici't which is (lorivcd t'roni concretions und irregular hiyors in Honio 
 |t!irls oC tlio linieslono series. 
 
 In (he Hclly River rei^ion, eastof IhtMtelt ofdistiirbeil rocks referred 
 lo above, lh(i Orelaceoiis and liaraniic hods t'orni a hroad, sliallow syn- 
 clinal, the <'enlre ol' which is occupied l>y the Porcupine Hills. A series 
 ol' reddish and purjtlish clay beds, wliieli may bo named provisionally 
 the Willow (Jreek series, apj)ear to be very persistent in the [mrami(^ 
 oCthis region, and att'ord the means of rceognizing a definite hoi-izon 
 over a lai'gc tract of country. The width of the synclinal just alluded 
 lo — measuring from the hasoof the Willow (Jreek series on each side — 
 on the Oldman Kiver and its tributaries, is about forty miles. In pro- 
 ceeding eastward from this synclinal to the boundary of the district 
 embi'aced in the season's work, the series is, with little exception, a 
 descending one. The beds appear lo liave, as a rule, jiersistent light 
 westerly or south-westerly dips, while the rivers have a considerable 
 eastward slope; and though, as above stated, many minor undulations 
 iitfecl the nearly hori/onlal rocks of tlu^ plains, these are. as a i-ulo, 
 so light as U} interfere little with their unifornuty on the large scale. 
 One im])()rtantr exception only has been noticed to this rule, where, a 
 I'ew miles above the mouth of the Belly, on the Oldman Eiver, the 
 estuarine and marine beds characteristic of the base of the liai-amie 
 are u|)lurned at angles of fi-om 30° to 45°. Similar abi-upt local dis- 
 Im-bancos are occasionally found in the west — as in several instances 
 on the Mi.ssoui-i Jiiver — in connection with the intrusion of volcaiuc 
 rocks, but there is no evidence hei'c of such cause. 
 
 The general arrangement of the rocks may be represented as in the 
 Hubjoined table, the subdivisions being in descending order. No attempt 
 is at present made to state the thickness of the several subdivisions, as 
 the map work and sections are not j^et sufficiently advanced to render 
 it possible to do so with an approximation to accuracy: — 
 
 hAKAMIE, 
 
 (incindiiig 
 
 liidith lliver 
 
 scries.) 
 
 Fox UlLLS. 
 
 Beds of the Porcupine Hills. Massive sandstones, witii shales, &c. 
 
 Willow Creek beds. Reddish and purplish clays, with gre)- and 
 yellowish sandstones. 
 
 St. Mary River series. Sandstones shales and clays of general 
 greyish or greyish-green colours. 
 
 Yellowish sandstones and shaly beds, with a mingling of fresh- 
 water and brackish or marine molluscs. 
 
 f Yellowif 
 1 thic 
 
 tish sandstones, with some shales, apparently irregular in 
 ickncss and character. Molluscs all marine. 
 
 / 
 
 
(lEnr.OMIf'AI. HI'RVKY OK PANADA. 
 
 I'IKIIIIK. 
 
 ninckiNli mill l*-ml-roloiirc(i HlinloH, witli occaRionnl HandHtnno iiitor- 
 caliitioiiH, i'H|»H'iiilly toward tli(! luointJiiuR. 
 
 i Holly River Rcrlt-n. SnndRtonos, nhnlo^ und Knndy cliiys. Upper 
 
 Nkiiikaka ? ^ part K*'»*'rHlly k^'WIhIi ; lowur yell )WiHli, and olteti banded liy 
 
 I rapidly nlteriialin^ Ix'dH. FrcNli and hracklHli water inolliiHt-H. 
 
 So fur, no roHHon Iihk b«'on foun<l 1o stipposc tliiil any Itodn nowtM* 
 tliiiii tlio riiiraniic (including; under this ^onoriil name tlio.liiditli Jiivui- 
 und \'\)r[ Union sci-iort) liavo huen found in tliis distriel, or indued in 
 any \mvi of the ('anadian North-wost. Territ/)ry. 
 
 The hedn ty|)ically developed in the I*or( uj ino IHIIh liavo not yet 
 heen lully exannned, thouf^h it is proliahle that liose neon on llio U|)pei' 
 part of the liow Uiver, in niniihir rehition to the niountaiuH, are of the 
 Mamo ajLfo. It was my intention to run a line of section eomplefely 
 across the Porcupine Hills last autumn, hut the unusually stoi-my 
 weather and early fall of snow prevented this 'Vom heinjy^ done. It is 
 prohal)li' that the beds developed in these hills j re, alono, several thou- 
 sand feet in thicUness. No coal or lignite seams have yet heen found 
 in thin ])art of the series, tiiough its general character is such as to 
 render their discovery not improhahle. 
 
 The relation of the Willow C'l-eeU series to the wide nynclinal of the 
 Porcupine Jlills has already been referred to. The beds of this series 
 are generally soft, and their outcro]) has caused the wide low valley 
 which bounds the I'oicupine Hills to the west,, and crossing I'incher 
 Creek at the Police Farm, runs south-easlward to the Waterton 
 (Kootanie) iiiver. In the viciiuty of the upper part of Milk Kiver, 
 however, they are almost hori'/onlal, and form the higljer j)art.s of the 
 plateau. They also stand up prominently in the Belly Btittc, near the 
 confluence of the Belly River with the Waterton, and probably form 
 the upper portion of the western part of Milk IJivei- llidge. The 
 characteristic colouring and aj)pearunce ol" these beds constitutes the only 
 i-eason ibr giving them a separate |)rovisional name, as they Jippoar to 
 be perfectly conformable with those above and ludow. Small, irregular, 
 clayey noduh's of jteculiar appearance abound in some layers. Fossils 
 are remarkably scarce, though a few fresh-water molluscs have been 
 observed ; and on the Oldman River, a few miles below the mouth of 
 Willow Creek, the remains of a large chelonian were met with. These 
 beds were not recogidzed on the liow River, and it is probable that 
 they die out or change their character in the region between the 
 localities just mentioned aiul that stream. In this i-egiou exposures 
 are few and poor, owing to the depth of the drift covering. No coals 
 or lignites have been found in the Willow Creek beds. 
 
 
now AND HKI.I.Y niVKH DIMTRlrTH. 
 
 ft 
 
 Tlio roekH wliic-h rmiy l»o pi-oviHioniilly deMi^natod tho St. Mury 
 |{i\(M' SorioH envoi' a liir^^o j)()i'lioii of tho ro^ion iimlcr doHcription. 
 Tlicy Imvo hoon cari)fiilly cxuniinud al many ditiorcnt localitios, and 
 oxlcnsivt' colloctionH of" fVcsli-wuh'i" molluscs have liocn niado from 
 llicm. Thewo hods arc shown in cxcidlont sections foi- many miles on 
 tl'^ lTp|)or Helly Jiivci-. and the St. Mary, W)>torf^)n and(Jldnian Hivers 
 an<l Pinehor ("rook. Thoy are jfonoraily clmraetori/.od hy rapid altor- 
 Mfitions of sandstones an«l shaly or clayey hods, tho stratiHcation, as a 
 iiilo, hein<^ r(^^nlar. (Iroyish or i^reonish- or hluiHh-;ijroy tints charac- 
 terize the hods, though somo of tho sandstones weatlu^r to yellowish 
 colours, and ironstone nodides aro of frociuent oecnrronco. At the haso, 
 IIm^so rocks show ostuarino and marine conditions, and yellowish 
 colours pn^vnil. Those latlei- hods havo heon so])arately dosignated in 
 the tahlo of formations, hut there is prohahlv no distinct eharac^toi- hy 
 which they may bo so|)arated from those :ihove, oxcoj)! the passa/^o 
 frotn hrackish-wator to frosh-wator conditions. The close i-olations of 
 these with tho upper heds is further illustrated hy a Hoction on Bow 
 Itivor, descrihod helow. In those transition beds, in tho Holly River 
 region, Corhicula pijriformis, Corbicula occidenialis and Ostrea ai-o found 
 in some layoi-s in great abundance. These fossils were obsorvod in 
 several places on tho U))pei- Belly and St. Mary JiiverH, and also on 
 tho Oldman River at tho point already mentioned as showing a 
 peculiar disturbance of the beds. Tho same zone runs northward to 
 the Scabby Butte, and bore includes large numbers of bones of verte- 
 brates, probably dinosaurian. 
 
 The whole of the bods so far described have been included under the 
 gcnoi-al name of Laramie. 1'ho total thickness of tho formation in this 
 regioti is v«>ry great, several thousan<l feet at least, and much in excess 
 of that of the Judith Bivi-r betls as developed on tlio Missouri. North- 
 wai'd, on the Bow River, tho Willow (yrock heds have not been 
 identified, and it has been found impossible to carry out tlie subdivi- 
 sions which can bo dofinoil on tho lioll}'' and its tributaries. On the 
 Bow, the Laramie extends continuously from the edge of the disturbed 
 rocks of the vicinity of tho mountains to a point about ten miles below 
 the Blaekfoot Crossing — a distance of over eighty miles. At tlio 
 western edge of this region, tho bods in theii* colour and general 
 appearance closely resemble those of the tj'pical St. Mary River sub- 
 division, but eastward, sandstones predominate over shales and clays, 
 the rapid altoi-nation of beds differing lithologically is less marked, 
 and the bluish and greenish-grey tints befoi-e observed are replaced by 
 yellowish-grey and butf. Tho representatives of the brackish or marine 
 beds described in the Belly River region are first seen near the eastern 
 edge of the formation on the Bow. in a scarped bank about ten miles 
 
T 
 
 (lEOi.OGK'AL SURVEY OP CANADA. 
 
 f 
 
 iibnvo (lie Hlackfoot C'rossi'iif, Uio lowosi layers near tlie river level 
 are full <)f's])eeiinens of Corbit'ula occidentalis and a specioH of Ostrea, 
 while a i'ow feet liijflier, i)e(ls of similar lith()lotci('i>l eharaelei-, ami 
 perfeetly eoiifoi'inaltle, are ehart^ed with flnio nntl l^wipani, nnd eoii- 
 lain no hracUish or marine forms. 
 
 Xear the hase, the Laramie is, in the I'e^ion now reported on, a 
 persistent lignite- or eoal-hearing formation. A few miles north of the 
 4!>th parallel, on the St. Mary River, a coal hed of excellent (piality, 
 eighteen inches in thickness, is found, overlain hy a hed holding Cor- 
 bicula orridentdlis and Ostrea. it is described in my IJeport on (he 
 (leology and .csources of the 4!Hh Parallel (pp. i:{2.17-.) Another 
 coal outcrop, possibly on the same seam, and about a foot in thickness, 
 is found on the Upper Belly River. The seam at the Indian farm near 
 Pincher Creek is prol)ably again not far from the same horizon, though 
 perhaps a little higher in the series. Coaly sti-eaks occur in the sand- 
 stones at the tlisturbed locality on (he Oldman River, which has already 
 been referred to, and a lignite at Scabby Butte may hold the same 
 ])osition. Further north, the seam on the How at Coal Creek, between 
 Morleyville and Calgary, and those in the vicinity of the Hla(d<foot 
 Crossing, appear to occupy nearly the sami- horizon. The thin seams 
 near the mouth of (lie Highwood Rivei- may possibly be higher in the 
 Laramie, and from the character of the St. Mary Jliver subdivision 
 throughout, it is not improbable that other coal- or lignite-bearing /.ones 
 ma}^ occur locally. The character and surroundings of the more imjiort- 
 ant seams now known ai-e ilctaile<i on a snbsetpieiit ])age. 
 
 The Fox Ifill beds, or their representatives in this district, appear 
 to pass into the base of the Laramie upward, and below to blend with 
 the Pierre, both lithologicali}' and in their fauna. On the lower part 
 of the St. Mary Kiver, a massive samlstone, about fifty feet in thickness, 
 which may be su])])osed to represent the Fox Ilill formation, from its 
 position at the top of the l^ierre, in well exposed. (Jn the Milk liiver, 
 near the crossing of the Hcnton Trail, and again north of the Fast 
 Butte, flaggy, yclhjwish sandstones with truly marine shells occui-, and 
 occupy the same })Osition with regai-d to the Pierre shales. 
 
 The Pierre (Iroup, tliroughout this district, is not so homogeneous in 
 character as further east, and frequently holds sandstone intercalations. 
 Ls occuri-ence at the base of the West iiutte has been described in the 
 Report on the ! .ology and Eesources of the 49fh Parallel, already 
 i-eferred to. A further examination of this locality has since resulted 
 in the discovery of additional fossils. 
 
 The Pierre is again seen with its characteristic fossils on the lower 
 St. Mary River, and its outcrop (at a low angle and occupying conse- 
 quently a wide belt of country) runs thence north-eastward to the Bow 
 
 1 
 
 ■ j. ' -i. ' .tm ' ji.^ 
 
B(t\V AND 1»K, /,T RIVER KTSTRIOTS. 
 
 \g zones 
 inqxn't- 
 
 3neous in 
 
 ■:il!itii)nH. 
 
 .'(I in the 
 
 alroacly 
 
 vesuliMil 
 
 lie lower 
 
 River, a dislance of oifflil y niilcs. On the Olilman River the U])per 
 part of the Pieri-e, lor a tlickiiess of jihout fift}' teet, ceases to show its 
 usual blackish or dark fi;rey colour, becoming a sombre brown clay 
 shale. On the How River Ihy same a])])earance is found, but the beds 
 so atVected are several hundred feet in thickness, and there is also here 
 toward (ho base oi (he I'lerre a /one characterized by pale sandy days 
 and sandstones. The Pierre is, however, as a wliole, the l)est marked 
 and most easily recoifnized formation of the district. The most per- 
 sistent coal-beai'ing horizon is included in its base, and has already been 
 utilized in supplying Fori Macljcod, and for shijiment to Benton on 
 the .Missouri by waggons returning frcmi l*'ort MacLeod. A second coal 
 seam occurs at the summit of the Pioi-re on Bow River, at Horse-shoe 
 bend. Details of these ai-e given on a subserpient ])age. 
 
 The beds outcropping on the J}ow and JJelly Jiivers for a distance of 
 over forty miles on each stream above their confluence, are believed 
 throughout to undei-lie the IMcmm'O. They hold in their upper portion a 
 lew fresh-water shells, with occasional fragments of dinosaurian bones, 
 but becomes estuarine and brackish-water toward the base. A more 
 detailed account of these beds is reserved till the examination of the 
 fossils — which seem to slu)W an oarl\- ajtpearance of types usually con- 
 sidered as Ijaramie — has been completed. A seam of lignite, of good 
 ipialily, but generally ot' small thickness, occurs on both rivei's. It is 
 referred to again where, at one point on the Helly River, il becomes of 
 possible economic impoi'tancc. 
 
 The ])ale beds underlying the Pierre in this region represent, with 
 little doubt, the Dunvcgan sandstones of the Peace River section. 
 ( Report of Progress, IST'.I-SO.) They are also evidently identical with 
 those described by Prof, ('ope as occujning a similar position on the 
 Missouri (Bulletin U.S. (ieol. and (Jeog. Sui-vey, Vol. Hi, p. .568.) 
 This subdivision, which appears to occupy the positicm of the Niobrara 
 in the Nebraska section, is therefore one of great importance in the 
 (.'relaceous series. 
 
 No desci'iption is given in this preliminary report of the Laranue 
 (.luditli Piver) beds of the vicinity of the Three Buttes. These fall 
 within the area of the present exploration, but have already been 
 described at some length ivi my Boundary Commission i{e])ort. 
 
 NoTKS ON THK iMORE IMPORTANT COAL SeAMS OF THE BoW AND BeLLY 
 
 River Districts. 
 
 The fuels contained in the rocks described in the foregoing general 
 notice vaiy from lignites, but slightly superior in quality to those of 
 the iSouris i-egion, to materials containing a very small percentage of 
 water, forming a sti-ong coke on heating, yielding abundance of highly 
 
'^n 
 
 8 
 
 aEOLOmcAF. SURVEY OF CANADA. 
 
 1 . 
 
 luminouR hydroearboiiK, anJ precisely roHcinbling ordinary bituminous 
 coals, though of Cretacooun or Laramie ago. In describing llicm (he 
 general tei-m coal will be used, as il is impossible to draw a definite lino 
 between the two classes among the numei-ous intermediate varieties. 
 
 The coal seam last refer -ed to as occurring on the lower How and 
 Belly Bivers, is seen in the banks for many miles at a varying height 
 above the water, owing to the light undulating dips by which it is 
 aflfected. It is generally not more than a toot or eighteen inches in thick- 
 ness though so pei'sisleni in extent, i)ntatoiu( pointon the Belly Kiver it 
 thickens to three feet, f( lining a workable seam, which appears to be 
 of good (puility throughout. This locality is thirty-two miles in a direct 
 line from " Coal Hanks." No analysis has yet been made of this fuel. 
 
 The locality Just referrc<i to as "Coal Hanks" is at the crossing of 
 the Belly Eiver by the tr.iil to Hentcm. The coal occurring at this 
 place is that which has been described as existing at the base of the 
 Pierre It is one of the be •it in the district, and has been worked to a 
 small extent for some years at this ])oint by Mr. N. Shei-an. The out- 
 ci'op of this seam is now liiown to extend from a point about six miles 
 up the .St. Maiy Kiver to that part of the Belly near and below 
 Coal Banks, and thence to run noi-thward to the How Jiiver. South of 
 the point indicated on the St. Maiy River, it has not yet been traced, 
 but as it appears remarkably constant in thickness and general charac- 
 ter, both here and at the How River, sixty-six miles distant, i doubtless 
 extends considerably further in each direction, and may also be assumed 
 to underlie tlie plains betwccm the Belly and Bow flivers in woi-kable 
 thickness. 
 
 The drift deposits average about one hundred feet in thickness over 
 this part of the plains, and it is consequently, in general, only in the 
 river valleys or in the larger cimldes which flow into them that the 
 Cretaceous rocks i-an be seen. The Belly Valley in this pai't of its 
 course is about 300 feet deep, and avei-ages neai-ly a mile in width. It 
 therefore cuts about 200 feet into the ('retaceous i-ocks, and displays 
 tine sections of these. Thei'o are in this vicinity several associated 
 coal seams ; one of these, that which has been epened bj' Mr. Sheran, 
 1 may, for the sake of deai-ness, refer to as the " main coal." it is 
 more or less perfectly exposed at intervals along this part of the Belly 
 for a distiince of about twelve miles, or from the workings at Coal 
 Banks to Big Island of the map. Above the Coal Banks the measures 
 are att'ected by a light anticlinal swell which brings up older rocks, 
 and the outcrop runs round to the west, apjjcaring on the j-iver again 
 at the mouth of the St. Mary. At the furthest point up the St. Mary, 
 where the coal appears (about seven miles from the mouth of the river), 
 it shows the following section, the second colunm being a continuation 
 of the first at a spot about 100 yards further down stream : — 
 
BOW AND BELLY RIVER lUSTRlCTS. 
 
 9 
 
 ft. ill. 
 
 Rusty iroiiKtone Inyer o 
 
 liliickish and rusty shiilo 5 
 
 Coal 
 
 Blackish shiilo y 
 
 Coal 
 
 Holt civil )()naci)0U8 Hlialc 
 
 Coal 
 
 Soft, tliiii 8hale, highly carbonaceous in 
 
 upper part 
 
 Ironstone sliale 
 
 Blackish shale 
 
 Coal 
 
 CarbomueoUB sliale (sonie coal) 
 
 Coal (partly below water) 
 
 
 
 8 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 
 
 .) 
 
 C 
 
 
 
 
 
 (i 
 
 
 
 ■1 
 
 
 
 H 
 
 
 
 <; 
 
 1) 
 
 
 
 .! 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 K 
 
 1 
 
 (J 
 
 ft. in. 
 
 Coal \ 
 
 Shalycoal 
 
 Coal 1 
 
 Shale 
 
 Coal 
 
 Grey shale 4 
 
 Coal 1 
 
 Grey Shale (to water) . . 4 
 
 About two miles f'urthoi- down tho St. Mary the coals are again soon, 
 with the following development: — 
 
 Coal (rather shaly) 1 
 
 Coal 1 
 
 Shale 
 
 Coal 
 
 Shale i 
 
 Coal ;> 
 
 Shale (with obscure i)lant impressions) (', 
 
 At the month of the 8t. Mai-y tho inainsoum has a thickness of 3 feet 
 6 inches, but about 18 inches at tho top is ratjier shaly. 
 
 On comparing these sections on Iho St. Mary with those at (.'oal 
 J5anks and on the Belly liiver to the north, it will bo noticed that the 
 coal at the tirst-mentioncd locality is more divided by shales and loss 
 favourably situated for working. 
 
 On the pai-t of Iho Belly River near Coal Banks the measures have, 
 as a whole, a light westerly dip, while that part of the outcrop between 
 Coal Banks and IMg Islanil forms a minor synclinal hollow in its edge, 
 across which the river cuts in a dii-oction nearly (Coinciding with The 
 main strike of tho measures, and gives rise to a groat display of coal 
 on this part of the valley. The coal-bearing horizon, as above men- 
 tioned, lies at tho base of tho Pierre, and its position between the dark 
 shales of this formation and the pale sandy beds of that underlying it, 
 i-endors it easy to detine tho situation of the coals, even where their 
 actual outcrop is concojilod. For a distance of five miles north of the 
 
10 OEOI.OdirAIi SirUVEY OK CANADA. 
 
 Coal Banks expoHiii-eH, the dark nhaloH just iTCcrred <o occupy tho rivor 
 valley, while the outcrop of the coal is carried eawtward to an uncertain 
 distance by the light synclinal inidiilalion alM»vc rei'orrod to. The 
 gentle inclination of the measures shows that the coal might lu! reached 
 at a moderate depth hy sIuUIh sunk through the dark shales in tliiK 
 part of the valley, from which it might with facility he worked up its 
 slope to the eastward. The undulating character of tho dips i-onders 
 it inipossihle to estimate the exact depth at which the scam would be 
 found, but it is probably not over 5(10 feet below the river, midway 
 between its southern and northern outcrops in !lie valley. It may also 
 be worked on a smaller scale, but wit)> great facility, by levels di-i von 
 into the actual outcrops in the rivor banks. 
 
 Having thus brioHy desci-ibed the general mode of occurrence of the 
 coal on this part of tho Molly River, the following mtu'o detailed nf)tes 
 on the outcrop- which <M'cur will serve to show the actual chavacter of 
 the seam. 
 
 At the Coal Ranks, the coal has boon e.\tracto<l chiefly i)y (puiriying 
 along the natural outcroji, though dui-ing the past summer a small 
 level has been begun. Tho outcrop is situated in the front of a steep 
 scarped bank facing tho rivor, and the scam, which at tho southern 
 end of tho bank is about ;J0 feet above the watei-, di))s away below the 
 water at the northern. The following section shows the mode of occur- 
 rence and association of the coal in the bank, but does not extend up- 
 ward to the base of tho di-ift deposits : — 
 
 ft. in. 
 
 Finoly laminated grey .slialti 8 
 
 Goal (shiily below) 1 t! 
 
 Grey, thin-bedded shale 12 o 
 
 Ironstone I! 
 
 Grey shale I y 
 
 Coal 8 
 
 Grey shale and nodular sandstone, carbonaceous below ... 7 o 
 
 /- Coal 1 4 -k 
 
 Main J y^aly parting (often almost absent) o 4 I Coal, 
 
 ««'^'°- \coal 4 oJ ••''I" 
 
 Carbonaceous shale 2 o 
 
 Grey shale . .■ 2 
 
 Ironstone 4 
 
 Greyish and brownish shale 3 
 
 Carbonaceous shale 3 
 
 Con'" shale 8 
 
 Grey shale 2 
 
 Coal 4 
 
 Carbonaceous shale (to water) 1 4 
 
 The dip at this place is about N. 83° W. (mag.), at an angle of 5 to 
 8 degrees. 
 
now AND BKIil.V KIVKK DISTRICTS. 11 
 
 On tlio opposit-o side of llio river, at its next bend, the ooal soam is 
 a^aiii well shown. It is slii^litly undulating, and dips gradually away 
 Ih'Iow tho water level at the northern end of the hank. The |>art of 
 the section designated above as the Main Sean) is here as follows: — 
 
 It. ill. 
 
 Coal 1 fi 
 
 Shaly (Mirting (I to 3 iiiclit-K) o '2, 
 
 Coal :! :t 
 
 Total coal ■» l> 
 
 Ahout four inches in thickness at the hase of the seam is liere 
 laminated in texture, liut appears nevertheless to he of good quality. 
 The general dip is ahout N. 50° \V. (mag.), al an angle of less than 5°. 
 
 From this point for a distance of live miles down the valley, the 
 dark shales overlying the coal are alone seen. When it again appears, 
 on the west hank of the rivor, tlie Main Seam shows the following 
 section : — 
 
 Coal . 
 Shule 
 Coal . 
 Shale 
 Coal . 
 
 it. ill. 
 
 1 (5 
 
 ;i 
 ■I <; 
 
 1 t; 
 
 2 '.) 
 
 Tot4il coal 8 
 
 !» 
 
 The lowest division of the soam at this place is apparently not 
 represented in the sections previously dericril)ed. The coal in it is 
 somewiiat laminated, but seems to be of good quality. The dip is hero 
 ahout S. ^O"^ W. (mag.), at an angle of 5''. 
 
 About tiireo miles further north, extensive exposures of the coal are 
 again tbund in the scai-ped bank or clitf lacing the river, at a height of 
 about 100 feet above the water level. Tlie dip is light and luidulating, 
 but on the whole westward, or away from tho rivor. Tho Main Seam 
 is here composed as follows : — 
 
 ft. in. 
 
 Coal 2 6 
 
 Carbonacoous shale (» 7 
 
 Coal 2 2 
 
 Carbonaceous shale 1 o 
 
 Coal 1 3 
 
 Total coal 5 11 
 
 The coal here appears t<i be of good quality throughout. North of 
 this point on tho river tho Main Seam is not again found well exposed, 
 
 \ 
 
h ' 
 
 i 
 
 12 OEOLOUICAL Sl'KVKY OK CANA1;A. 
 
 though in soverul pliicoM the asHociatod rocks uro shown in Kuch a way 
 aH to indicate that it outcropH below the drift a nhort ditttsmce oast of 
 the vivor valley. 
 
 At the point at which the base of the Pierio should cross the Little 
 Bow River, a seam of coal a few inches thick was observed by Mr. 
 McConnell, l)ut the exposures ilid not bring- the main scam into view. 
 
 This eoal-bearing hori/on appears again on the Ik)w River at (Irassy 
 Island, about thirty-three miles in a direct line below the Blaekfoot 
 Crossing, in hit. 50° 25' 15". In their general appearance, arrango 
 nient and thickness, the seams here exposeil closely correspond with 
 those on the Belly River. The subjoined section exhibits the relations 
 
 of the coal at this place : 
 
 ft. in. 
 
 Lead grey shale 25 
 
 Coal 1 6 
 
 Soft grey and yellowish-grey shaly sandstone 13 <> 
 
 CarbonaceouK shale, coaly streaks 2 3 
 
 Coal (good and sound throughout) 4 6 
 
 Dark grey shale and shaly clay 7 
 
 Coal 1 
 
 Carbonaceous shale 1 
 
 Coal 8 
 
 Soft shale and clay 8 
 
 Coal and carbonaceous shale (to water) 1 6 
 
 The seams dip westward at .i very light and constant angle. The seam 
 4 feet 6 inches in thickness probably represents the Main Seam of 
 the Belly River. 
 
 Some general facts regarding the composition of the coal of this 
 horizon in the Cretaceous may be given. T\w analysis by Prof. Haanel 
 quoted in my repoi't on the Geology and Resoiuces of the 4!lth Parallel 
 (p. no, No. Ill, in table) is of coal from this seam, but pi-obably from 
 that part of the outcrop near the mouth of the St. Mary River. The 
 same remark applies to a specimen which was analysed by Dr. Har- 
 rington. (Repo'-t of Progress, 1877-18, p. 41) C.) I'rof. Haanel's analysis 
 shows 6"Hy per cent, of moisture and l]"8() percent, ash. Br. Harrington's 
 H])ecimen contained 5*79 i>er cent, water and 2-05 ash. A s])ecimen 
 from Mr. Shei-an's mine, collected and examined by myself, yielded the 
 following result : 
 
 Water 6-,52 
 
 Volatile combustible matter 31 "OS 
 
 Fixed carbon 56-54 
 
 Ash 5 01 
 
 100-00 
 
now ANI» HEM.Y KIVEK DISTIUrTS. 13 
 
 The coal is coiiipuct, docH not easily break u|» \\y haiidliiiu; oi- ex- 
 poHuro, ami in in every respect a very excellent fuel, liiit does not yield 
 a coherent coke. 
 
 In correspondence willi (he increased distance Iroiu the niounlains 
 ot' tlie outcrop of the same soani on Ihe iJow Kivc'-, and prohahh' in 
 lerior <lo<j;ree olaheraiion (o which it has Iummi sid»jeeted, (he coal is 
 there I'ound to coidain more water, ai)proxinia(ini;' in this "espect to 
 sonu' of the Souris JJiver lignites. Fj-oni these, however, it still ditVers 
 in its more compact texture and resistance to weathering and the 
 regular vertical «leat or jointage planes by which it is traversed, which 
 ,ause it to assume cuhoidal instead ol'conchoidal forms on fracture. A 
 preliminary exanunalion of an outcrop specimen from this locality 
 gave the Ibllowing result: — 
 
 WattT 12:!7 
 
 Volatile comliustible iiiatter :vi-'Xi 
 
 Fixed carlion Mi 'M> 
 
 Ash H-9I 
 
 KM) (K) 
 
 The seam occurring at the sunnnit of (he Pierre formation on the 
 Row River, at the point which I have designated as ilorse-shoc bend, 
 has a very light westerly or north-westerly dip, and is not known to be 
 rti^H'csented on the Belly IJivcr, though it is probably its eontiiuiation 
 whicli appeal's on the Little Bow, near the month of the Snake Valley. 
 The outerop at JI(trs( -shoe Bend is situatctl aboul fif(een miles east- 
 norlh-eiis( of (he Blaekft>o( Crossing. The seam appears a( a heigid of 
 J.'!5 fee( above (he wafer in a s(ee}) sear[ied baidv on (he sou(h-eas( side 
 iifdie I'ivcr, ami is e\|)()se(l for ni-arly liidf a mile. l( is 4 feet 4 inches 
 in thi«kness, compact and hard where not long wt>a(hered, and in 
 physic'd charac(er resendiles thai las( di'scribed. A pi'eliminary exami- 
 ua(ion of an outcroj) specimen showed the following composition: — 
 
 Wilier 1 :! (!T 
 
 Volatile ('oiiit)ustilile matter :;T • I G 
 
 Fixed carlion (O-SO 
 
 Ash (led(iisli) 8 .«7 
 
 100(10 
 
 Still (bllowingan ascending order in the series, the seam which has 
 lu'cn known for some ^-ears at Black(<)ot Crossing next claims attention. 
 This is several hundred feet higher in the section than the last, and is 
 distinctly included in (ho l^aramie. it is probable that still another 
 seam exists l)etwoen this and that last described, but no good sections 
 of it wore found. 
 
14 
 
 • IE01,(»(lirAI, SURVEY OK CANADA. 
 
 ^1 
 
 Coal occiirH in Hovonil placcH on tlio How Hivoi* a few niiloH iihovo 
 tho Blnckibol Crossinjjf. Tlio M-ains aro loo thin (<» work, but aro 
 j»i"ol)ai)ly <m tlu- same liori/on with tiiat (icsfi'ibi*<| hc>h>w. Thi'oiiijhoiil 
 this roi,^ion tlio Ix'ds aro atl't'cto'l !)> ^cntU* iimliilatiiDj; <li|w, ; . lliou^li 
 tlicy have ho.viilos a voiv liiihl ^jcnoral inclination westward, iht'y may 
 be fonsidorcMl as piai-tically horizontal. 
 
 The outci'O]) IVoni whioh a small <iuanlity oi'coal has been o.xti-actod, 
 and which has been rcl'cnod I » by several travt'llcrs, is sitnated si.x 
 and a halt' miles eastward from the l}lael<l(»ot Ai^enc}' lmildin;;s, on a 
 eouleo which runs northward I ) tho How. Tho deposit here consists 
 of two seams, the upper avora<fin>j; 1 t»)ot S inches in thickness, (ho 
 lower .'{ loot. They are sopar.it od by about u foot of carboiuiceouK 
 shale. .\t this spot the bed may be (raced about 500 feet in natural 
 exposures, and is atVocted by vai-iablo dips which do not oxceetl 5° in 
 amount. Tho (hickness of (ho seams condnues nearly uniform, and 
 (hoy would ati'ord, say, 4 foe( (! inches of clean coal, (ho whoh^ of 
 which could bo worked at once. Tho immediate Itaidis of the couldo 
 are about SO foot bit;h at this place, (lie upper two-thirds being com- 
 posed of drift deposits, which rest on a worn undulating surface of (ho 
 rocks below. Tho general level of tho surrounding prairie is about 
 110 feet above the horizon of the coal, and no exposures of (be coal or 
 associated rocks are fouml except in (ho river banks or coulees, which 
 cut deeply into (ho surtiicoof the plain. 
 
 In following tho couldo northward from tho spot Just described, (he 
 coal is fre(iuen(ly seen on (he right or east bank for about a mile, af(or 
 which (lie coulee opens into a wider valley with sloping grassy sides, 
 and exposures cease. Owing to (he slope of (ho bottom of (ho coulee 
 (oward (he river, (he beds aro cut into r.oro deeply near its mouth, 
 and at tho last exposure the seam is aliout thirty feet up in tho bank. 
 The upper soain is lioi-e not well shown, but (he lower exhibits a few 
 inches ovei' 4 feet of good coal. In an exposure intermediate between 
 this and tho Hrst, tho upper seam is S incdies (hick, the shales 1 toot, 
 and tho lower seam 4 foot 4 inches. Tlus seams are underlain by at 
 least twenty foot of soft whitish sandstone. Tho same bed appears 
 near (he Agency buildings, where tho Indian trail goir.g eastward, 
 leaves tho valley, but tho coal seams are here wanting oi- very pooi'. 
 
 Between tho Blaikfoot Crossing and the coulde above described, 
 the same coal-bearing horizon appears in several places in the banks 
 of Bow Eiver. The seams are here more favourably situated for 
 working, and of greater thickness than in the coulee. The subjoined 
 section shows their mode of occurrence atone point : — 
 
 I. I 
 
 |i:| 
 
; ill)OVO 
 
 lilt aro 
 •Uijhoul 
 
 oy intty 
 
 O'S, Oil il 
 
 roiisists 
 lOSH, tlio 
 
 iiatiinil 
 hmI r)° in 
 »rm, and 
 whole of 
 10 ooul(5o 
 ing com- 
 I'o of the 
 is alioiit 
 10 coal oi- 
 ls, whii'li 
 
 ihctl, the 
 lilo, after 
 ssy sidort, 
 lie coiiloc 
 Is mouth, 
 the hank, 
 hits a few 
 > hetwccu 
 les 1 foot, 
 aiii hy nt 
 appears 
 astward, 
 y pool-. 
 3osi-i-ihed, 
 the banks 
 uatod for 
 aiibjoined 
 
 HOW A.\1> HEI.l.V UIVKM OISTIUOTS. 15 
 
 ft. in. 
 
 Coal 1 8 
 
 Illiick carlioimcccniH shalr I i 
 
 Coal 1 H 
 
 Sli.ilo :! 
 
 Coal !» 
 
 siuiic (I :t 
 
 Coal 3 
 
 Slinli- I (I 
 
 Coiil 1 10 
 
 Total 11 10 
 
 TotrtI ooal 8 11 
 
 The (-oal is here a^aiii un(k>rlaid iiy whitish Kandslonc for ahonl .*]() 
 feel, or to Uio water's edge. Nearly opposite the exposure, on the 
 soutji side of the river, the seam aj)pears at intervals in the hank, at a 
 iiciifht of about M\ feet abovi^ the water, for at least a (|uai-ter of a 
 mile. It is atfected hy a series of light undulations. 
 
 The natural exposui-es serve to j»rove the e(»ntinuity in good work- 
 able thiekness of this coal deposit over a tract of country several miles 
 ill extent, and its nearly iiori/.ontal attitude and moderate depth below 
 llie siirfiice of the [ilains, would enable it to be proved by boring at a 
 small expense over any desired area. 
 
 In texture, this coal is not so tirni or well adapted 11)1- transport as 
 lliose of the localities previously described, but in (-oiiiposition appears 
 I'lost'ly to resemble that of Ilorse-shoe bend. 
 
 The following are analy.ses of the fuel from this place; the lirst 
 from a specimen obtained by Prof. Maeoiin, the second from one 
 collected by myself, and |>robably not subjected to such prolonged 
 • lesiecation : — 
 
 IV II. 
 
 Water 10- 7-2 13-'J(i 
 
 Volatile combustible iimtter 2!>-20 :i.3-80 
 
 Fixed carbon 46-09 18 • Id 
 
 Asb 1:^-93 4-90 
 
 100-00 IdO'dll 
 
 Three coal-hearing localities on the head waters of the Oldman 
 liiver appear to be of sufficient importance to obtain notice at the 
 present time, but as the country toward the base of the mountains 
 becomes more fully known, it is probable that numerous additional 
 outci'ops will be discovered. 
 
 By Mr. C. Uoffiuann. Report of Pronrcss, 1879-80. p. 12 h. 
 
16 
 
 QBoLOdinAI- SITRVRY OF OANAIIA. 
 
 At the (lovorninimt Indian Fiirm, hoiUIi of I'inclior (/fcok, a mam of 
 coal occiirH altoiit one niiU' fi-oni Mie liirni l)uil(linj^H, u]) tlio valloy of 
 tlio small stream on which thoy arc situated. 'I'ho rocks in the lowei' 
 part of the valh'y hclon^ to the St. .Mar^- I'iver siihdiviHion of the 
 Ijaramie, and dip toward the north-north-east (rna^.) Tluar an^le 
 •gradually increases from ahoiit 20° till the lieds Iteeomo nearly vertical 
 whcr<' the coal occurs. Beyond this point the; rocks are concealed, 
 Imt the coal proiiahly occupies a position vary neai- the hase of the 
 Laramie. 
 
 Near the coal st'ani, the beds have hcen nincli disturbed, and the 
 coal itself Ih slickensided and hritken throui^houl in such a way as to 
 caus(! it to crumhle easily by handlinif. The si'ani is two fet^t in thick- 
 ness where exposed, but is saiil to have been consideraljly thicker 
 where followed into the ba-ik. The opening made on the coal has, 
 howevt-r, since been lilletl in. This stum should reappc^ar on I'inclier 
 Oret'k above the crossini;" place of the road, but the horizon at. which it 
 should occur ajtpears (o be covered. 
 
 An analysis of the coal from this seam by .Mr. llolVmann is i:;iven in 
 the licporl of I'l-of^ress for 1HTS-71>, p. 12 n. It may be (pioted here 
 foi- comparison with thos(^ of the other seams, and illustrates the 
 improvement in (piality of the coals on Ihcii' approach to tlie base of 
 the moimtaiMs: — 
 
 Water fi • '.'fj 
 
 Voliitile coiiilumtil)!!) raiittcr 'i!»- 31 
 
 ^'ixed carbon 55 • 70 
 
 Ash hTm 
 
 loo- 00 
 
 On the middle fork of the Oldman River, a tiinv miles below the 
 falls, and nearly north oi' the mill on Mill ('reek, two seams of i^ood 
 coal occur in a scai-pcd bank on the noi-th side of the stream. The beds 
 are each about three feet in thickness, and are folded in a very remark- 
 able manner, illustralin<^ the intensity of the force which has acted 
 in crumpliiiii; the rocks near the base of the mountains. It is probable 
 that these beds occu|)y a horizon near the base of the Laramie. They 
 appro.Kimate in character to ti-ue bituminous coals, and would yield 
 coherent cokes, but no analysis has yet been made of them. 
 
 The section in which these coal seams occur is as follows. The 
 order appears to be descending, but the whole may not improbably be 
 overturned : — 
 
HOW AND BKLI.T RIVER DIHTHICTH. 
 
 n 
 
 ft. ill. 
 (irey to black, very lliio hLhIo, with occftBionivl Kmnll flsli 
 
 Kcalcis mid lioiieK, Ix'comiiij^HiiiKly 1111(1 yollowish at liaw!. d ii 
 
 KcrnigiiioiiH HaiidKtdiif o tj 
 
 (iruyiHh, soft BaiulHtoiK^ or aiunacdoiiR clay, with Homti thin 
 
 iroiiHtoiic layci'H 10 o 
 
 Flanlnr f^n'yiHh and tcniiKiiioiiH HatulHtoiK!, with foniu 
 
 obHciiro plant frannKJiitM r» o 
 
 Hani, flaggy, y(^llowisli rtaniLstoiu! :>. o 
 
 (jroy Kanily nhalc and siialy KandHtono 3 o 
 
 Coal ;{ (I 
 
 Soft black carbonaceous Hlialc !» 
 
 Urry sandy shale :; (i 
 
 Qrcy Handy shalo and sandstone i d 
 
 fii'cy fla;fi,'y sandstone, wcatlicriiif; rimty 'J t> 
 
 iJrcy sandy shale and slialy sandstone 5 o 
 
 Coat. Imperfectly Heen, but at least 3 feet of good (|uality :i r, 
 
 Carbonaceous shal(! I ii 
 
 Orey siiiidy sliale I o 
 
 FcrriiKinouH sandstone . . . '. o c, 
 
 (ircceiiisli-Krey sandstont! |o it 
 
 (irey and iilackisb carbonacc^dis shab^ 4 o 
 
 (lieenish-Krey, soft sandstone c o 
 
 Sandstone and arenaceous and carbonaceous shale, witli 
 
 general greenish-grey tints, (about) HO o 
 
 i; 
 
 On Mill (Jreok, about four miles above the mill, a seam of coal out- 
 crops. The measiiroH arc somewhat broken, ami the seiun appears (o 
 be rather iiicoiislant in thickness. It was intended last autumn to 
 make a cai'cful examination of (his nei;.,'hbonrliood, and lo endeavour 
 to follow the coal-bearin<^ horizon soulhward and northward from Mill 
 Creek to its outcrop on other streams, but this was prevented by the 
 early onset of wintry weather. The coal is of excellent (juality, and 
 yields a firm coke. It has been used to a stiiall extent in blaeksmith- 
 vvork at the null. The following; are sections of the seam on opposite 
 sides of a break or fault which traverses the measures jit the outcrop: — 
 
 ft. in. 
 
 Coal (rather shaly) ;{ j 
 
 Coal 2 
 
 Shale ] 4 
 
 Coal 2 
 
 Shale I 4 
 
 Coal 2 
 
 Total coal y 2 
 
 
18 (lEOI.ddirAI. SlUlVRr nv CANADA. 
 
 rt in. 
 
 Coal (rathur Htmly) 'J o 
 
 Slml.' I II 
 
 Cotil (ii|i|iiir(intly mxnl tbidiiKlioiit, with tli<> <!X<'C|)tioii ol a 
 
 fi'W Hliiily |iiii'tinKH, not i-<|iiallinK I in(^hrH in nil) t! o 
 
 'I'otnl conl 8 
 
 Tli(> j^i'olo^iciil liori/oii of llir coiil at Mill (VocU Iijvm riot l»oen 
 <loUtnniiie«l. 
 
 (iKNKRAI, fiKMAIlKS ON TUB CoAI.H AND LtdNITES. 
 
 VVniiillior from an ci^oiiomic or \n\rv\y Hcionlilic point of view, on»> of 
 lilt' inosl in(orcstiii<f rosiiHs of the o.\|»loi'alion of the Mow and Holly 
 Kivor founlry is llic (li'tt'rniination of tlio fad llial IIk* coals art> not 
 confined to a sin^^ic liori/,on oi- for: nation, hut cliaructcrizc at least four 
 zones in tho ^colo<^ical series of this re<;ion. The fuels found in the 
 T^araniie rejii-osent, at least in a general way, those characterizing 
 the same formation or its representative, the Fort Hnion (Jroiip, 
 eastward on the ]>laiiis to the Soiiris Kiver. As far north as the 
 Athahusca and Peace liivers, fuels arc now known to occur in rocks of 
 aliout tlu^ same a;^e. Tho coal seam whicii has heen referred to as 
 attaclu'd to tho summit of the I'iei-re sliaU's, is not known to he repre- 
 sented elsewhere, unless indeed l»y a very thin soam near the same 
 horizon on the Smoky River. ( Report of Progress, 187t>-8l), j). 125 n.) 
 
 The coal at the hase of the Pierro, which has heen worked at Coal 
 Ranks, on the Belly River, has not heen reco<^nized in a workahle form 
 beyond the limits of the <listrict now described. The dark, highly car- 
 bonaceous beds at the base of the Upper Shales of Smoky River are, how- 
 ever, at about this horizon, and in one place a thin seam of lignite coal is 
 locally developed (op. cit. p. 118 n.) A bed of lignite describod by Prof. 
 ( V»pe on the Missouri as in some j)Iaces of possible economic value must 
 also be of nearly the same a,i;e. (Bulletin U. S. (reol. k Geog. Sui-vey, 
 Vol. 111., p. mU').) It is further worthy of remark that this coal-bearing 
 horizon at the base of tho Pierre of the interior continental region is, 
 as nearly as possible, equivalent to that at the base of the Chico (iroup, 
 whitdi yields the coals of Vancouver Island at Nanaimo and C'omox. 
 
 The coal in the series below the Pierre on the Bow and Belly Kiver 
 may be taken in a ;<'neral way as representing those .'hich occur in 
 the Lower or Dunvegan Sandstones of the Pino River, .n the Peace 
 River country (op. cit. p. IIG b.) 
 
 Tho occuri-ence of workable coal seams at several different horizons, 
 and the proved continuity of some of them over gi-eat areas, guarantees 
 an abundant supply of fuel in this district, a matter of great import- 
 
now ANr» iiKi.i.v nrvKii rusTRtcTs. 
 
 10 
 
 luitf in u foiiiilry wliicli over ^rnul aroHs is ulmoMl ontiroly doMtitute 
 of Will (d. 'riic <|ii!ilily oC Koiiuw)!' Iliii fiicl-t Ih kiii-Ii uh Io romlor tluMii 
 Hiiitalilt) tor li-uns|)or( to a ilistaiicr, and it is doiilitlcss on this litdl of 
 coal lK>ai'in;j i-ocUk in tlu^ vicinity of tin- inonnUiinM that tho ruilwuyH 
 of tho Norlh-wt'Ht will dcpcnil thiclly for tlioir supply. 
 
 The <|iiantity of coal already |trov(M| to t-xist \h voiy ;^rcat. The 
 distances lor which the outcrops of ci>rtain Hcains havt* hccn IniotMl 
 havo hccn nu)nlionc(|. Approxinnitc; estimates of the ((iianlity of coal 
 underlying a s<|uare mile of country in several localities have boon 
 
 made, with the Ibllowin^ i-osidts; — 
 
 « 
 J/(i«>j .SV(i»«, in vhlnity of Coal Hiuilts, Hilly llivor. Coiil un(lt!i-- 
 lying one milmru niilc, 5,500, ouo toiiH. 
 
 (triii.li/ /n/iiihl, Itow liivcr. ((Joiitimmtion of ISilly IlivcM- Miiin 
 St'iitu.) Colli lUidcrlyiuK ouo Ht|M(iic mile, over ,0,000,000 
 tons. 
 
 Ilormshne H<nJ, How River. Coal undiilyiiif,' one «qiiaro mile, 
 4,'J0O,(i0O touH. 
 
 lilack/oot Crouiwj. Workable coal in se.ini an expoHed ou Bow 
 Uiver. Underlying one Hciuaro mile, 'J,000,000 tons.