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Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre film^s d des taux de reduction diffdrents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul clich6, il est filmd d partir de I'angle supdrieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. rrata o )elure, J 32X 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 r III B( Pi 1 U\), WI»-ip(r"'r"r"j;r'T' ;**— -*-*-*«-»'"-^«*. -**m '^yiTM .'';^' 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. • T BP ' ■ ■■^■■■■j»' .'-9 -_j- TUT-r-- ■- T- - 1. . Ti *l h- in:i To mu iilt vio ihii J. 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. T .. ■,--■'■-■ =;Hi 1^ . 11 j ; :! ' It".; ii f: kH.4 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.