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The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes ou les planches trop gr{ reproduites en un seul clichd sont partir de i'angle sup6rieure gauche droite et de haut en bas, en prenai d'images ndcessaire. Le diagramm illustre la mdthode : 1 2 3 1 2 1 3 4 5 6 '■■..\yii,..i =;;?«= •■^'.// .'■■'■ RE"? fe T ON THE PHOSPHATE LANDS OF THE TEMPLETON & NORTH OTTAWA MINING QOMPA NY. :'■■} BY E. J. CHAPMAN, Ph. D., <&c., I'ro/essor of Mineralogy and Geology in University College, Toronto, and Consulting Mining Engineer. ,/,;.:./ %1^^ TORONTO: > - LOVELL BROTHERS, PRINTERS. 39 & 41 MELI^DA STREET. June: 1878, L;^ u m\ ■'■:;:;\::;"^i m pi I I J I ^p^'v- f^V; i'^ \,fdM m REPORT m ON THE PHOSPHATE LANDS OF THE TEMPLETON & NORTH OTTAWA MINING COMPANY. BY E. J. 'chapman, Ph. D., &c., Professor of Mineralogy and Geology in University College, Toronto, and Consulting Mining Engineer. TORONTO: LOVELL BROTHERS. PRINTERS, 39 & 41 MELINDA STREET, June: 1878. t "K" i. REPORT ON THE PHOSPHATE LANDS OF THE TEMPLETON & NORTH OTT ' WA MINING COlvIPANY. To F. W. HENSHAW, Esq., S-c, S-c. MONTREAL. Sir, — Having received your instructions to examine the Phosphate Lands of the Templeton and North Ottawa Mining Company, and to furnish you with an impartial Report upon the property, I visited the ground, and re- mained there during an entire week, at the commencement of the present month (June, 1878). In my examination of the ground, I had the valuable guidance of Mr. J. G. Miller, whose intimate knowledge of the district, and of phosphate deposits generally, rendered his co-operation of the greatest service, and enabled me to save much time in my investi- gation of the numerous lots belonging to the Company. On the assumption that my Report is mainly intended for public information, I have confined myself as much as possible, in drawing it up, to the discussion of practical details as distinguished from points of purely scientific or theoretical interest. The Report, thus limited, embodies the following subdivisions : — (i) Site and general descrip- tion of the Property ; (2) Mineral Features ; (3) Composi- tion and average quality of the Phosphate ; (4) Statistics and general conclusions. (i) Site and General Description of the Property : — The phosphate lands of the Templeton and Nprth, Ottawa Mining ■ - » i It ^ J » • * a I- 1 J, • •• ' ' " » . * 0,0 ",» c 1 ■• * , » » ' ° ' ,1 n » ti » » » Company comprise altc^ether 4715 acres, situated in the Townships of Templeton and Portland in Ottawa County, Province of Quebec. Of these, 945 acres are possessed in fee simple ; 950 acres arc worked by mineral and mining rights (embracing the power to cut timber for mining use, th • right of roadway, &c.) ; and 2820 acres are held on lease at the low royalty of 50 cenvs per ton of mined phosphate. A large sheet of navigable water, MacGregor's Lake — with its northern extensions known as Dam Lake and Grand Lake, and its southern extension, Courville's Bay — lies in the centre of the property, and greatly facilitates the trans- portation of the phosphate material from the more impor- tant lots at present opened. Several smaller bodies of water, as Beaver Lake, Clear Lake, Crooked Lake, &c., also lie within the limits of the Company's property, or impinge upon its boundary. The greater portion of the property is within the area of the so-called " Phosphate- bearing Belt " as determined bv the geological survey of Canada ; but this belt, as layed down on Mr. Vennor's map, is somewhat too restricted in width, as several fine deposits, and notably the opened portion of the large phosphate- bearing vein of Mr. McLaurin (west margin of lot 18, Range 9), are just beyond its limits. A substantial wharf has been erected on the east shore of MacGregor's Lake (lot 12, Range 12), and another, equally good, near the dam, on lot 13 of the gth Range, between which spots — a distance oC about three miles — the phos- phate is conveyed on a well-built scow belonging to the Company. From the dam wharf, the conveyance is by teaming over a very fair road to Dunning's Wharf on the Ottawa River, a distance of nine or ten miles, from whence the phosphate is shipped directly to Montreal. On lot 12 of the 1 2th Range, a well-appointed blacksmith's-shop has been put up, together with several dressing sheds and storing houses ; and additional sheds for cobbing and storing the mined phosphate have been erected on other parts of the property. Altogether, the tools and plant, at present on the ground, are sufficient for working gangs of at least forty men. '. ; ••; /, •- •• • *i , '.. . . '..' .: * ; • ;: • • • • • • ••• •• . • • • . .. . •, A .'. •';♦•. .««• • . - ' ' t The following is a complete enumeration of the Com- pany's lots.* A. TOWNSHIP OF TEMPLETON. Range 2, South part of east half of lot 15, (100 acres). Lies a mile and a half from the .. 'er front. Contains at least two phosphate-bearing bands of considerable width, but at present altogether undeveloped. The phosphate is distributed in numerous crystals through bands of limestone. It would be advisable to test these limestone bands by boring, as the phosphate may very probably run into workable bunches at a moderate depth from the surface. The lot, however, lies completely apart from the main mining ground of the Company.' It is known as the " Bertrand " lot. Range 8, East half of lot 15 (100 acres). Two pits, known as the Pioneer Pits, have been opened on this lot, and 162 tons of phosphate have been shipped from their yield. In one, a long lead of phosphate occurs on the pit-floor, and evidently indicates a further extension of the workable mass. Range 3, continued: East half of lot 19, and west half of lot 20 abutting on Latourneau's Lake, (200 acres). Good indications of phos- phate, but the lots, £ present, are practically unexplored. The surface- rock for the greater part is entirely concealed by soil, fallen timber, &c. This applies also to many other portions of the Company's property. Range 9, North half of lot 4 (100 acres), south half of lot 5 (100 acres), east half of lot 8 (100 acres), south part of lot 11 (90 acres). Fair shews on all, but none yet opened out. East half of lot 19 (100 acres). Several promising shews from which a few tons of phosphate have been taken, occur on this lot, but the ground practically is still unopened. Mr. McLaurin's deep pit, from which upwards of 600 tons ha/e been already obtained, lies on the adjacent lot 18; and some fair shews occur al?o on lot 17. Range 10, lot 8 (200 acres). Contains fourteen or fifteen good shews, not yet opened. West half of lot 11 (100 acres) : shews several exposures, two partially stripped but not yet worked. North half of lot 12 (100 acres) : perhaps less promising than some of the other lots in this Range, but containing several shews from the surface of which a ton or two of good phosphate has been extracted. South half of lot 16 (100 acres), the "Brown" lot: very promising shews but at present unworked. Range 11, lot 12 "Birch Point" (160 acres), lot 13 (130 acres), lot 14 (80 acres). These lots lie on oourville's Bay, a southern extension of MacGregor's Lake. They shew several very promising leads, from trial- pits on which about 24 tons of phosphate have already been taken ; but ♦ The small map, which accompanies this Report, exhibits the position of the more tentral and important lots of the Company in the north part of Templeton, Other phos- phate lands belonging to the Company, in Templeton and Portland, lie beyond the limiti of the map, but are referred to in the Report. the deposits are at present merely opened. Lot i6 (200 acres); slight sliews. unworked. Lot ig, north half (100 acres): four good shews ; but if worked in summer, a road to this lot is required. Range 12, lot 11 (700 acres): several fine shews, one opened in the "Carey" Pit, but scarcely worked as yet, although about six tons have been taken from its surface. Lot 12 (zro acres). This lot hasyielded the principal portion of the phosphate hitherto taken from the Company's property, and it is still being largely worked. Its southern border abuts on Mud Bay and MacGregor's lakf, on which a good wharf has been erected. Twelve or thirteen pits, kno.-n collectively as the " Fidelity Mine", have bejn opened on the lot. These are referred to, more fully, in § 2, below. One pit, the " Trusty", 52 ft. deep, has yielded 320 tons of first-class phosphate; and another, the "Emerald", has yielded 150 tons. Lot 13 (130 acres) : conta'r.s a number of good shews, on one of which a little sinking has been done (the " Baron " Pit), and about seven tons have been taken out. Over fifty exposures of phosphate in small strings and leads occur on a steep hill-side on another part of this lot. These shews, although small in themselves, are quite as promising as many surface shews, on other lots, which have opened out into good workable bunches at comparatively slight depths. Lots 15 and 16 (100 acres, each) : prac- tically unexplored, but shew indications of phosphate in several places. Lot ig (180 acres): four slight shews, altogether unworked as yet. Lot 21, north half (100 acres): several shews, one exceedingly promising (Bishop Pit) on which work is just beinf; commenced. It extends over a considerable space. A deposit, a short distance to the nor* vest of thi" lot (just beyond tha Company's limit) known as " Breckon's Mine," has yielded over 400 tons, and is constantly improving. Its surface shew does not appear to have bt^n as promising as that at the Bishop Pit on the Ccmpany's ground. Range 13, lot 11 (200 acres). About the centre of this lot, near the 90Uth-w£st extremity of Clear Lake, a deep pit has been carried down on a large deposit of very pure green phosphate. The pit has already yielded over 60 tons, and is still improving. Another shew, unworked as yet, occurs a short distance west of this opening. Lot i:^ (170 acres;: contains a very promising surface shew, as yet only picked over. Other smaller shews also occur on the lot. Lot 14 (igo acres) : altogether unexplored, but evidently a promising country. Lot 17 (57 acres) ; consists of two portions separated by the southern extremity of Grand Lake. Good shews occur on both, but have not at present been opened. B. TOWNSHIP OF PORTLAND. Range 2, lot 17 (120 acres), lot 18 (130 acres), lot 31 (120 acres), lot 32 (130 acres). Good shews, mostly of red pl-osphate, but altogether un- worked. Range 3, lot ig (120 acres). Fair shews, but lot practiLally unex* plored. Ground, heavily timbered. ) I (2). Mineral Features : — The country-rock of the district in which the phosphate property of the Company is situated, consists of Laurentian gneiss, in thick and thin beds, com- posed essentially of quartz and orthoclase feldspar, with a little mica in some places, and much hornblende in others. The mica, as a rule, is sparingly present — and in this respect the gnoissoid rock presf.its a marked contrast to the phos- phate-bearing veins, in most of which a magnesian mica (phlogopite) occurs largely, or forms, even, the predominating portion of the veinstone. • Coarse brown garnets, and here and there crystals of black tourmaline are also occasionally present in the gneiss. Over the greater part of the Com- pany's property, the strike of these gneissoid rocks is in a general north and south direction, although subject to local exceptions. Numerous veins, some of great width, traverse L] the country-rock almost at right-angles, or in a general east and west direction. These veins carry the phospliate deposits. They consist, mostly, of a mixtu'-e of coarse crystals of brown magnesian mica (phlogopite), light or dark green pyroxene, and white or pale-reddish calcite ; • and a banded structure is sometimes observable in them. In some cases — as on the Bertrand Lot : 15 in Range 2 of Templeton — the veinstone consists essentially of crystalline •^alcite ; but in most of the veins within the limits of the property, the chief portion of the gaiigue consists of eivher phlogopite or pyroxene, or of an intermixture of these ■^^'^'l magnesian silicates. In some veins, finely-crystallized scapolites, and quartz and zircon crystals, are also present. The phosphate — fluor-apatite — lies in more or less lenticular masses within the gangue, and throws out small stri,ngs or " leads " in various directions. In practically all the veins, the phosphate at the outcrop of the vein shews merely thin I strings and patches, with perhaps a few tiCattered crystals in the surrounding veinstone ; but in descending, the strings run more or less together, and at the depth of a few feet a solid bunch or mass of apatite is frequently struck. This, as a rule, expands rapidly ; but after widening to from two or three, to over ten or fifteen feet — or in special cases to a J} 8 still greater breadth— it gradually contracts again, and finally thins out. The annexed sketches present generalized sections of phosphate masses of this kind : fig. i being a section along the run or course of the vein ; and fig. 2, a section across the vein. In sone cases, a mass of phosphate, after contracting to a very narrow width— or being partially cut f^ff by large fragments or horses of gneissoid roci: lying within the vein— has again opened out into workable dimensions. Fig.l. Fig. 2. The actual width of these phosphate-bearing veins exceeds in some instances twenty or thirty feet, but in most cases it remains still to be ascertained, as the excavations have necessarily been confined to the phosphate masses, the other portions of the vein being left unstripped. At pre- sent, also, no definite attempt has been made to continue the workings below thf^ first phosphate masses, the primary ^object being to get out as much phosphate as possible without incurring the expense of deep sinkings. But it may be legitimately inferred that other masses willbetound at greater depths,— not necessarily directly under the others, but in the vicinity of these. It would seem advisable, therefore, to test the veins more thoroughly by a few deep borings carried down upon the vein at different spots. I am convinced that this would lead to the discovery of other workable deposits. The course of the veins, it has been stated on a preceding P'C.ge, is mostly in a general east and v/est direction. In i 9 one or two cases, this cannot, at present, be actually proved, but in the greater number of examples it is sufficiently manifest. Thus, at the " Fidelity Mines," on the more southern portion of lot 12 in the 12th Range of Templeton, three veins, at least, may be clearly traced by the pits already opened upon them. Near the lake margin, in pass- ing from east to west, these pits comprise : the '• Surprise," the "Tricky," the "Emerald," (from which 150 tons of phosphate have been taken), the "Feeder" (which has yielded 25 tons), the " Boulder," and the " Tidy." A second vein, running in the same general east and west direction, a chain or two north of the above, outcrops on the shore of Mud Bay, where it shews a long and very promising lead, and is opened farther west at the "Trusty," the " Colossal,'' and the "Purity" pits. From the Trusty pit, 320 tons 01 phosphate — representing a profit of nearly $2000 — have already been obtained. A third vein, still farther north, has been opened at the " Red," the " Hermit " and the " Carey " pits, which also lie east or west of one another. Two facts here come prominently to the surface. First, the very important fact that the phosphate lies in irregu- larly-lenticular masses imbedded in true fissure-veins, the essential or characteristic veinstone being brown magnesian mica in large crystals, pyroxene, or calcite, or a mixture of ._ these minerals, — from which it may be concluded that workable deposits of phosphate will be found at greater depths than those hitherto reached. And secondly, the fact of the veins running (at least, in most instances) in a gen- eral easterly and westerly direction, a knowledge of which may facilitate the discovery of workable masses at present concealed. (3). Composition and average quality of the Phosphate : — The mineral substance technically termed " phosphate " in Canada, is known mineralogically as Apatite. Of this mineral, two leading varieties are recognized. In one, the substance may be regarded as essentially a compound ot phosphate of lime and fluoride of calcium ; and in the 10 other, of phosphate of lime and chloride of calcium. In the first variety, however, a small amount of chloride of calcium, and in the second a small amount of fluoride, is also invariably present. All the Apatite hitherto found in Canada consists of Fluo-phosphate. If quite pure— that is, if absolutely free from the slightest trace of intermixed foreign matters, a condition in which, of course, it can only occur exceptionally — it contains a little over 92% oi phos- phate of lime. This peicentage, however, is manifestly unattainable in samples of even a few pounds' weight ; and in ordinary shipping samples ol first-class quality, 80 or 81 per cent, may be considered a high average. As regards colour, our Canadian apatites vary from pale greenish white to apple-green and deep sea-green, on the one hand; and through light tints of pink, to clear-red and deep chocolate or brownish-red, on the other. As regards quality, the colour is altogether immaterial. In texture, our apatites vary from a highly crystalline, cleavable condition, to a coarse or fine granular state. In the latter condition, the substance is apparently more readily acted upon by sul- phuric acid, in its conversion into marketable surper-phos- phate, but in other respects the difference is immaterial. The masses of phosphate when broken up at the Com- pany's pits, are cobbed or hand-dressed, and carefully looked over, and in this manner a good deal of the phos- phate is rendered almost pure ; but, of course, in large heaps a few pieces of inferior quality will often escape detection. In most of the dressed heaps that came under my notice on the ground, the percentage of tribasic phos- phate would certainly average 79 or 80, and in many of the piles it would go considerably higher — probably as high as 82 cr 83. On my return to Ottawa, I stopped at Dunning's wharf — the shipping place on the Ottawa River — and selected from a heap of many tons' weight two or three pieces in which visible grains of calcite and mica were present, and which, therefore, were certainly rather under than over the average quality of the sample. A complete analysis of II these specimens, just completed in my laboratory, has yielded the following results : • Tribasic Phosphate of Lime 8o-88 */<, Fluoride of Calcium 6'22 " Chloride of Calcium 0-38 " Intermixed Carbonate of Lime, 476 " Internixed Mica and Pyroxene 5*63 " Dissolved L^on-oxide, 044 " Hygroscopic-moisture and loss i"6 iff 75 /^ f3 i^ // :fO 9 ■ -"'^— - -I I vf' Mm REFERENCES: The Company's Lots are denoted by oblique sliaif ^.. Fidelity Group of Mines, with wharf, &c., Lots ir, 12; R. xii (see. Report). B. Bishop Pit; Bn. Baron Pit. C. Clear Lake Mine (see Report). Pt. Birch Point. M. Position of the McLaurin Mine. P. Pioneer Pits. For other localities, sec the Report. Scale (approximative) i inch to the mile. E. J. C. June, 1878. s^ cp 7 ^ [yn ii mwiwwHWMJfi