IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 1.1 liilM 125 Itt U2 g2.2 S la 12.0 11.25 i 1.4 1^ %. ^^ ^ V \ \ ««^. >?^°^*^ ^ ^.J^^^ ^^4^ i\ '^ CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHJVI/iCiVIH Collection de microfiches. Ccnadian Institute for Hiatorical Microraproductiona Inatitut Canadian da microraproductiona hiatoriquaa 1960 ' Technical Notes / Notes techniques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Physical features of this copy which may alter eny of the images in the reproduction are checked below. L'Instltut a microfilm* lo meilleur exemplaire qu'll lui a At* possible de se procurer. Certains dAfauts susceptibles de nuire * la quaiit* de la reproduction sont not*s ci-dessous. QColou red covers/ Couvertures de couleur D Coloured pages/ Pages de couleur D Coloured maps/ Cartes gAographiques en couleur D Coloured plates/ Planches en couleur D Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ Pages dAcolorAes, tachetAes ou piquAes D Show through/ Transparence n Tight binding (may cause Shadows or distortion along interior margin)/ Reliure serr* (peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distortion le long de la marge intArieure) D Pages damaged/ Pages endommagAes Additional comments/ Commentaires supplAmentaires Fold-out mipi, charts, etc., may be filnned at a diffarant radiiiction ratio. Bibliographic Notes / Notes bibliographiques n Only edition available/ Seule Edition disponible Bound with other material/ ReliA avec d'autres documents D D Pagination incorrect/ Erreurs de pagination Pages missing/ Des pages manquent n Cover title missing/ Le titro de couverture manque D IMaps missing/ Des cartes gAographiques manquent D Plates missing/ Des planches manquent D Additional comments/ Commentaires supplAmentaires Th« imagM appearing hara ara tha baat quality poaaibia conaldaring tha condition and laglblllty of tha original copy and in icaaping with tha filming contract apacificationa. Laa imagaa aulvantaa ont 4tA raprodultaa avac la plua grand aoln, cor'ipta tanu da la condition at da la nattatA da I'axamplaira filmi, at an conformitA avac laa condltlona du contrat da fllmaga. Tha iaat racordad f rama on aach microf leha ai^ll contain tha aymboi — ► (ntaaning CONTINUED"), or tha aymbol V (moaning "END"), whichavar appiiaa. Tha original copy waa borrowad from, and filmed with, the Icind conaent of the following inatitution: Library of tha Public Archivea of Canada IMapa or platea too large to be entirely included in one expoaure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, aa many framea aa required. The following diagrama iiiuatrata the method: Un dee aymbolea auivanta apparattra aur la dar- nl*re image de cheque microfiche, aelon ie caa: la aymbola -^ aignifla "A 8UIVRE". ie aymboie ▼ aignifla "FIN". L'axemplaire film* fut reproduit grice A la g«n«ro8lt« da i'Atabliaaament prAteur auivant : La bibliothAqua dee Archivea publlquea du Canada Lea cartea ou lea planchea trop grandea pour Atre reproduitea en un aaul clichA aont fiimAea A partir de i'angle aupArleure gauche, de gauche A droite et de haut en baa. en prenant la nombre d'Imagea nAcaanaira. La diagramme auivant illuatre la mAthode : 1 2 3 :k t fv 6 1 lamhim f omtfi nf iibil fn^imm THE IRON ORES OF NOVA SCOTIA. BV EDWIN GILPIN, Jr., M. Can. Soc. C.E. BY PERMISSION OP COUNCIL. EXCERPT M' UTES OP THE TRANSACTIONS OP THE SOCIETY Vol. V, Session 1891. PBiNTKD FOR THE SOCIETY Bt Joiim Lotell & Son. 1891. t ;; The Society will not hold itself responsible for any statements or opinions which may be advanced in the following pages. <« TJie pavers shall he the property of the Sooiety, and no ^hlimtion of any papers or discussion shall be made, except by the Sockty, or under its express pemiis»ion.—By-Law No. 40. ^ ^anabian J[0ctetD of ^ibtl ^ngtnens. THE IRON ORES OP NOVA SCOTIA. By Edwin Gilpin, Jr., M.Can.Soo.C.E. The presence of iron ore in Nova Scotia was reported as early as 1604 by DeMonts, who found in the trap of Digby County veins of iron ore, and in the beaches of St. Mary's Bay layers of magnetic iron ore sand. It does not, however, appear that any attention was paid by the early settlers to the deposits, as was the case in Canada, where refer- ence is found as early as 1672 to the iron mines and foundries of St. Maurice. This may have been due, however, to the incessant wars and changes of government which filled the early pages of Acadian history. It was not until the early part of the present century that any attempt was made to utilise these ores. During its first decade a few tons of bar iron were made in a Catalan forge at Nictaux. Haliburton, in his History of Nova Scotia, gives an account of the next attempt, which was made at Moose River. It was under the auspices of a company incor- porated by the Local Legislature in 1825, and one of the earliest of those now entitled as of "limited liability." The works produced an excellent charcoal iron which was largely cast into kettles and stoves, and some bar iron, but ran c"ly for a short time. After an interval of thirty ^ "ars the furnaces were started again for a short time and are now in ruins. In 1828, the General Mining Association of London, the owners of the Albion Collieries of Pictou, collected a large lot of the limonite boulders, and mined some of the red hematites of the East River of Pictou, and experimented with them at the Albion Mines in a small furnace with unsatisfactory results. In 1856, two small blast furnaces were built at Nictaux, Annapolis Co., and rmn on the fossil ores of the vicinity and some bog ore with charcoal, but were soon abandoned, and allowed to fall out of repair. 4 OUpin on Iron Ores, In 1850, a Catalan forge was put up at Londonderry, Colchester Co., and ran for three years. It was succeeded by a charcoal furnace in 1853, which ran until 1874, and produced about 45,000 tons of pig iron. The iron made from the excellent limonite ore of that locality was of the best grade. Sir William Fairbaim spoke of it in the highest terms, as possessing in an unusual degree the qualities adapting it for the manufacture of ordnance. Steel was made from this iron to a limited extent, and proved equally satisfactory, the drills being largely used in the construction of the Intercolonial I{.R. The remoteness of the works, however, from facili- ties for transportation retarded their development. The construction of the Intercolonial iiailway, which was diverted from its course so as to pass near them, gave a chance for enlargement which was taken advantage of. In 1873, the Steel Company of Canada acquired these works, and their great freehold property of over 55 square miles of land. Dr. Siemens, the distinguished metallurgist, was at the head of the Company, and great anticipations were entertained of a large and remunerative manufacture of steel. About two and u half millions of dollars were expended in building two large blast furnaces, and the plant necessary for an output by a direct process designed by Dr. Siemens. Rolling mills, forgef, tramways, etc., were built, and the East and West Mines systematically opened, and a colliery developed at Maccan in Cumber- land County. The enterprise, however, although producing an excel- lent grade of product, was not successful, the writer is informed, owing to the steel producers not proving satisl'actory, and the atten- tion ol the Company was directed to car wheels, axles, nail plate, castings and pig iron. The Company finally was reorganised under the title of The London- derry Iron Company, Ltd., and is at present being successfully con- ducted under the management of Mr. R. G. Leckie. Further details of the operations of the Company will be given. During the past few monihs the New Glasgow Iron, Coal and Railway Company, operating at New Glasgow in Pictou County, have started to develop the ores of that locality, and their enterprise is being watehed with much interest, as, in the event of the production of a cheap steel and iron, there is no doubt that New Glasgow will become an impor- tant centre of ship building, bridge and locomotive works, etc. It is stated that this Company proposes uniting with the Noya Scotia Steel 'Jo., who have a large plant at Trenton, Pictou Co. During the past year its output was 13,000 tons of finished iron Gilpin on Iron Ores. § and steel. About 30,000 tons of ooal were used aud 420 men employed. Their plant ontains : 2 Open-hearth Siemens-Martin steel melting furnaces. 2 Regenerative gas re-heating furnaces. 8 Ruverberatory heating furnaces. 5 Steam hammers. 5 Rolling mills. 9 Pairs shears. > Lathes, planers, drills, etc., etc. Boilers, dynamos, etc. Note. — Fuller details about the history of iron smelting in Nova Scotia can be found in Dawson's Acadian Geology, Haliburton's His- tory of Nova Scotia, and Bartlett's Manufacture of Iron in Canada (American Institute of Mining Engineers, 1885). The different geological horizons met in the province present iron ores under varied conditions of deposition, size, and composition. The following table shows the ores characterising the horizons, and is based on the reports of Sir William Dawson and the Canadian Geological Survey. Geological Age. Modern. Triassic ( Sandstone. { Trap. 2 Permo Carboniferous. S [ Upper Coal Measures. ^ J True Coal Measures. J^ I Marine Limestone. Q I Lower Carboniferous. Variety of Ore found. Bog Ore. — Iron Sand. I Magnetic, Specular. Clay Ironstone. Clay Ironstone. Black Band, Clay Ironstone. ( Clay Ironstone, Spathic. ( Limonite, Red Hematite. Red Hematite. Devouian, Orislany Sandstone, etc. | ^* 'g "Ju^^eXSar I Upper Silurian f Clinton. f Clinton. » ( Lower Helderburg. | Red Hematite. Lower Silurian. Red Hematite, Magnetite. Cambro Silurian. Specular, Limonite. Laurentian. Red Hematite, Specular. It may be remarked that the limonites and red hematites of the Marine Limestone and Lower Carboniferous are frequently found as contact deposits, or filling junction veins. The Lower Carboniferous horizon is represented in this province chiefly as black shales or con- glomerates, and the Marine Limestone as alternations of shale, sand- t Qilpin on Iron Ores, stone, limestone, marls, and gypsum. At numerous points these meas- ures are found to carry contact deposits of iron ore where they lost on pre-Carboniferous strata. These deposits therefore occur between Oarboniferous measures and Silurian, Laurentian and Devonian meas- ures, the iron depositing agency being apparently inherent in the former. In the table it will be noticed that all the divisions of the Carboni- ferous carry clay ironstones. These deposits, except in one instance to be noticed, do not as yet appear to be of economic value, but have not hitherto received any special attention. The Society will observe that the writer has not included the gold-bearing strata uf Nova Scotia referred to, the Lower Cambrian or Longmynd series of Europe among the ferriferous measures.* These measures, consisting almost entirely of slates and quartzites with an occasional calcareous sandstone, do not appear to have had the organic or seismological conditions permit- ting of the accumulations of iron ores. Discoveries of ores have been reported in these measures, but the writer is not aware that any arc of economic or mineralogical interest. As the Atlantic front of the pro- vince is occupied by these rocks and their associated granites, the iron ores are confined to the more northerly part of Nova Scotia, and form a broad band extending from Digby in the west to Guysboro in the Straits of Canso, and through the Island of Capo Breton. For the sake of conciseness the writer will take the ores in order as they are met in passing from east to west. In the Island of Cape Breton the two predominating series are Carboniferous and Laurentian. In the former there are met at numerous points layers of clay ironstone up to six inches in thickness. Samples from Schooner Pond and Bara- Bois are said to yield from 25.84 to 27.89 per cent, of metallic iron. Near the top of the Lower Carboniferous at Sydney is a bed of marl, calcareous at several points, and carrying a sandstone in places con- taining 30 per cent, of metallic iron as a peroxide of iron. At Big Pond, Ben Eoin, Red Island, Loran and several other places on the Bras d'Or Lake, where these measures rest on the Laurentian fel- sites, etc., are found contact deposits of red hematite. Some of these have been tested, and at several points a few tons of ore extracted, and they are believed to be of considerable extent, but have not yet been systematically mined. The ore occurs in veins and in pockets, frequent- ly apparently replacing limestones or marly shales, and is often observed for considerable distances. On Boulardarie Island spathic • Note. See the Nova Scotia Gold Mines, by E. Gilpin, Am. Inst. M. E., 1886. Gilpin on Iron Ores. 7 iron ore occurs in a bed about three feet thick, carrying 32.58 per cent, of metallic iron. Bog ores are met at Boisdale, Schooner Pond and at several other points. Samples submitted to the writer appear to be of fair quality. At George's River there is a narrow band of Lower Silurian measures extending across to Eskasoni in East Buy. The slates and sandstones of this series are in places literally "soaked " with peroxide of iron. The mineral in places is segregated into buds or veins. Openings made by Mr. I. Greener at George's River show two deposits from five to ten feet wide, and apparently continuous for several hundred yards. A bed of red hematite which measured twelve feet in width has been exposed at Smith's Brook, Hlast Bay. It i.s, however, in the next horizon, that of the Laurentian, that the most important iron ore deposits of this Island will probably be found. These strata are divisible intc two groups, the felsitic and the calca- reous ; the latter also having felsites, gneisses, etc. This division appears to be markedly ferriferous, and at two localities important red hematite and magnetite deposits are known. At Whycocomagh these two varie- ties occur in close proximity. Nine distinct beds are said to have been discovered and partly tested. They vary in thickness from three to nine feet. A five-foot vein of unusual purity has recently been opened here by Judge Tremaine. Near Gillies Lake, East Bay, the Moseley iron ore bed has been traced for about 2J miles, and varies in thickness from four to thirteen feet. It is closely connected with crystalline limestones, and it is believed that there arc other similar beds in the vicinity. Near the Indian Reserve and at Peter's Mountain near St. Peter's, in rocks of Devonian age, are found several veins of specular ore. These deposits have not yet been systematically examined, but are promising and close to shipping. They resemble in quality and manner of occurrence the Guysboro ores, to be noticed. Their iron contents appear to run from 50 to 60 per cent. At points considerable quantities of sulphur are visi- ble, but largo poitions of the veins are composed of very fine ore. Iron ores are also known near Lake Ainslie, Mabou, Cheticamp, Hunter's Mountain, Craignish, Grand Ansc, Loch Lomond, etc., but no attention has yet been paid to them. The following table will serve to show the composition of some of these ores It may be remarked that, judging from their quality as tested by superficial openings and samples, they should furnish some rery good ores for steel making, and, as they are nearly all near deep water, they should be available for exportation. Other deposits again are lower in iron and higher in posphorus, but would be rich enough for consumption in local furnaces. 8 Oilpin on Iron Ores. 2 e CO 'J 5 00 00 «, a o CO o o es • a 1 o ^ M (O « I r-l i-l § f O 05 o 00 0) o o o ■— 1 »s i= ^ i « 00 <1> , -* S<1 to I I I to 00 la 00 o 00 o r-l C^ ^ 03 03 PQ •*> o 00 4) O C^ o o o CO CO »0 r-l to OS S 1 o I I I I *a Cfl "SO • o S S O) CO « I I I I 00 C<1 _5^ "oi B C S * .2 ^. ^^ a tD -3S 08 C^ ^ S Q. eS 5 .2 S a a ^" M^ ^ bO 00 £ :< a ;g ^ s 8 w)3 - .So ^ O I p^-*, s-S. 5i C C fe oO a • *<« to Gilpin on Iron Ores. 9 Passing to Nova Scotia proper, the first ores met are those of the Devonian of Guysboro County. In strata of this age in Annapolis County are known the valuable bedded hematites, sometimes altered into magnetites, of Clementsport and the Nictaux district. In Guys- boro County, however, important deposits have been opened, and their mode of occurrence has a direct bearing upon the probable ore-yielding localities on the opposite side of the Strait of Canso. At Erinvill^ is a large and important deposit of specular ore. Some years ago a test was made of the extent of this deposit. A shaft was sunk in the ore fifty feet, and a tunnel driven, exposing a body of ore sixty-five feet wide ; another bed in the vicinity was twelve feet wide. The ore is fairly compact, running from 55 to 62 per cent, of metallic iron, and very low in phosphorus, and not holding above the amount of sulphur usually found in ore of this character. The walls of the veins are composed of greenish, dioritic, feldspathic, trappean, brecciated rock. About a mile further west,promising indications of ore have been found in altered slat.es, and shales with quartz. In the vicinity are large masses of dark gray trap, in contact with conglomerate. At Boylston, on the east side of Milford Haven, are a series of veins of specular ore from two to four and a-half feet wide, in shale, with calcite. These deposits are connected with dioritic rocks as at Salmon River Lakes. A few tons were mined and found of good quality, but the expense of transport to the Londonderry furnaces, their only market, proved tot great. At Poison's Lake, Antigonish Co., are found lenticular masses of spathic ore, in some cases associated with copper sulphides, and beds of limestone carrying considerable amounts of carbonate of iron. A limonite from this locality yielded on analysis : — Iron 48.00. Water 11.12. Manganese oxides 4.73. Silicious matter... 3.86 Phosphorus trace. Sulphur trace. Magnesia trace. Passing to the northern part of the County, among the Lower Silu- rian metamorphio rocks, which form a broad band extending from the head waters of the East River of Pictou to Cape St. George, there are found abundant traces of specular, limonite, hematite and magnetite. At Arisaig, on Doctor's Brook, are important deposits of hematite. I 10 Oil/pin on Iron Ores. One bed is six feet thick, overlaid by another said to be twelve feet thick, and underlaid by thinner beds. On the road from Doctor's Brook to Pleasant Valley is a six feet and a twenty-four feet bed, and other deposits occur in this locality. The ore is oolitic, and in many places of good quality. Little work has yet been done to determine the extent and nature of these ores. They occur in connection with reddish and mottled fragmentary rocks, diorite with veins of epodite, red concretionary and hematitic slate and similar rocks, and perhaps owe their origin to the proximity of syenite, diorite and other igneous rocks. At Arisaig Brook is a bed of red hematite one to three feet thick, oolitic and fossiliferous. This ore is referred to by Mr. H. Fletcher as apparently belonging to the Niagara. The only analysis of an ore from this district that has come under the writer's notice gave 52.34 per cent, of metallic iron, but was high in silica and phosphorus. These ores could be shipped at Arisaig, if further researches prove them to be available for export. They could doubtless be smelted at present with charcoal as there are large tracts of woodland in the vicinity. PICTOU COUNTY. The accompanying map (Plate VI) shows the position of Pictou Harbour in relation to the coal, limestone, and iron ores of the County. Geologically speaking, the district may be described as made up of Carboniferous resting on Silurian and Cambro Silurian. The two horizons of the Carboniferous most interesting in this connection are the middle coal measures at New Glasgow forming the " Pictou " coal fields, and the Carboniferous foundation carrying numerous beds of limestone. As the basal conglomerate or shales of the Carboniferous is sparingly met in this district, the limestones may be compared to a fringe around the pre-Carboniferous, and lying between the coal and iron ore deposits. The iron ore district may be roughly described as a triangle formed by the ore outcrops and the Intercolonial and Cape Breton Railways, the former marking the base and the latter the sides of the triangle, having its apex in the coal field at New Glasgow. The construction of a railway has been begun to bisect the base, following the course of the East River. From Arisaig to Sunny Brae on the East River of Pictou there extends a band of Silurian measures which have been extensively stu- died by Sir W. Dawson and the late Dr. Honeyman, and are shortly to be illustrated by the map of the Geological Survey under Mr. Flet, oher. In this connection the most important horizons are perhaps the OUpin on Iron Ores. tl Lower Helderberg, Niagara, and Clinton. Although veinlets and indications of iron ore abound in this range west of ihe deposits just referred to, it is not until French River is reached that evidences are presented of any attempt to ascertain the value of the iron con- tents of these horizons, which are in Nova Scotia proper classed as the principal homes of the ores of this important metal. There is no doubt that when the demand arises there will be found at numerous points, in this apparently barren interval, deposits of iron ore at least equal to those characterising it at Arisaig and on the head waters of Suther- land's and the East River. The chief ore of this formation is a bedded red hematite found in four principal deposits. The most northerly of these, distant about two miles from the Pictou Coal field, is known as the Fall Brook, or Watson ore. It has been opened by a few trial pits, and found in Fall Brook to be about fifteen feet wide, and to maintain this size for about a mile to the eastward. The next bed, known as the Webster ore, has been carefully trenched and tested at several points. Its thickness varies from fifteen to thirty feet, its dip being generally north at angles varying from 25 to 60 degrees. At two points it presents the following sections : — ft. in. Ore (in four layers) 5 Smooth parting Ore 2 6 Smooth parting Ore 3 Slaty ore 3 10 Ore, 6 10 Ore ft. in. .... 4 4 Smooth parting Ore ..0 .... 3 Slate ... 2 11 Ore Total..,. ... 13 G Total. 20 4 This ore follows the crest of a high hill, cut transversely by the val- ley of Sutherland's River, and admits of adit drainajro to a depth of 300 feet. The ore is compact, non-fossiliforous, and brick red when weathered. The third exposure is known as the Blanchard Great Bod. No attempts have yet been made to trace it beyond the natural exposures, which extend about half a mile. It varies in width from 30 to 100 feet measured across a dip nearly vertical. It is also situated on elevated ground, and would yield a large amount of ore. ^^ Oilpin on Iron Ores, At a geological horizon about 700 feet higher than the last mentioned bed is a conformable range of red hematites forming the fourth series. This ore appears, as shown on the map, to forma synclinal trough. On the west side the ore is twelve feet thick, and at the apex there appear the outcrops of two other beds, eight and three feet in thi.v^. do blast furnace, 20,000 tons a year. *' do do do under construction, 35,000 tons a year. Pipe foundry, 6,000 tons a year. 22 Gilpin on Iron Ores, At Canfield Creek, Cumberland Co., Mr. E. G. Leckie has opened a large bed of limonite conveniently situated for mining and for trans- portation by land or sea. The following analysis shows its quality : — Sesquiozide of iron 68.01 Insoluble matter 5.40 Oxide of manganese 5.67 Lime 2.50 Volatile 16.30 The Nova Scotian, or southern side of the Bay of Fundy is girt by a wall of dioritic trap, with ash, lying upon and connected with sand- stones referred to the Triassic period. At numerous points this trap holds veins of magnetite and specular, and not unfrequently the soil derived from it holds limonite as the outcome of a secondary process. Usually the veins are irregular and small, the largest deposit which has come under the writer's notice being near Digby, and from eighteen inches to two feet in width. The magnetite is frequently massive, sometimes crystallised in partly filled veins, and associated with quartz, colourless and amethystine. It is usually pure, the principal foreign substance being silica. The ore also occurs disseminated in the trap at numerous points in small grains, sometimes only recog- nisable when separated by the magnet from the pulverized rock. At a point near Digby Neck it is associated with specular ore, and a few tons were shipped some years ago. The following analyses will show the characters of these ores : — I. II. III. Iron 60.430 49.291 68.33 SUica 14.320 26.872 5.46 Phosphorus 036 .031 Sulphur 046 .021 Titannic acid trace trace Magnesia 1.27 Digby Neck, Granville, Margaretville, Malvern are among the local- ities where surface indications appear to warrant a belief that work- able deposits exist. Red hematite occurs in a similar manner associated with quartz, agate, and calcite. It is sometimes presented in the form of small crystalline plates, in a granular quartz matrix, and sometimes as crys- tals, apparently showing its derivation from the magnetite. Specimens ftre met, especially the more highly crystalline ones, having decidedly k- i\\ kns Oilpin on Iron Ores. 23 magnetic properties. These ores are frequently met throughout the trap range, which is 120 miles in length. Titaniferous iron ore is found at St. Mary's Bay, west of Dighy, as sand forming irregular layers in the heach. The indications are said to be extensive, but no attempts have been made to test its value for working. A sample yielded : — Magnetic iron sand or iserine 30 Non-magnetic or ilmenite 56 Silicious sand 14 100 Both varieties containing a large amount of titanium and a little magnesia. This ore is reported from Shelbume and other points on the Atlantic Coast, and from Musquodoboit, near Halifax ; that from the latter place being a dark micaceous schist, holding crystals of mag- netite with titanium in considerable quantity. The writer has also observed a similar ore near Sutherland's River, in Pictou County, hold- ing titanium. So far these ores nave not been much prized by the metallurgist. Attempts were made a number of years ago to smelt similar ores at Bay St. Paul, on the north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, but were abandoned chiefly, it is said, owing to the cost of fuel. The pig made was white and of fair quality. There are, how- ever, on the northern shores of the Gulf and in Newfoundland deposits of magnetites apparently free from this ingredient, and they may prove an important aid to the iron smelting operations in Pictou County. South of the long range of trap referred to, is a narrow fertile valley traversed by the Annapolis and Cornwallis valleys, and underlaid by Triassio sandstones. On the south side of the valley a band of strata, referred by Sir William Dawson to the Devonian, succeeds the sand- stones. This band varies in width from three to six miles, and is known to extend from Digby to a point a few miles west of Windsor, and is divided into two nearly equal parts by a mass of granite. In the wes- tern part are the Clementsport ores, in the eastern those of the Niotauz district. At Clementsport there are two beds of ore running nearly east and west, and underlying to the south at nearly vertical angles. The high- est of these beds is known as the Milner deposit, and vavies in thickness from two to four feet. It is a specular ore, metamorphosed with mag- netic properties, and retains casts of virelibite, spirifers and assooia- ! ' 24 Oil'pin on Iron Ores. ted mollusks. The ore, which is of fair quality, yields about 33 per cent, of metallic iron, and has been mined by open cast work. The underlying or Potter bed may perhaps be classed as a magnetite, and the former workings presented the following section : — ft. in. Ore 3 Slate 2 6 Ore 3 6 9 It is compact and dark gray in colour. The writer has seen no analy- sis of it, but it has been reported as running low in phosphorus and yielding 48 per cent, of iron. At Bloomfield and several other points in this vicinity are beds of bog ore, yielding about 25 per cent, of iron. It is found a few inches under the surface, in layers from six inches to two feet in thickness. Reference has already been made to the furnace built here, and details of its size, etc., are without interest in this connection. The fuel was charcoal, and the daily yield from a mixture of ore from the various openings was five tons. At Nictaux, 37 miles east of Clementsport, an attempt was made a number of years ago to work similar ores. The ore was taken from a bed of highly fossiliferous peroxide of iron associated with dark gray slates, which has been traced about four miles, and varies in thickness from three to four and a-half feet. The fossils of the red hematite and associated beds are spirifer, are- nosus, strophemena, magnifica, and depressa, Atrypa unguiformis, and species of Avicula, Bellerophon, Favosites and Zaphrenti8,etc., compared by Professor Hall with the fauna of the Oriskany sandstones, and prov- ing the beds to be of Lower Devonian age. There is also found in these measures a bed of gray magnetic ore about eight feet wide. Several other deposits of ore have been found at Torbrook, and consid- erable amounts have been shipped by Mr. Leckie to his furnaces at Lon- donderry. These newer openings yield a good ore, and the beds vary in thickness from five feet up to eight feet. The following analysis will show their quality : — Magnetite. Bed Hematite. 1. IL III. „ Metallic iron 59.11 57.93 59.86 Sulphur 09 .036 M Qilpin mi Iron Ores. 26 Phosphorus 17 .16 none Alumina 5.53 — 3.U Lime 2.70 — 2.16 Magnesia 41 — — Silica 14.97 17.21 5.93 The ores of this district appear to have been originally red hematites or peroxides, but they have lost more or less of their oxygen and become magnetic. Specimens can be got showing the gradual change from normal red hematites with cherry red powder, to magnetic ores with brown or black streaks. This is probably a local metamorphism due to the presence of organic matter and the granitic dykes which traverse the works in the vicinity. A bed four feet widt; of manganiferous ore from this locality owned by Mr. R. G. Leckie yielded : — Metalliciron 18.47 Metallic Manganese 9.80 Insoluble 33.50 Lime 3.00 The writer has received specimens of limonite, red hematite, and bog ore from the district lying to the south of the Devonian band, and extending east nearly to Windsor, a distance of fifty miles. As yet these ores are not known in amounts of economic value, but no search has yet been made for them ; and as the Silurian, Arisaig, horizons probably exist here, important discoveries may be anticipated. CONDITIONS UPON WHICH IRON ORE LANDS ARE GRANTED. The following is a brief outline of the conditions under which mine- rals other than gold and silver, owned by the Provincial Government, are granted. A license to search for eighteen months can be secured for $30.00. covering five square miles. Before the expiration of the license to search a lease of one square mile can be selected on the payment of $50.00. This runs lor twenty years, an ar^ual rental of $30.00 being paid unless work is performed, and is renewable. A royalty of five cents a ton is levied on all coal sold or smelted. The law also provides that any land required for mining purposes may be secured by arbitra- tion. There are many localities in the Province where the land grants made previously to 1809 conveyed the iron ore also. These mineral proper- ties in this respect belong to the owner of the so:*' nd are not liable to the Goyernmeut royalty. CORRESPONDENCE. Mr. R.E. Chambers. Mj., Chambers of the New Glasgow Iron, Coal and Railway Co. remarked that be had rccived a copy of Mr. Gilpin's valuable paper on " The Iron Ores of Nova Scotia," with a request to make some reraarks on it. The paper covers the ground so completely as to require nothing in addition. As in most other countries, there are many places showing ore in Nova Scotia which are not of economic importance, but there are also many deposits of large size and very great value. After 18 months of exploring and prospecting the Company represented by the writer have secured and developed sufficient high class ore to warrant the erec- tion of furnaces of large capacity. A personal examination of the iron resources of the Southern States and the Lake Superior region makes it evident that there is no place in the United States or Canada where iron can be made to better advantage than in Pictou County, Nova Scotia. RANSACTIONS CAN. SOC. C. E. VOL V. PLATE V. CJIHrtk. Cite»#e: ^rui .SB TRANSACTIONS CAN. SOC. C. E. VOL V. PLATE V. USrCi. '*'-^**M|t, f^ntf