A SKETCH OF THE MINERAL RESOURCES OP PART OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, NOVA SCOTIA. WITH REFERENCE TO THE SERVICE OF THE INTERCOLONIAL AND THE BPRING HILL AND PARR8BORO' RAILROADS. BX HENKY Y. HIND, M. A. >• I i ■) , -i 1 1— f c- • •. < ' • I « • ' HALIFAX, N. S. PRINTED BY CHARLES ANNAND. 1872. r''> r • • • • » • ., • • • - • ' • _ • • • • • ^ .' • • • • • < • '\ -'■'- M' , ' I , ( '!H^ A SKETCH Of the Miqeral Resources of Cumberlaad County. The part of Cumberland County to which this sketch refers, is almost entirely occupied by carboniferous rocks, and includes the greater portion of the productive Coal Basin intersected by the Intercolonial and the Spring Hill and Parrsboro' Railroads. Its north-western boundary extends from Mill Creek,Minudie, to Apple Head, a distance of thirty miles, ajid is washed by the waters of Chignecto Channel at the head of the Bay of Fundy. The known northern boundary of the productive coal bearing rocks begins a little south of Mill Creek, Minudie, and pursuing a course nearly due east, is met with on Little River, a tributary of Black River, about five miles to the north of the Intercolonial. The southern boundary of this Basin lies within half a mile south of the same great artery where it crosses Black River. Its ex- tension to the eastward is still undetermined. "Westward from Black River, its boundary sweeps round a promontory, stretching northwards to Stewart's meadow, and thence southwards through Spring Hill, down the valley of the Maccan on the flanks of the Cobequids, into the valley of the Hebert River, where it forms a deep sinus towards Parrsboro'. Following the course of the west branch of the Hebert River, it reaches the coast near Apple River. The area of this Basin is about 270 square miles, and from the summit of Claremount, which is not less than 900 feet above .tlie sea level, the entire Basin is exposed to view, present- ing to the eye a vast undulating expanse of forest, brokto hi^re and there by barrens and the clearings of settlers. The roads intersecting this vast wilderness are generally good, in consequence of the sandy or gravelly soil which is derived from the underlying rock of the coal formation. On the main line of communication, between Truro and Amherst, good farms are not uncommon, as well as along the entire course of the Maccan River, but throughout the interior, unbroken forests or spreading barrens prevail. The flanks of the Cobequids are clothed with a magnificent growth of spruce and hardwood, and as soon as the lines of Railroad are in active operation, these comparatively untouched productions of the forest will find a market. T?E GEOLOGICAL STRUCTURE OF THE CUMBER- LAXD COAL FIELD. In 1843 an elaborate section of the measures exposed on the coast of Chignecto channel was made by Sir William Logan, and published in the first Report of the Canadian Geological Survey, in 1844. This section has justly been regarded, not only as one of the most remarkable illustrations of geological structure extant, but also as exhibiting in its description singular powers of observa- tion, deduction and analysis. It extends over a horizontal dis- tance of ten miles, from Minudie to near the centre of the great Cumberland trough of carboniferous rocks near West Ragged Reef, thus comprising the greater portion of the north side of the trough or basin, and including all the known coal-bearing groups of beds. The south side of the trough, extending from the Shoulie River to a short distance south of Apple River, has not been described. Sir William Logan's measurements comprehended 14570 feet in vertical thickness, of the carboniferous rocks of the Cum- berland trough. He divided this series into eight groups, of which the following is the resume, beginning with the highest group: •■•:..,. ,.■ , . '■. :.i;., . ;•<; ■/-: I ,; ThIokneH In Feet. Group No. 1,...................;... 1617 " 2, 650 , " " 3, 2134 " " 4, 2539 " " 5, 2082 " " 6, 3240 " 7, 650 " " 8, 1658 Total thickness 14570 feet. Groups one and two do not contain any seams of Coal, and as far as this important mineral is concerned, they may be regarded as barren. Group No. three, contains twenty-two seams of Coal. Group No. four contains forty-five seams of Coal. Group No. five is barren Group No. six contains nine seams of Coal. Groups. Nos. seven and eight are barren. The entire section contains seventy-six seams of Coal ; many of these are but rudimentary, as they appear on the coast section, but in the interior of the Basin they may acquire very consider- able dimensions, as is shown by the Spring Hill seams, which are of a magnitude and purity no where recognized in the coast section. There is however, no certain evidence that any one seam found on the coast can be identified with seams discovered far in the interior, and it is probable that local conditions may have favoured the- accumulation of Coal in one locality, which did not obtain in another. ... , ^ Of the eight groups of beds before enumerated, three are characterized by numerous beds of Coal, but this is not the only mineral of economic importance which gives value to the Cumber- land Coal Fields. Sir William Logan in his comprehensive sec- tion and analysis of the same, has included the beds of clay iron stone, the beds fit for grindstones and for flagging. He has also enumei^ted'fhe'Various beds of limestones, which are valuable as a source df lime, and especially on account of the large per rentage of phosphoric acid they contain, which may render them important as sources of special manures. It is proposed to con- sider these diffi^rent economic materials under their respective heads. ANALYSIS OF SIR WILLIAM LOGAN'S SECTION. • .' . . ■ GROUP NO. 1. ■• ' '* From the neighbourhood of West Ragged Reef to a few hundred feet beyonii the north branch of Two Rivers. Feet. Feet. Greenish gray or drab coloured Sandstones, with conglomerate beds and large carbo- nized Drift plants -. 947 Dark Red or chocolate argillaceous and afgillo — areneceous shales 670 Total thickliess ■— 16 17 A few beds; fit ftftr jjrihdi^dhies atid waterstdnes ; (Targe grind- •tones). No clay iron-«toiie beds, no coal seams, 'f his gi'dup forms part of the upper barren coal -mfesstires, and 4b characterized by beds of eonglomertite. dn6ifp i^y tf^lk- ccfeuB said vjpenaeeoM eAi!^.'. . . ■. < .' Total thickness . <. 32d 322 650 ( f'-: ) -1,, I' ■OROOP NO i^ Ittm. a tekMt dil^fadfe beydiKl BMi^d 9M ttm to Den^ • t J'?^T~J^ n "■f'jj "^^f J^ T Coal in 22 seams Carbonaceous shales associated with the Coal Seams and in one instancewithout coal Undercky or understone being beds of various material immediately subjacent to the Seams of Coal and car- bonaceous shale, and uni- versally penetrated by the branches and radiating leaves of stigmaria fi- coides. .Every one of the Coal and carbonaceous seams rests upon a bed of this des- cription, and in two cases stigmariee beds exist with- out Buperinoumbent coal. The material constituting the stigmariae beds is as follows : Sandstone, gray .... 23ft. 3 in. Greenish gray or drab 48 " Argillaceous and arenaceous shale. Gray Greenish gray Red and occasionally green . . Sandstone — Gray Greenish gray, chiefly fit for Grindstones Reddish of various shades. . Shale — Gray — Argillaceous r,. Arenaceous FMt. ott. oin. Keot. Feet. 1 • * ■ 3 10 9f. 3in. ■ 1 ' a 1 1 • . * 1 • ..■,;• 4, • . • 1 1 t I , I ■ I { !• r r t ■u, i 66 3 r » 1 '58 4 7 42 ! 107 4 178 7 i S2 ^ «57 t) •204 i .... 1 1S6 6 1 1 • • < 44 1 8 Eed and Green Argillaceous , Arenaceous. . Measures concealed supposed to be chiefly shale Feet. 564 104 9 Feet. Feet. Feet. 805 3 203 Total thickness 2134 1 This Group of Beds forms the upper Coal bearing group in the Cumberland Basin. None of the seams as they appear on the coast, are of workable thickness, but there are indications in the interior that some seams belonging to this group are of economic value. The grindstone beds of North Bagged Reef and of South Eagged Reef lie within the limits of the group. About six hundred feet in thickness of rock in separate beds fit for grindstones, show the importance of this group without regard to Coal. Beds of shale containing clay-ironstone balls are numerous. GROUP NO. IV. Extending from Dennis River Point to the south western ex- tremity of Lower Cove. COAL in forty-five seams Carbonaceous shale, associated with the above coal seams and in one instance with- out coal Gray argillaceous shale inter- stratified with the coal seams in 8 cases, in two of which the shale is one foot and upwards thick, with- out exhibiting any remains of stigmarise Black and Gray bituminous limestone, touching the coal and carbonaceous 37 9^ 36 4 4 4^ J • 1 ' . shales, often interstratified, and containing the remains of fishes, shells, and occa- sionally stigmariffi. In one instance the limestone has no coal with it, in 16 cases it is associated with the coal seams Underclay or understone, being beds of various material, immediately subjacent to the seams of coal and car- bonaceous shale and bitu- minous limestone, and in- variably penetrated by the recumbent branches or radiating leaves of the atigmariajicoides. Every one of the seams of coal and caibonaceous shale rests upon a stigmariae bed with the exception of one instance, where 4 feet of gray argillaceous shale,des- titute of the plant, is in- terposed between the stig- mariae bed and the coal, and one instance where the stigmariae are doubtful. — There are 12 instances of stigmariae beds without superincumbent coal. The material constituting the stigmariae beds is as follows: Ganister, a hard silicious stone Sandstone — Gray and crumbly, some- times a doubtful fire clay. . Greenish gray FmU Feet, Feet, U 3 4 6 72 10 4 Feet. r-i 101 9 76 10 ¥> Feet. Arenaceous shale, often fit for Fireclay — Gray Greenish gray . . . Red Argillaceous shale sometimes fit for fireclay — Gray Greenish gray. ., Green Red and Green Red Sandstone — Gray in colour, and much of it of a crumbly nature, re- sembling the quality in which the remains of Stig- marise are found Greenish Greenish Gray or Drab colour- ed, some of it fit for grind- stones, and patches of it • containing carbonized drift plants Red and green, less durable in quality than the drab coloured stone Reddish, similar to the preced- ing in durability Red, or chocolate coloured, easily yielding to the in- fluence of weather Shale — Arenaceous. Gray Gray with ironstone j^^l^. . Greenish gray . > . . , 189 25 6 6!0 ^l 13 Feet. Feet. ; 13 , J Feet. 2^0 6 S0£ 5 I | l|l I HL 1 259 % 4 % %Z% 6 69 67 8 15 6 104 5 ,(., 504 3 647 11 ll Green Itleddish Red tind green Red and green with iVon«f one bails Shvle — Argillaceous. Gray Gtay with ironstone balls Greenish gray Greenish gray with iton- fitone balls Gre^.. ...'.'. Red and green Red and green with iron- sto balls. . . ....'. .'. . Red, or chocolate-coloured .... Red, or chocolafe-doloured with irdhatofie bjQls. Total thickness Feet. 4« 4 ^U 8 199 4 n 17 163 6 118 6 230 6 82 Feet. Feet. 18 6 15 8 Feet. 46 424 49 38 6 272 31« '6 189 2 10^ 6 2539 I This important group of beds contains • Coal Seams, 37 feet 9^ inches. Bituminous Limestone, 23 feet in thicknes^. Fireclay, say idO Sandstone, fit for grindstones. Shale, with trohstone Balls . . . 433 (t (I From die south western ejctremity of Lower 'Cove, t'o tlp^l: toSre Pdmt. SanmtoVb. ^ . [I (jfeenfsn gray, with 'occasionM IS Grreenish gray, with concretion- ary Limestone, having the aspect of conglomerate. . . Reddish gray, with occasional drift plants carb^^nized . . . Reddish gray with conicretionary Limestone .... Reddish green, Reddish green, with concretion- ary limestone Red and green, , Red, Shale — Red Argillaceous,, Red Arenaceous. . Green Argillaceous,, Measureu not well exposed, but probably composed of Red Shale and Sandstone. . . .' Total thickness, Feet. 20 104 16 24 37 640 230 Feet. 48 Feet. Feet. 120 61 6 233 870 4 468 874 740 208 2 This group is altogether barren as far as the exposures on the coast permit conclusions to be drawn. One third however of the section is concealed by drift, but the general composition of the Rocks is such as to render it doubtful whether any coal seams or any layers of ironstone balls exist. The prevailing red colour of the beds shows that on the coast at least, the conditions for the accumulation of vegetable matter were wholly unfavourable. Coal is generally associated with gray coloured rocks, and clay ironstone with coal, or accumulations of vegetable remains. The prevailing red colour of the beds belonging to this group is pre- served far into the interior, and may be seen on East Brook, which appears to flow over these beds for a space of several miles. The 18 presence of concretionary limestone in thicker beds indicates the existence of deeper seas during the period of the deposition of this group. ' GROUP NO. VI. From Upper Cove Point to a few hundred feet beyond Dog Fish Reef. Coal in nine seams, Carbonaceous shale.associated with the coal, and in one in- stance without coal, and then containing remains of Shells Bituminous limestone with remains of fish and calca- reous beds, associated with the coal and carbon- aceous shale seams in one instance, and in six instances independent... Greenish and gray argillace- ous shale, associated in some instancos with the coal and carbonaceous seams Underclay or understone be- ing beds of various ma- terials, immediately sub- jacent to the seams of coal and carbonaceous shale, and invariably pen- etrated by the recumbent branches and radiating leaves of the stigmarice Jicoides. Every one of the coal seams rests upon a stigmariaB bed,and there is one instance ot the stig- marias bed without super- incumbent coal. The ma- terial of which the stig- • mariaB beds consist is as Feet. 10 7 4 Feet. Feet. Feet. 4 10 9 1 22 1 14 Feet. Feet. Feet. Feet. V" follow? :— Sandstone of a gray colour and crumbly quality Shale. — Gra} argillo-arenace- 0U8, frequently fit for fir.v cjay... Oreen argillo arenaceous .... Red , and Green argillo-aren- aceous,. ' Sandstone. — Greenish Gray or drab coloured, o( which much is fit for the purpose of good grindstones, and it is in it that the chief quarries of the Joggins exist. Of this mass 350 feet in various parts are filled with vast collections of Drift plants, coated with crystalline coal. The plants are in great confu- sion, and are in general prostrate. Spherical con- cretions some four feet in diameter, with a rusty black exterior, occur in 51 feet of it GreenisTi l Yellow, of a finer but less durable quality than the drab ... Reddish-gray Red and green Red and chocolate-coloured . . Limestone of a concretionary character, very much re- sembling conglomerate, geijierally of a greenish - colour, and in very ir- regular layers 5 60 0, 21 17 .88 1886 6 2 25 19 6 15 95 6 93 2043 6 43 Ol w Shale. — GreeniHb gray aren- aceous and argillaceous. Gray arenaceous and argilla- ceous, with a few sinall beds containing ironstone balls Red and gre. . variegated . . '. Red and chocolate coloured. . Total thickness Feet. F«et. Feet. 186 I, It- > 234 77 u92 2 1039 2 tMt. f • I ; 3240 9 Ihis group 18 the lowest coal bearing group of bed. in the Cum- bferland Basin. It contains some highly characteristitJ rocks, f/om which Its position may be identified far in the interior. In it^ easterly extension it embraces some of the most important coal seams, and as will be shown in the sequel, the thick Sprin- Hil'r seams probably belo g to this group, as well as those on Black River and on the northern side of the Basin, at the so-called btyle s Mine. The most important grindstone quarries belong to this group. 1 he ironstone beds are few in number. GROUP NO. VII. ..•nT^""^ ^''^ ^^^^° ^^^^^y ^^^^^'^^ Downing's Oov* and Mill Creek. Sandstone.— Greenish erav Reddish ^. •;;; Red and green . . . Red .'.'.*!!.'.'■' Red with white streaks Conglomerate with red, white gray and yellow quartz, and black Lydian stone pebbles, in a matrix of red sandstone Limestone in concretionary nodules placed in a matrix of greenish sandstone and shale, occasionally asso- 1 01 7 20 65 93 51 144 i! 148 le ciated with carbonized fragments oi plants . ... Shale. — Deep red and chcco- late red, arenaceouc. . . . Measures concealed, but sup- posed to be of the same quality Total thickness Foot. Feet. Feet. 16 62 280 342 650 This group appears to be barren. It contains neither coal, sand- stone fit for grindstones, nor ironstone balls. It is, however, note- worthy that Sir William Logan mentions the occurrence of a regu- lar vein of (julphate of Barytes, 3 inches wide. GROUP NO. VIII. From the boundary of the last named group to Seaman's brook, Mill Creek, Minudie. Sandstone. — Greenish gray, occasionally holding car- bonized remains of plants, and in four instances the plants (underlying the sandstone) are replaced by gray sulphuret and green carbonate of cop- per 206 Reddish 13 Deep Red 213 Concretionary limestone, asso- ciated with the greenish gray Sandstone. The con- cretions are held in an argillo-arenaceous matrix< In one instance the whole of the bed is calcareous, and there occur nine beds altogether 432 20 17 Shale. — Red orenaceous, sometimes nore and Homelimes less argillace- ous Reddish black and gray, with calcareous septaria and nodules Total thickness Fe«t. 1186 20 Vaet. Fe«t. Fe«th 1206 1658 o! Plaster and a heavy bed of Limestone occur at the base of this group. ^ RECAPITULATION. Grou p, No. 1, . (t No. 2... u No. 3, . . tt No. 4, . . 4Tle Coals. 1. West Hartley Main 2. Haslini;! Hartley 3. Davison's West Hartley 4. Original Hartley 6. Cowpen and Sidney's Hartley 8. Derwentwater Hartley Spring Hill Coal. 7. Main Coal, (outcrop) including 3.98 p. c of water 8. Main Coal (dry) a o 81 85 82 24 83 26 81 18 82 20 78 01 76 51 78 61 a & 2 •o ta 5 00 5 19 * t) o 9 22 8 05 4 22 8 75 9 65 12 15 9 37 9 66 •a 3 CD 1 37 2 61 2 94 6 84 3 07 2 33 3 73 6 05 5 20 6 69 20 59 49 58 22 58 59 64 83 64 94 GENERAL REUAP.SH ON THE COAL-FIELD. The Springhill coal-field is situated about twenty miles south- east of the Joggins shore, in County Cumberland, Nova Scotia. 28 Whether it is to be conpidered a detached coal field, or a portion of the great Cumberland coal-field of Nova Scotia, is still an open question, only to be decided by a careful geological survey. This region appears to warrant the most careful exatninatioii, from the fact that it is destined to become of the greatost importance to the Province, at no distant period. At prnsent no active collier- ies of any extent exist in this coal-field for want of communication with ti East side of the Parrsboro' and Amherst road ^ Main fault. Southerly Dips-91 points on the Little Forks River > North side of anditstributaries to the North 5 Basin. Westerly Dips-43 points on Coal mine Brook ^ South showing dips of the Spring Hill Veast side of seams ^ Basin. Black River. Northerly Dips — 17 points on Black River and the Intercolonial Railway, showing the south side of the 13asin east of the second main fault. Numerous dips in the interior of the Basin showing the com- paratively symmetrical arrangement of the strata. 9S RK1.ATI0N OF THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE BASIN TO THE SEA BOAttD. THTE RAILROAD. I The survey uf tlie route for a Railroad from S >n'' g Hill to Parrshoro' on the Basiti of Miriew, estnolislies tlio diHtance be- tween the ontcro[» of tho main or eleven foot seam where it is exposed at Spring ilill and the pioposed loading ground at Parrshoro' to bo twenty-six miles. The following details re- specting elevations above tide, distances and gradients, all concur in presenting in a very favorable aspect tiie physical features of the proposed route. [iCngth of Railroad from Spring Hill to the seaboard at Parrsboro' 26 miles. Altitude of out crop of Main Seam above tide water, 450 feet. GlUDIRNTS, — Maximum grade descending towards Parrsboro' I in 90, or 58.66 feet per mile. Average grade I in 320, or 16.5 feet per mile. Maximum ascending towards Parrsboro' 1 in 90, or 58 . 66 feet per mile. Total distance from main Coal at Spring Hill to Parrsboro' 137,000 feet. Descending and level grades, 113,000 " Ascending (maximum being 1 in 90), 24,000 " THE LOADING GROUND. The following extract from the Report, of Mr. M. Murphy, C. E., on the adaptation of Whitehall Creek, emptying into the Basin at the mouth of Parrsboro' River, sufficiently describes the advantages possessed by this shipping place : " Whitehall Creek, considered as a shipping dock, is so favor- ably situated that the adoption of it would almost appear a neces- sity. There is ample room for coal vessels to moor and the bed is composed of soft mud, on which they may securely rest during low water without injury. There was 21 feet of water at high 84 tide on the 1 2th nit., amJ 1 tun informed thcio is IH fpot within creek and 21 feot without in channel ut ordinary tidoH — the chan- nel between the creek and mouth oT harbor in dirc'ct uml ('.oniparu' tively free from ico during the greater part of the winter. The surface of ground surrounding creek iH naturally favorable for coal sidings, depot and wharl having the desirable extent andele-' vation for loading coals direct from waggons to vot*8t'lH. Togeth- er with those advantages, which should noi be overlooked, there is its capability of being converted into a wet dock at much lest* cost than usually expended for that purpose These conHidonitiona will, I have no doubt, be found sufficient to warrant the line be- ing extended to Whitehall Creek. I am happy to find the prin- cipal shipowners and captains of Parrsboro' fully concur in this opinion as shown by their sabseqnent representation of the state of Parrsboro' as a shipping port during the winter months, ad- dressed to me on my leaving that neighbourhood, and which I respectfully beg to forward herewith."* The harbor is jjenerally open all the year round, and the re- cords from the Custom House show that vessels enter and clear from Parrsboro' every month in the year. This is a most important consideration, and will verj- materi- ally reduce the cost of shipping the coal, on account of Winter shipment obviating the necessity for Winter storage, which in the severe climate of this part of the continent causes great de- terioration in the coal stored in banks. Indeed so considerable is the diminution in marketable product of the banks or heaps after a winter's exposure in the districts of Pictou and Cape Bre- ton that Mr. Rutherford, the late Inspector of Mines, drew the attention of coal owners and of the Government to this cause of deterioration as long ago as 1866. The following extract from the Inspector's Beport shows the great importani^e of a shipping port open throughout the winter months : *'It may perhaps seem premature to cry " waste" at so early a stage of mining as the very recent development of the mineral resources of this country implies ; but, at a time when attention is being directed in England to the exhaustion of her coal supplies and the consequent necessity of economising them by every avail- able means, it cannot, I think, be considered inopportune to direct attention to a source of waste which may with care, to some ex- t ent, be lessened. • Vide Bpring HiH and Parrsboro' Railway Sorrej, by M. Murphy, ProTinuial KnginMr- 35 " In many of the Collierios tho greater part of the Black mftd« in working in Koparatod from tho large by riddling, and thrown aside in the mine. The proportion thuH taken out varies from five to twenty per cent This slack is seldom removed and has there- fore largely accumulated. It is reasonable to suppose that if ii could be sold even at a very small profit it would not be left in the mine and it iw thus treated to avoid expense of depositing it on tho 8urf;icp, and the combustion that would pr<»bably occur if a large quantity were heaped toj^ether. By attention to the pe- culiarity of each HPam, and the manner in which the miner per- forms his work, the proportion of slack made in ordinary course of working may be reduced and the loss of merchantable coal from this cause be diminished. But there is another source of loss of which, inasmuch as it effects the revenue to a much greater extent, I wish to draw attention. I allude to the large stores of coal that are formed dining tho winter months. The suspension of shipment for a period of from three to four months necessitates the adoption of one of two courses : either the Colliery must be stopped, or be continued at work and the coal brought out and stored on the surface. It must be evident that in the former case both employers and workmen would be subject to much inconve- nience and loss : tlie workman would be obliged to seek other means of employment, and the mine owner would be unprepared to commence operations on an adequate scale when the shipping was resumed. For that reason the latter course is adopted, aud the consequence is a deterioration of the coal from exposure, and the production of a large portion of slack both from this cause and from tho breakage in putting down and relifting. To such an extent does this take place that I have reason to believe that in some instances the produce of large coal from the heap has not much exceeded fifty per cent. When it is remembered that a large per centage has already been taken out in the mine, and that the coat brought to the surface is with respect to size in nearly mer- chantable state, the loss of revenue from this cause must be appa- rent. Impressed with the importance of obviating this as much as possible, I have endeavon.'d to induce the adoption of some means by which this loss may be reduced to a minimum, and I am hopeful that as the interests of the mine owner are seriously affect- ed by 80 small a yield of saleable coal, they will readily adopt any practicable scheme for realizing so desirable a result. This would, I conceive, be to a considerable extent accomplished by an extension of the power of production by a judicious laying out of the mine and the formation during the winter of a number of working places, together with the opening of more shafts or other means of bringing the coal to the surface. With such a provision much of the coal might be stored under ground and be raised as requir- ed without interrupting the ordinary working of the Colliery. H The injury to that portion which would be sent out of the mine would also be vei-j much leas if suitable erections were made for protecting it from the weather. There are details of arrangement m carrying this out which is unnecessary to state liere ; I make the suggestion with the hope of drawijig the attention of owners and managers to the importance of devising some m«!ans of lesuen- ing a loss by which the interests of all |are effected."' Inspector's Report, 18G6. The situation of Parrsboro' is particularly favourable for ex- portation. Its communication with the ports of the Uniicd States is not only unobstructed all the year round, but it is some hun- dreds of miles nearer than either Pictou or Sydney. The fol- lowing table shows the relative distance of these Coal Ports from Portland, Boston and New York : Parrsboro' to Portland, 330 miles. Boston, 400 " New York, 650 « Sydney to Portland, 650 " Boston, 730 ♦* " New York, 930 " Difference in favour of Parrsboro' — To Portland, 320 miles. Boston, 330 " New York, 280 " Parrsboro' to St. John, N. B. 105 « THE IRON ORES OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.- In Sir William Logan's section, mention is made of the occur- rence of Clay iron stone in the different beds enumerated. On the Coast it is not unfrequently found in irregular bands, but hitherto no attempt has been made to work any of them. In consequence of the association of many of these bands with seams of coal, it is more than probable that some of these deposits will become of great economic importance. We have seen that the seams of coal exposed in the coast section bear no compaiison in point of thickness and purity with those already found in the in- terior of the Basin, especially on the south side, as at Spring 91 Hill, and it mav be inferred that the same distinctive featiire characterizes the deposits of ironstone. In the following enumeration of ironstone deposits esttracted from the detailed section of Sir William Logan, the different groups of strata are given in descending order as was done with respect to the coal seams. TABULAR LIST OF IRONSTONE DEPOSITS. No. of TbkkneM Bed. in feet. Group No. 1. (No Ironstone Deposits.) > Group No. 2. (No Ironstone Deposits.) Group No. 8. No. 1. Red argillo-arenaceous shale with balls of iron- stone, S 2. Red and Green shale with balls of ironstone, 7 4. Gray argillaceous shale " " t 5. (Coal 3 in.) gray arenaceous shale with " 7 6. (Coal and carbonaceous shale 8 inches) gray argillaceous shale with ironstone balls — (coal 2 inches) S 7. Reddish and green argillo>arenaceou8 shale with ironstone balls 12 8. Gray argillaceous shale with ironstone balls, 3 9. (Coal 3 inches) gray argillaceous shale with ironstone balls (carbonaceous shale and coal 11 inches,) 5 10. Gray argillaceous shale with ironstone balls, 1 6 in. 18 (Coal 4 in.) « « «« 1 (Jia. Gray argillaceous shale with ironstone balls, 7 16. " " « " (00*1 1 in.) I 17. " " tt it 3 •8 Vo. of ThlckneM B«d. in feet. No. 18. Greenish gray sandstone with three bands of red and gray shale, loaded with ironstone balls, 12 19. (Goal 2 inches) Red argillaceous shales with ironstone balls, 7 20. Bed and greenish gray argillaceous shale with ironstone balls, 6 1^1. Bed argillaceous shale with ironstone balls, 2$ 9,2. Greenish gray sandstone with red and green shale STUDDED WITH IRONSTONE BALLS. 4 2ri. Beddish and greenish gray argillaceous shale with ironstone balls, 15 24. Dark red and green argillaceous shale with six beds of red and greenish gray sandstone ; the shale is loaded with ironstone balls — coal 2 inches, 40 25 Dark gray shale with ironstone nodules, 22 Group No. 4. 26. Greenish argillaceous shale with ironstone balls, 12 27. Bed and green argillaceous shale with do. 20 28. (Coal i inch) Shale with ironstone balls, 6 inches ■ (Carbonaceous shale \ inch) gray argillo — arenaceous shale with ironstone balls 1 £ 6 in. (Carbonaceous shale 1 inch), gray argillo— arenaceous shale with ironstone balls 2f. 6 in. (coal 6 in.)— total 7 2 29. Bed and green argillaceous shale with ironstone balls, 7 30. Bed argillaceous shale with do. 10 SI. Bed and green shale with do. and some arena- ceous beds 18 82. Gray argillaceous shale with ironstone balls and a few bands of arenaceous shale underlaid by , <- ubonaceous shale 1, limestone 10 in., coal 4 Jii':he* > '• Vt 99 Ho. of TliioktMM Bed. In fMt. No. 33. Gray argillaceous shale with ironstone nodules, ^ 84. Gray argillaceous shale loaded with a multi- tude of ironstone balls, 10 36. Gray argillaceous shale in beds of 1 to 3 feet, with sandstone and arenaceous shale in beds of 1 foot ; iron nodules are very numerous in the whole. These beds (84 and 35) un- '; derlie the main seam at the Joggins. 20 36. Gray argillaceous shale with ironstone nodules, 9 37. " «« n u 10 38. Gray argillaceous shale with ironstone balls, 7 in abundance — This underlies the Queen seam at the Joggins, 6 40. Red argillaceous shale in beds with ironstone balls 20 41. Gray crumbly shale with do 6 42. Gray argillaceous shale with do 10 43. Greenish grey argillaceous shale with do 17 44. Gray argillaceous shale, with balls of do 3 45. Gray « «« « 8 (Coal eight inches benemth thii bed.) 46. Dark red shale with ironstone balls 4 47. Gray crumbly sandstone, with beds of argillace- ous shale and ironstone balls 25 48. Gray argillaceous shale with do do 13 49. ** " *' 3 50. Greenish gray argillaceous shale with do 6 " " " " with nodules of ironstone disseminated through it 7 51. Gray argillo-arenaceous shale with ironstone balls and small seams of coal 7 52. Gray argillaceous shale with ironstone balls 6 (Ooal leTen inchee nnder tbU bed.) 53< Gray argillaceous shale with do 9 40 Vo. of Thiekn«M 9itd. ^ in fan. No. 54. Gray argfillaceoua shale with ironstone balls, 7 55. " " •' ** *♦ 4 56. Red and green argillaceous shale with do and some bands of sandstone 25 57. Bed and greenish argillaceous shale loaded WITH Ironstone balls and having bands of sandstone 10) 58. Red and green argillaceous shale loaded with IRONSTONE BALLS 10 69. Red or chocolate colored shale, with large balls of red argillaceous ironstone IS 60. Argillaceous Ironstone in a bed 6 61. Greenish gray argillaceous shale with dark bands, argillaceous iron ore nodules abound 28 62. Gray argillaceous shale with ironstone balls 12 6$. Red argillaceous shale do 4 64 Gray argillaceous shale do ^ 66 Dark gray argillac^us shale do t 66 Red do do 9 67 do do do 4 68 Red argillaceous shale studded vrith ironstone halls (a thin bed of coal above this bed) 10 69 Red argillaceous shale with ironstone balls 1 1 70 Green and dark gray arg. shale do 14 71 Red and green argillaceous shale with ironstone balls, in this are some dark bands of shale 25 7S Red and green argillaceous shale studded with ironstone balls (thin coal seam underlying) 16 73 Dark red and green argillaceous shale, studded with ironstcme balls 1$ 74 Dark gray argillaceous shale, with ironstone balls in considerable number8,(coal seam underlying) 20 75 Green arg. shale with many coarse nodules of clay iron stone, all small & (cMd MMm und«rlylng.> 41 IXo. of Thtckneta Bed. in fe«t. No. 76 Dark gray argillaceous shale studded with iron stone nodules (coal seam underlying) 4 77 Red argillaceous shale with some green bands and studded with ironstone balls 25 78 Dark gray argillaceous shale, with ironstone bands (seam of coal underlying) 6 79 Bed argillaceous shale, studded with ironstone balls (coal seam underlying) Recapitulation, Shale, arenaceous, gray with ironstone balls - - - 13 feet. " *' red and green with do ----- 4 " argillaceous, gray with ironstone balls - - 199 " " greenish gray with do - - - - 17 . ** ** red and green do 118 *' " red or chocolate colored do- - - 82 Total - - -433 " Group No. 5. 80. Red argillaceous shale with ironstone balls, 6 Group No. 6. 81. Dark gray argillaceous shales with ironstone balls (a bed of coaly clay underlying) 5 82. Gray argillo-arenaceous shale with many nodules of ironstone at the top, 4 83. Red and green rough crumbly claystone with balls of argillaceous iron ore % 84. Greenish gray argillaceous shale with nodules of clay ironstone disseminated in considera- ble quantities 5 85. Dark gray argillaceous shale with disseminated olay ironstone ball* 10 86 Dark gray argillaceous shale with a course of clay ironstone balls at the bottom, some of them six inches in diameter 5 (bUek oarbonaceoui ■hale nnderlylog.) Grou? No. VII. No Ironstone deposits. Group No. VIII. ' No Ironstone deposits. According to Gesner* there is a large deposit of clay-ironstone forming a steep bank about five miles from Parrsboro' on the proposed line of Railway. Dr. Gesner states that the ore occurs at a lake which occupies the space between the sources of the Hebert and the Parrsboro' River. It is situated near the junction of the carboniferous rocks and the underlying sehists which are supposed to be of Upper Silurian age. It is not improbable that this deposit of iron may be a continuation of the already celebrated Londonderry ores, which occur to the north eastward, in precisely similar situation with regard to their occupying the line of junction between the carboniferous and silurian series, on the south side of the axis of the Cobequids. Near Five Islands the Acadia ores are found, and extend more or less all along the junction of the carboniferous with the metamorphic series, far to the eastward and westward of the Acadia Mines. A full description of this important deposit or viein of iron ores, is contained in Dawson's second edition of his Acadian Geology, and in How's Mineralogy of Nova Scotia. It is needless to enlarge on the vast commercial importance of an abundant supply of iron ore in a district so rich in coal as Cumberland county, and in close proximity to all the materials required for reducing it, and suppUed with railway communica- tion with the seaboard. GRINDSTONES AND WATERSTONES. The manufacture and exportation of grindstones is an impor- tant industry in Cumberland, and capable of great development. * Bemarki on the G-coIogj and Mineralogy of Nova Scotia, by Abraham Geaner. 48 In 1860 the number of grindstones manufactured in tKis county reached 42,706, valued at $40,166 ; nearly the whole of these were exported to the United States. Freestone for building pur- poses is also of excellent quality, and some of the beds have long been quarried for exportation. As soon as railway commu rlca- tion is established, many of the quarries which have been opened on the line of the Intercolonial for materials for bridges and culverts, will become permanently worked. The rare qualities of some of the beds on the coast is found to be preserved far into the interior of the Basin, and wherever these are sufficiently near the lines of Railway, they will rise to important sources of traffic. Among the most valuable beds fit for grindstones and waterstones the following are enuumerated in Sir William Logan's Section. The division of the beds into groups in descending order is pre- served as with reference to coal. TABULAR LIST OF GRINDSTONE BEDS. GROUP NO. I. Ko. of ThiekneM Bed. in feet. No. 1. Some beds of Grit in this, towards the bottom have been found fit for grindstones 20 2. Some beds fit for grindstones. This sandstone constitutes the point of West Ragged Reef. 30 3. Greenish gray sandstone of coarse grit, ome of which is fit for grindstones. 80 4. Greenish Gray sandstone of coarse grit, some parts of which are fit for large grindstones, commonly called waterstones by the quarry- men 76 (This occurs close to the North Branch of Two Rivers^ GROUP NO. II. 5. Greenish gray sandstone of a coarse grit, fit for toaterstone* T 6. Reddish yellow sandstone of a coarse grit, fit for uatergtones. . . , ,|5 u ITo. of ■■ ThlckneM Bed. Id feet. No. 7. Reddiah yellow sandstones, of a coarse grit, fit for waterstones 12 8. Gray sandstone, fit for grindstones 21 9 Greenish gray sandstone of various qualities, chiefiy of coarse grit, fit for large grindstones ' or waterstonea, much of it, however, is fine enough for small stones, both are made from the Reef. 97 10. Gray sandstone fit for grindstones, the bottom part of a coarse grit. This constitutes Ragged Reef Point. 36 11 Greenish gray sandstone fit for grindstones 10 fl8» " " '* ** *' " the top of the bed is uneven 20 13. Greenish gray sandstone fit for grindstones 36 GROUP NO. III. 14. Greenish gray sandstone fit for grindstones, with a bed of red shale in the middle 2$ 15. Greenish gray or drab sandstones fit for grind- stones, the top is uneven, and the whole is rather a coarse grit. This constitutes South Ragged Reef. 20 16. Greenish gray or drab coloured sandstone, fit for grindstones, forming a reef 25 17. Do. do. do. North Ragged Reef 12 18. Do. do. do. South Reef, Dennis River 25 19. Do. do. do. North Reef, Dennis River 18 20. *^ « ** U GROUP NO. IV. A few unimportant beds fit for grindstones in this group. I.! ^ ' GROUP NO. V. ' No known beds fit for grindstones in this group. 45 Ko. of .. Thickncii Bed. in feet. OROUP NO. VI. No. 2\. Greenish gray or drab coloured sandstone ex- '' tensively quarried for grindstones. This is South Reef. 50 22. Greenish gray or drab coloured sandstone fit for grindstones, the very beet quality has been much quarried 36 23. Do. do. • do. 17 24. Do. do. do. 7 25. Greenish gray sandstone. This with the pre- ceding constitute North Reef , ' 9 26 Do. do. do. fit for grindstones • 10 27. Do. do. do (< *• Bacon Ledge 54 28. (( 10 29. (< 6 30. t( 14 31. a " Upper Cove Reef 18 32. (( " Bog Quarry 10 33. (( 18 34. (( 20 35. (( 17 GROUP NO. Vlt. No grindstone beds in this group. GROUP NO. VIII. 1. Red sandstone fit for first quality of fit igging 15 2. flagging 16 3. inferior flagging 3 4. flagging 4 6. a 6 6. u ,' 30 7. t€ 22 46 Recapitulation of Coast Section. Thirty-five beds fit for grindstones, aggregate thickness 841 feet. Seven beds fit for flagging, aggregate thickness 96 feel. The economic materials abounding in the County of Cumber- land, the development of which would exercise a very important influence on the Intercolonial and the Spring Hill and Pairsboro' Railroads may be thus classified : I. Coal. — Known area of productive coal basin about 270 square miles. No. of seams on the (>oast Section 84. Thickness of large Spring Hill seams 13 and 10 feet 3 inches. Qual- ity of Spring Hill seams of the very first class. Distance of these from Parrsboro' by Rail 26 miles. Known outcrop of Spring Hill main seam 1 1 feet, on which operations could be immediately commenced about two miles. Area of that part of the productive coal basin within three miles of the Intercolonial, 90 miles. Area of that part of the productive Coal Basin within three miles of Spring Hill and Parrsboro' Railroad, 85 miles, including the extension of the last named Railroad to Black River. Quantity of coal in a seam three feet thick, per square mile, 6,195 200 ; ten feet thick, 12,390,400 ; nine feet thick, 18,585,600 ; twelve feet thick, 24,780,800. II. Iron Ores. — '86 beds wherein the ironstone is distributed with greater or less uniformity and abundance. Aggregate thickness over 600 feet. This enumeration has no refer- ence to the very important deposits or accumulation of vein ores at the junction of the Carboniferous and Upper Silu- rian series along the Cobequid range of Mountains. The great importance of the Iron ores at the junction of the Carboniferous and Upper Silurian for many miles on the flanks of the Cobequids is sufficiently exemplifiea by the success of the Londonderry (Acadian) Iron Works. The chief facts respecting these important deposits of iron ore are enumerated in Dawson's Acadian Geology, and How's Mineralogy of Nova Scotia. From these and other authorities it appears that the ores occur in the following forms at and near the site of the Acadian mine, and westerly as far as the Parrsboro' River and probably some miles still further to the west . 47 Tlie general course of the Great vein is nearly east and west magnetic. It appears to be roughly parallel to the junction of Carboniferous and Motamorphic systems, and for a known dis- tance of seven miles along the Cobequid range it is always found at distances varying from .lOO yards to one-third of a mile north- ward of the last carboniferous beds on the southern slope, and always in the same band of Slate and quartzite. The deposit consists of the following minerals : — 1. Specular iron ore, or nearly pure peroxide of iron. 2. Magnetic Iron Ore, capable of affording from 60 to 70 per cent of pure iron. 3. Ochrey red iron ore. This is the most abundant ore in the vein. 4. Ankerite, or carbonate of iron, lime and magnesia. 5. Spathose iron. 6. Yellow ochrey iron ore, found chiefly on the surface of the vein. 7. Brown Hematite in large balls, along the outcrop of the vein. In a report on this extraordinary deposit, made by Mr. J. L. Hayes, it is stated that there is no trace of sulphur, arsenic, oi any foreign matter which can deteriorate the quality of the iron, or of titanium or chrome, which would render the ores refrac- tory." * III. Grindstones, Waterstones, Freestone and Flagging. IV. Limestone — a. for constructive purposes ; b. Phosphatic for argillaceous purposes. LAND PRIVILEGES. In the recent enactment by the Legislature of Nova Scotia to "encourage the building of certain Railways," it is provided that " A grant of Crown Lands in the County of Cumberland not exceeding Ten thousand acres, shall be given to the Parrsboro' aod Spring Hill Coal and Railway Company, or to any other * For a fall description of tbaae iron deposits, see Dawson's Acadian Oeologv, 2nd editi* on; How's Mineralogy of Nova Scotia; Report of J. L. Hayes; Tapers by Dr. Uoneyman; Reports of the London and Paris Bxhtbltions. 48 Company thiit may hereanc'r ho incorporated, that will en^apo to CotiHtruct u Hailvvaj frutn Spring Hill to FanHltoro'. v\itli Huitablc appliaticefl at hiicIi IuhI named Port, adapted to a large mineral traffic, together with an annual Hubnidy to Hueh Coinpuny eqtial to one half lh(> royally that MhaP he yearly chargeiihle under tluj now exinting law oti idl ' oal carried over hucIi Railway lor fifteen years from tlu; eofn|)letioii of tlio >ame." The privileges granted hy this clause will enahle any Company to secure, hy judicious selection, ample facilities for estal)liHhing or aiding In the establishment of collieries on and near the line of Railway, within the limits of the Productive groups of strata to which reference has been made. A first class colliery affords employment to 500 hands, in other words it involves the creation of a village containing a population not far short of one thousand. The site of such a village ought to include, if properly laid out, at least 1000 acres of land. The area of the coal field traversed by the Spring Hill and Parrsboro' Railroads, may support at the outset four collieries, whose output may reach 100,000 tons each per annum, and give employment to 2000 hands, occujiying village sites covering 4000 acres. A considerable portion of the productive coal basin traversed by the Spring Hill and Parrsboro' railroad, is still owned by the Crown and there would be no difficulty in securing for the purposes named above, suitable tracts for village sites. On the flanks of the Cobequids there still remain large tracts of Government lands, which are valuable for the timber they support, and which would be brought within reach of a market by the construction t)f the proposed railroad. THE MARKET FOR THE COAL. The official returns of the coal raised and sold during the year ending December 31st, 1871, being the produce of Nova Scotia Mines, show the following details. 49 Quarter ciulinj^ Maich iU.st, 1871: — Sold lor hunio coiisuinptioii, Kxportcd to iioi<,dil)oiiriii<^ colonics, Exported to oilier coiiutrios, Quarter eudinj,' .June ;U)tli, 1871 : — Sold lor lioine consuiuijtion, Exported to nei^hhoiniufi; colonies, Ex})orted to other countries, Quarter endini; Septend)ei" 3()th, 1871 : — Sold lor home consumption. Exported to nei^hhonring colonies, Exported to other countries, Quarter ending Deccndjcr ijlst, 1871: — Sold lor home consumption, Expoitcd to neighbouring colonies, Ex])()rted to other countries, Total 'I'ona Uouild 8,J5 5149 27155 361.']() ()4ii59 40383 68679 145620 46997.^ 45398 47007 542945 Ton* Mlack. 2274i • 248 4328t 5617 4323 6191 9038 11117 66904 2860 485 53473i There are t\\ o noteworthy features in these tables, the first be- ing that notwithstanding the duty on coal imported into the United States, by tar the larger portion of the yield of Nova Scotian Mines finds a market there. Secondly, that the exporta- tion to neighbouring colonies and foreign countries almost ceases during the winter months. The last result is due to the suspension of navigation at Pictou and Sydney harbours during the Avinter. This does not occur at Farrsboro, the chief future outlet of Cumberland coal. It has already been stated that the Custom House returns at Farrsboro' show that the harbour is open every month in the year. This advantage will be nuuiifested in three different ways. First, in the opportunities for constantly shipping Coal, and for taking advantage of the state of the markets at a season when fuel of all descriptions is dearest. Second, the abilitv to continue mining operations throughout the year. , • • • • • •* • ••* ••• < • • • • • • •b • • ,• •• t • . I < 50 Third, the absence of that important drawback elsewhere so injuriously felt, as explained by the Inspector of Mines, (page 34) the necessity for the winter storage of coal during the suspension of navigation. l-f The Cumberland coal will command a market not only in the United States, on account of its greater proximity to the Atlantic Ports of the Union, but because it can be procured during all the months of the year. It will supply the Intercolonial Railway ; and by means of that great artery much of the country through which it passes. The Black River ai'eas are but very few miles farther from Hali- fax than Pictou, hence Cumberland coal will prove a formidable rival to Pictou coal in that market. The Windsor and Annapolis Railway, and the country served by that line will consume Cumberland coal, and the neighbour- ing Province of New Brunswick will draw its supplies from the same source. With these advantages of situation as regards an open seaport, superior quality, and low original cost when it reaches the sea- board, it is fair to assume that by means of the Intercolonial and the Spring Hill and Parrsboro' lines of Railway, not only will Cumberland coal, but also other associated minerals as well as the forest productions of the County, rapidly acquire considerable commercial importance, and give rise to wide-spread local in- dustry. ' , . . , I 1 f i .