IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) k // £/ A*7€^ ,0 %a A 1.0 I.I 1.25 ■ 50 '""■ H? 1^ 12.0 12.5 2.2 1.4 1.6 *. /a /: ^>v y iV 4 4^ (meaning CONTINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Un des symboles suivants apparaTtra sur la der- nidre image de cheque microfiche, selon ie cas: le symbols — ► signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbole V signifie "FIN". The original copy was borrowed from, and filmed with, the kind consent of the following institution: Library of the Public Archives of Canada Maps or plates too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: L'exemplaire film6 fut reproduit gr§ce d la g6n6rosit6 de Tdtablissement prdteur suivant : La bibliothdque des Archives publiques du Canada Les cartes ou los planches trop grandes pour dtre reproduites en un seul clichd sont filmdes d partir de I'angle supdrieure gauche, de gauche d droite et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n^cessaire. Le diagramme suivant illustre la mdthode : 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 ^% Cmnifi •ftbo^i 10 5 ^ \ BJIY CMrth. ^'r^. ^°^r:"'4 PROVINCE OF NOVA SCOTIA. ^ Cheh'camp Chitnuey. Corner Y ^0 — - - C.JiTorth mgcmBaif m GUice Bay Con-Bay i im^v. \ K .■««:: o «es ^' o^'P^ sgO rt\^' ** G V^ \^ ^^^' >'V ' u ' ORES OF NOVA SCOTIA. GOLD, LEAD, AND COPPER, BY E. GILPIN, Jr.. M-. A., Ll.D., F.R. S.C.,etc. INSrECTOR OF MINES. llnnit i> ,OKOil>i" HALIFAX, N. S. COMMISSIONEP OF PUBLIC WORKS AND MiNES, QUEEN'S I'RINTER, 1898. ^ .'^ *^ Halifax, N. S, June 20th, 1898. The Honorable Charles E. Church, Commissioner of Public Works and Mines : Sir,— The report herewith submitted on the Gold, Lead, and Copper deposits of Nova Scotia, contains, in an abbreviated form, the most important facts respecting their value and extent that I have been able to collect from public and private sources. The subjects treated merit much greater detail than the space at my disposal admits of, but I trust that the brief notice given them will show that they are valuable, and capable of almost unlimited development. I remain, sir, yours obediently, E. GILPIN, Jr. INTRODUCTORY. The following remarks on the Gold, Lead, and Copper deposits of Nova Scotia have not been written from a technical or scientific point of view ; but are intended to convey in a practical manner a fair idea of their extent, value, and adaptability for protitable mining. The lead and copper deposits are as yet undeveloped, although they are wide spread and promising. The gold deposits, alluring from their display of free gold, have received locally much attention. This attention, as may be gathered from my brief remarks, has not been for many years of an encouraging nature, as it was an affection of the hope of immediate returns, and not an endeavor to reduce gold mining to its true position, a connnercial enterprise. Until a few years ago the local capitalist wanted something rich, a fortune without labor, extracted from a golden bunch of quartz or from the pocket of an innocent investor. Now, however, the fact is recognized that gold mining is a business, not necessarily a roseate speculation ; and veins and deposits are being profitably worked, on business principles, which, a few years ago, would have been spurned. Since this principle has been accepted it is safe to say that the gold interests of the Province have an assured future. The cfuarantee of this is the fact that we have local investors who can mine and mill quartz profitably, on a small scale, when the quartz crushed does not yield over two dollars of free gold per ton. This cheapness of mining and milling may confidently be quoted as a most important item in the problem of the profitable development of our lead and copper deposits. NOVA SCOTIA GOLD FIELDS. The gold fields of Nova Scotia became known about tlie year 1860. The earliest discovery was followed by numerous others, until it was at first believed that it was all auriferous. Gradually however, it became evident that the workable deposits of free gold were confined to the Atlantic half of the Province. Investigation showed that this district was occupied by two divisions of rock, granite and slates, and quartzites or sandstones, compacted by a silicious cement, and locally known as "whin". Geologists referred the latter to tlie Lower Cam- brian age, a series of rocks known to be auriferous in other parts of the world. In Nova Scotia they are divided into the lower or quartzite group, and the upper or ferruginous and graphitic slate group. 'I'he lower group, to which a thickness 'of over 11,000 feet is assigned by Mr. Faribault, consists principally of quartzite, interstratified with num- erous beds of slate varying in colour and texture, and with a few beds of compact conglomeri tic rock. The upper group, wliich is over 4,000 feet thick, is almowt wholly composed of bluish black soft slates. By the labors of Mr. Faribault, the pioneer of the Geological Survey in the mapping of the gold fields, much detailed information has been collected, and I am indebted to him for his clear presentation of the most interesting facts relating to the stratigraphy of the rocks under consideration. These measures, originally horizontal, have been moved by a powerful and uniform presnure irom the south, exerted in a line roughly parallel to that of the coast, which has folded them into a series of sharp piirallel undulations or folds. By denudation these folds have been so worn down that in a generally level country they have been extensi\ely exposed in horizontal sections, showing within a few hundnul yards the reverse dips, to the north and to the south. The rocks general'y dip at an angle of 75° to DO', selrlom lower than 45", and overturns are frequently noted. 8 GOLD, LEAD, AXD COPPER ORES Following the definition of the extent of the gold fields of the province as given by tlio earh' writers, it would be put down at about 6,500 stjuare miles. Various deductions have been made from this on account of the granite masses wliicli are fre([uently met. The granite is of an age, roughly speaking, geologically referred to a period later than the Devonian. Generally the estimates allow that about one half of the auriferous district is occupied by granite, making the extent of the gold fields about 3,000 square miles. The granite is presented in masses and dykes of varying shape and size, and appears, broadly speaking, to have melted through the slates and (piart/ites. The granite is not generallv considered to be auriferous, although gold has been found in quartz veins in it at points far distant from the slates and (piartzites. The upper or slate group is not recognized by miners as auriferous, although ([uartz veins occur in it, and sometimes show gold. It may be found, however, on further examination, that at favorable localities extensive deposits of low grade ores are presented in it. Attention has therefore been confined principally to the lower or quartzite group. From Mr. Faribault's observations it appears that the gold belts occur at a distance below the base of the upper or slate group, varying from 2,800 to 8,000 feet, giving a thickness of about 5,000 feet of t^uriferous strata. Veins occur at other points in the lower group of rocks, but have not yet bum found to be pronouncedly rich in gold. It will therefore be seen that wherever this section of the lower group has been folded, denu veins the u'old is sometimes distributed with comparative unifoi'mity over considerable areas : usually howe\-er, it is more or less concenti'ated within certain detinecl limits, leaving spaces on each side comparatively l)ari'en. These enriched zones are known as j)ay streaks, ari' i-t'peated in some veins, and follow cei'tain laws not yet clearly understood. They have hitherto been the princi])a.l source of the gold ])roduction. ('.)ld is also found sparingly in the ([uartziti' beds and more abundantly in the slates. The latter when in contact with the (piartz freijuently show it in thin platings, and the small veiidets of (juartz seaming the slates often cai-ry gold. When one or more (piartz veins o(Cur in connection with a slate bed, the whole bed is frequently rich 10 GOLD, LEAD, AND COPPER ORES enough to be worked as a low grade ore. As will be shown further on, practical experience has taught the miner that profitable low grade ore nicans material yielding in an ordinary stamp mill from two dollars to the ton and upwards. The continuity of the anticlinal axes are broken at some points by faults of great extent ; smaller faults are met in the veins, but considering the age of the strata they are unusually uniform and free from disturbance. ALLUVIAL GOLD MINING. The early prospecting developed promising alluvial deposits at several points. At Tangier it was shown that a large extent of surface carried gold, and several hundred ounces were washed out- The limited extent of the areas, however, did not allow of systematic work, and attention was diverted to the rich vein outcrops. The most interesting alluvial development was at the Ovens, near Lunenburg. Here the sea has worn a number of large cavities in the cliffs which are composed of soft slates with small quartz veins often showing gold. The action of the waves concentrated the gold washed from the slates along the beach near these openings, and during the years 1861 and 1862, about 2,500 ounces were returned as taken out. It is believed, however, that only a small part of the gold extracted was accounted for. Since that date small amounts have been secured by persons living in the vicinity. The richness of the alluvium directed attention to the neighboring ((Uartz veins, but they proved uncertain and unprofitable with the crude methods of that day. Trial crushings of the (juartz and slate from se\'eral points in this district would indicate tlie feasibility of dealing with them on a low grade basis. At Gay's Riv^er explorations have shown that a conglomerate of lower carboniferous age, lying on the gold btsaring slates, carries at its junction with them considerable amounts of gold. At one time profitable mining was carried on here on a small scale along the edge of the outcrop of tlie conghMnerate ; but the miners turned their attention to richer districts. As the conglomerates at many points in this district show jrold it is to be recrretted that more attention has not been paid to them, as in a certain degree a parallel can be traced between them and the South African gold fields. Promising alluvial ground exists on the Nine Mile and Meander Rivers, at Renfrew, in the southern part of Waverly, and in the vicinity of other gold fields. In fact at any favorable point south of the passage of an auriferous anticlinal sights of gold can be obtained OF NOVA SCOTIA. 11 by panning, which would in California or other countries where alluvial minino^ is a recog^nized practice, lead to immediate attention. However, little attention has been paid to this source of gold for many years, altnough it has been well within the knowledge of miners that in every district the immediate surface cover contains much gold in boulders and free in the earth. At Moose River, Mr. Touquoy, a miner who ac(|uired his experience in Australia, has for a number of years systematically passed the surface earth of his areas through his crusher with profitable returns. There can be no doubt that at many points this system could be advantageously united, as in his case, with the crushing of underground quartz. It is true that in this province there may not be the enormous deposits of auriferous gravel which have elsewhere permitted of the investment of great amounts of capital to wash over with water brought from sources many miles distant, millions of tons of material to glean a profit from their scanty gold contents : but it may be stated confidently that the deposits here are much richer, and that they will prove more remunerative. At the last session of the Legislature an Act was passed to allow of large tracts of ground being taken on almost nominal terms for a period of three months to permit of preliminary investigation for the purpose of alluvial mining. This arrangement permits capital to secure cheaply unbroken stretches of ground, which if found valuable can afterwards be brought under the regular conditions of the Mines Act. Already applications have been made under this Act at Stormont, Meander and Nine Mile Rivers, and at Middle River, Inverness County. It is as yet too soon to know if this Act will be advantageous or not ; at any rate the government has given every facility to those who believe that wealth can be extracted from the alluvial as well as from the underlying reefs. In this connection it is interesting to note that indications of gold deposits arc found in alluvials outside of the recognised or working gold fields of the Province. Gold has been found in this manner in Digby County, along tlie Cobequid Mountains, in the northern part of Guysboro County, and in almost every river flowing from the precambrian table land of northern Cape Breton. It is not known yet if this gold is derived from workable veins carrying free gold, from the schists which sometimes show gold, or from the oxidation of sulphurets which ()ft(ni form a considerable percentage of certain beds. At Middle River and Whycocomagh, in Cape Breton, free gold occurs 12 GOLD, LEAD, AND COPPER ORES in the quartzites and in quartz veins in them. At the latter place it also occurs in tlu^ sulphides with which many of the felsites, etc., are stron; bet^an here in 18(i7, and durini^ the next few years several companies were workino- ; however, the returns, which rose in 18()8 to 8,247 ounces, were maintained for twenty years at figures varying from 100 to 1,700 ounces. Uuriiig part of this time considerable attention was paid to the slate belts which were found to carry remdar values over considerable areas. It mav be found that in this district the best returns will be secured from these belts which often carry veins, auriferous, but not constant in their dimensions or values. About this time an important discover}' on the Withrow areas at vSouth Uniacke diverted attention to the new district. A vein which yielded excellent returns was worked by the Withrow Company, and its extension was mined first by Thompson and Quirk, and afttn'wards by the Golden Lode Company. All these parties realized profitable returns. Interesting information on the system of mining, etc., carried on by Mr. A. A. Hay ward at the Golden Lode mine, has been contributed by him to the proceedings of the Nova Scotia Mining Society. The liistory of this mine is instructive. After declaring numerous dividends from a rich strike which was followed about 1,800 feet from the surface, it was found that the streak increased in dimensions, but fell in value to about two ounces to the ton. Several thousand dollars were found to be needed to increase the production to maintain the gold output. However, the company would not do this, and the mine after standing for some time has passed into other hands. 18 GOLD, LEAD, AND COPPER ORES RENFREW. Work was beoun here in 1802, but little was done until 18G6, when the returns showe'l (5,428 ounces from 0,008 tons of ([uartz. The'followini^ year showed an increase of 1,500 ounces, succeeded by a decrease down to ten ounces in 1874. Since that date the yield has fluctuatt'd up to 1,()79 ounces. Among the earlier companies may be named the Hartford, Colonial, Ophir, Renfrew and McClure. In 1883 the Empress Company was started, and worked with much energy and ability. However, operations in the district have practically been suspended for soine time. This is one of the mos*^ promising districts in the province, and a part only of the belt has been explored. Judging from the gold in the surface soil *here must be other leads in it worth working. CARIBOU. This name is given to a district lying to the south of the upper w.aters of the Mus(iuodoboit River, and includes the two districts generally known as Moose River and Jemiings, or Caribou. It was proclaimed in 1870, but nnning had been carried on to some extent during the two previous years. The returns, although not large for a number of years, showed good averages, and in many cases proved satisfactory. The North, South, Hyde, Comstock and other leads were worked, often with good returns. In 1881 the Moose River Gold Company carried on extensive workings, but they were abandoned, as the value of the leads opened diminished. Before closing, however, this company demonstrated that it had extensive deposits of low grade ore on its property. Since then large amounts of this low grade ore have been passed through their ten stamp mill by Mr. McGregor, and show an average of about six peimyweights to the ton. As these operations were profitable on a small scale there should be an opportunity for its systematic working, On the Touijuoy and adjoining properties there appear to be similar supplies of low grade ore in addition to workable veins, which are being extensively developed by the Touquoy Gold Mining Company and others. The slate and surface earth of the Moose River district has received much attention so far, and with satisfactory results, even on a very small scale of working, and in this connection the following figures are interesting. There were crushed in the Moose River mill from 1881 to date, 80,040 tons of slate and low grade ore, with some lots of richer quartz, yielding 9,725 oz., 2 dwts. 21 grains, or an average of 6 dwts. 8 grs. OF NOVA SCOTIA. 19 The returns made by i\Ir. 'I'mKiuoy, from his ten stamp mill, from 1888 to 1898, iiiclndin^" some lots of fairly rich quartz, show that 60,f)4'J t niH of slate and surface trround yielded 8,040 ounces, an average of about 2 dwts. 20 grains. This \vo)k yielded a uniform profit, and lower averages per ton will hv shown further on to have also yielded a profit. In Caribou in 1884 the Lake Lode mine was opened by Mr. Stuart, and worked by Mr. Wadsworth and by Mr. Saunders, and is now being extensively developed by the Gutfey -Jennings Gold Mining Company. Large amounts of gold have been taken from this property, and a ln-ight future is anticipated for it. In the same locality the Dixon, Truro, Hetherington, McDonald, Elk and other mines have been opened and worked successfully. The scheme for operating a number of these mines under one management, which is said to be in progress, should prove satisfactoiy, especially as a large mill in common for all would find abundance of low ijrade ore in addition to the proved veins. L^p to date about 10(i,172 tons of (juartz have yielded 40,805 ounces, valued at .S775,295, SHERBllOOKE. This has been the most important of our districts, although it has had also its seasons of dullness. My space forbids any attempt to give the history of the operations that have been carried on here. Among the veins that have been worked may be mentioned the Cunniiinger, Hewitt, Hayden, Blue, Palmerston and Dewar. The following table shows the returns year by year from the district : — Year. Tons. Ounces. 1862 G(J3 2,023 18G3 3,4o4 3,304 1864 2,673 3,419 1865 2,511 3,424 1866 2,853 5,829 1867 7,378 9,463 1868 9,880 7,070 1869 11,500 5,546 1870 11,428 7,134 1871 13,882 6,579 1872 5,243 4,188 1873 7,187 5,026 1874 5,430 4,037 1875 6,443 5,818 1876 6,205 5,176 20 OOTJ), LEAD, AND r'DPPER ORES YEAR. TONS. OUNCES. 1877 K,(i5.| H;2:{7 1 87'S <).:U() (i,s4'J 1 ,S7!) !),-2()0 7,:{S!) l.sso {\,U\') 4,042 1.S.SI r),277 2,580 - 1 882 (i,2r) I 2,542 188:{ 8,470 ;{,:{r)(i 1 884 .S,2(i8 2,()()8 1 885 2,42(i 1 ,2:}8 I88(i 2,850 1,:UI 1 887 2,4 1 ;{ 585 1 888 2,858 5.S5 188!) I,(il8 24:i I8!)() 1 8:) I 404 II!) I8!)2 8!);J 17!) I8!)a I8f)4 708 552 18!)-) ,S,,S!)7 1,!)42 I8!)(i 7,177 :i,287 I8!)7 I2,(i5!) 4,181 r('[)i('.s('iitiiin' n total \ uluc ol' iihout $2,422,570.00. TIh' (|Uart/ iiiiiicil in this locality liii^ j^ciicrally hccii of a lii<;h j^radc, ahd tlicic can Ix' no doiiht, that there are nuuiy xnovi'. rich pit^ceH ol't^romnl. The disti'ict iiiofeover presents sevei-al localitii^s which shouM he |)i'olital)ly vvorke(l on a, low ^rade hasis. (/row's Nest and ('ochifUK! Hill are includeil in this distri(;t, hut have never conti'ihuted niatei'ially to its pro luction. TIk; search in these localities has heen until i'ec<'ntly I'or rich veins, when its ca])a- hilities i'oi' e.\tensivti low ^rade ai'eas iiave hivn recojrnised. In this direction thei-e is undouhtedlv a Future hefore them, as the nuinei-ouH hu'ally rich veins are acconipanii'd in inaiiy cases hy slates more or l(?ss ininoralised. WINE HAI{I»(H{. This district for a, few yeai's dui'in;;' its ea.rly history yielde(j sonio ^ood returns, hut for a nuinhei- of years past attempts at development liav(i not Ix'en markedly successful. No I'eason cafi h(( ^iven for this, US the f^eolooicaj conditions nr<' a])p)U'ently the .samci as dscnvlu're, and some of the vc^ins were prcditahly j)roduct-ive. The total returns to (lat(! arci 20,458 ouucoh fron 4.'{,M22 tons of (juartz. OF XOVA sroTiA. 21 SALMON I{1VKI{. This (list rict was ojx'iicd in (he year ISth of 150 f((et, and tiie vein had l)een followed I'orneai'ly a thousand fower JiaAini;' iiv'eu secured, the Miill which h.-id for some years contained thirty stamps, had its ca])acity incre.'ised hy ten more. This vein, which in structin-e is very similar t,o the smlilli! I)a(d< veins met in the l»endi<>:o ii'oid distri(tt, Austi'alia,, has Ix-en one of nnich intei'cst to miners. It showed at, the surface, and on brine' followed down it divided, ^^oin.;' down on each side of Ihe Jinticlinal, and ituMT'ased in thiiuiess, eivine' in pj.ice.s o\cr (ifteen feet of crushine- material, l-nder this rol<|e(l \ein cross cuts have shown the prest-nce of other N'eins. The w(»i'kine' of (he mine has l)een diseontinutMl more oi- less dus'ini'' the i)ast few \'ears owinu' t<' chan<''(> of ownership and liti- ;;;at.ion, hut at the date ol' writin;^' it is hein;; reopened and [)rovid :{,H.s.") I.S.S4 !»,7!)!» :},:{!>7 1885 10.880 4,024 • 1880 1 l,(i28 li,500 1887 10,002 :{,258 1888 0,i)25 :{,.S54 1880 7,0:W 2,0M2 1800 0,415 2,070 1801 5,210 1,400 1802 4,220 1,042 180;{ ;{,220 882 1804 1805 1,407 271 1800 1807 22 GOLD, LEAD, AND COPPER ORES TANGIER. This was tlie earliest district. For the first few years operations were much hindered by the numerous small areas held by individuals. The greatest production was during the years 18()9-70-71, when 6,988 tons of quartz gave 5,099 ounces. During all other years the yield has been under one thousand ounces. Recent developments in the northern part of the district, and a short distance east of the Tangier River, promise a development on a larger and more permanent scale. The total returns to date are 20,491 ounces, valued at $721,188, from 43,092 tons of quartz. In this arc included the returns from the Mooseland mines in the northern part of the district, which has not yet received the attention it deserves. FIFTEEN MILE STREAM. This district, situated at the head waters of the Sheet Harbor River system, has always been largely an object of interest to the people of Pictou County. Its conq)aratively itiaccessible position retarded its developinent for a number of years, but roars, use a coarse mesh screen, and cut down discharge to one half what it is at present. I wouhl also increase the stamping capacity l>y incrcsasing the number of drops from ninety, at which you are now ruiniing your mill, to one hundred drops a minute. In advising you to do this I wish to bring the following advantages you will gain to your notice : — " I. You will be able to crush the whole belt, for your slate certainly contains refractory gold, and at times free milling gold. Your mine superintendent told me that he estimated that not more than one-third of the rock broken underground was milled, so, at the present time you are paying for breaking rock iiHy^ of which you have not in the past milled, nor would I advise you to mill it unless you put in concentrators, and crush it only coarsely, for it is highly refractory, and if crushed finely it will fiour mercury, and in that way probably carry away more gold than it contributes to the amalgam in the battery or on the plates." 26 GOLD, LEAD, AND COPPER ORES " 2. You will decrease your minincj expenses by more than one- half: the only extra expense will be in haulin<^ part of the slate, and in winding and hauling the remainder, while your output will be nearly three times what it is at present." " 3, I ajn of opinion that the slate will provide enough free gold to pay for the milling, in wliich case the concentrates will be all clear profit." " 4. You will dispense with the cost of picking the ore. I estimate that the cost of Frue vanners erected in Nova Scotia will be about !?1 50.00 per stamp. To get satisfactory concentration it will also be necessary for you to put in mechanical sizers, (the cost of which is small) and feed the coarse tailings on to one set of vanners and the tine on to another set. " " Having obtained your concentrates, chlorination is undoubtedly the method by which they should be treated. The cost of such treatment in Nova Scotia will, I estimate, be about $4.00 per ton of concentrates. It will also be a matter for consideration whether the arsenic will be worth saving for two reasons, firstly, for its value, which is doubtful, and secondly to prevent its contaminating pasture lands and consequently prevent claims against you for poisoning cattle." " The cost of an eight or ten ton chlorination plant erected in Nova Scotia will be about S3,000, exclusive of building." " Up to the present time this property has produced 43,000 tons of ore, which goes to show that the mining of low grade ores in Nova Scotia at a reasonable cost per ton, has got beyond the experimental stages and is a reality. The handling of the refractory ores has yet to be experimented with, and from the appearance of nearly all the ore I have seen along the Gold group anti-clina!, I am of the opinion that material for the experiment is not lacking." Through the kindness of George A. Pyke, Esq., President of the Richardson mine, I am enabled to give the following interesting fiiTures : — "to' Halifax, May 30th, 1898. Dr. E. Gilpin, Inspector of Mines: Dear Sir, — As promised, I beg to furnish you with an exhibit of the operations of above company for the past year, just closed, as follows : FORTY STAMP MILL. Total tons crushed 25,300 tons. Total gold won 2,870 oz. Product per ton 2 dwt. C)f^ gr. Cost per ton, labor $1.15 J " " " all charges, including renewals to machinery $1.83 J OF NOVA SCOTIA. 27 For the past year, after providing and paying for every dollar of expenditure in connection with the running and thorough maintenance of the property in the highest state of efficiency, and leaving a balance of several hundred dollars on hand, the original shareholders have received dividends equal to 29i% on their outlay. Yours truly, J. W. CRICHTON, Secretary. Cost of working and all expenses in connection with the 1 i^',^'^^^^^^«n .^^"le, Isaac's Harbor, Nova Scotia, for month of May 1898, embracing everything except insurance and wear and tear of machinery. WAGES AS FOLLOWS: 14 Drill men $475 25 23 Rock men (jl5 99 4 Deck hands 102 00 5 Quarry men 163 40 2 Engine drivers at pit 83 70 2 Timber men 66 70 2 Brakesmen at pit head 61 80 2 Trolley men " " " 59 85 1 Foreman 48 00 1 Night foreman 39 00 2 Blacksmiths 9g 20 2 Teamsters 78 15 1 Chief Engineer 55 00 1 Amalgamator 51 qO 2 Engine drivers at mill 78 50 2 Carpenters 68 40 8 Mill hands 219 90 Management 100 00 $2,462 75 OTHER EXPENSES. 140 Tons coal $182 00 19 Boxes candles, (570 lbs.) 171 00 Half jar quicksilver, (37^ lbs.) 20 62 5 Sjl---V\ 10 00 L Wear of shoes and dies 50 00 || Cams and tappetts 50 00 Waste ;; 5 00 Timber 10 OO bhovels, picks, drills and handles. . . 15 00 Dynamite, fuse and caps m 57 Horse feed 60 00 ^^oyalty '.'.'.'.'.'.'.'. 101 80 Miscellaneous 25 0;) $81199 ■ . I I To^^al $3,274 74 28 GOLD, LEAD, AND COPPER ORES Total tons crushed 2,226, Result of 25 days' crushinor 282 1 ounces gold at $19.00 per ounce $5,372 25 Cost per statement 3,275 14 Profit for May $2,097 11 A. B. COX, Manager. Isaac's Harbor, June 6th, 1898. In the western part of the province Malaga, Brookfield, and Whiteburn have been the largest producers. These districts are comparatively new, and at first some very promising veins were opened and extensively worked, but little is now being done at Whiteburn and Malao-a. Brookfield is interestinoi: as it has the first chlorination plant built in the province. This was put up by Mr. W. L. Libbey and associates, and is run in connection with a valuable property owned by them. This plant has been in successful operation for some time. Mr. Libbey is prepared to treat, on reasonable terms, any parcels of concentrates that may be forwarded to him, guaran- teeing an extraction of 90 per cent of the assay value. He is also prepared to make working tests of small quantities of ore as to their adaptability for chlorination, etc. This should supply a favorable opportunity to our gold miners to get information as to the values of their concentrates. Mining has also been carried on at Leipsigate, Gold River, Block House, and a number of other places in Lunenburg and Queens Counties, but they have not yet been worked on a scale commensurate with their promising indications. There is no doubt that all these districts would repay proper examination and de- velopment, as they difi'er in no respect, that I am aware of, from those opened to the east of Halifax. MINING. Reference has been made casually to the primitive and wasteful methods of gold mining which existed for many years in Nova Scotia. Gradually this has changed in the case of companies and individuals, operating under the direction of competent mining engineers ; although there is still a good deal of the prospect style of mining. Now, at many of the mines shafts are sunk at the proper places, and ground systematically blocked out, and the operations underground are carried on with economy and system. Properly designed machinery OF NOVA SCOTIA. 20 is largely used for pumping, hoisting and crushing, and the mills are carefully built, and run with proper attention to the details essential to this metallurgical process, which is reall^v' much more complicated than would be believed from a casual glance at a mill. Interesting details on tlio host system of milling the (juartz of this province are given by Mr. Hardman in a paper published in the transactions of the Nova Scotia Institute of Mining Engineers, for the year 1892-93. These transactions give many other interesting papers touching on gold mining practice in our gold fields. It can be said for the benefit of investors, that our gold mine managers can stand comparison with those of any other country in their ability to mine systematically* and to treat economically the extracted material. To show this, I quote from a paper read by Mr. A. A. Hay ward at the last meeting of the Nova Scotia Mining Society, in which he gave his experience in shaft sinking at South Uniacke and Montagu. At South Uniacke it was decided to sink a five feet six inch by twelve feet shaft 404 feet tlirough hard quartzite. The work was completed in 140 days, of which 16 were occupied in timbering. The average rate sunk was 3.02 feet per day ; the total cost of explosives per foot sunk was Si. 22; and the average monthly rate of sinking was 71 feet 6 inches, the highest rate being 85 feet in one month. The total cost, including management, fuel, and every thing chargeable to the shaft, was $4,647, or $11.50 per foot, the shaft being left completed, tim bered, and ready for occupation. At Montagu, during 1897, the shaft of the Golden Group Company was sunk 100 feet below the 200 feet level. The work would have been finished in 25 days, had several days not been lost in taking down and saving a small rich lode on the foot wall. The cost of this sinking per foot was a little in excess of that at Uniacke. These two instances show that the ordinary cost of sinking can be most materially reduced when the work is fully planned out, and carried on systematically. A paper read by Mr. W. L. Libbey at the same meeting, gives some interesting figures as to his experience in mining and milling at Brookfield, Queen's County. He compares hand and machine drilling as follows : — In making comparisons with the cost of landing ore at the rock- breaker on other mines, it must be remembered that the fissure vein at Brookfield averages not over 14 inches in width of crushing material. The extreme depth perpendicularly of the working of the mine is 450 feet. The figures given include the cost of sinking and drifting, and also in the first table is covered the cost of excavating a 30 GOLD, LEAD, AND COPPER ORES large chamber to hold a double plunger Northey pump, and a cistern capable of holding mine water for 12 hours. During six months, from May 1st, 1897, to November 1st, 1897. 5,G0G tons of ore were sent to the mill at an average cost of S2.54 per ton, as follows, for ore landed at the rock-breaker : Labor (which includes blacksmiths & deck men). .$11,173 99 Timber and poles 392 40 Shovels 35 20 Picks 20 60 Blacksmith's coal, (J tons at $10.00 per ton 03 90 Charcoal, 300 bushels at 15c. per bush 45 00 Axes 5 00 Hoisting ropes (estimated) 50 00 Candles 304 29 Loss of steel 71 82 Fuel at pumping station and mill 1,040 00 Explosives 054 75 Iron, including rails for tracks. 120 70 Miscellaneous expenses 125 00 Lumber 45 00 Total $14,219 91 Some of my coal mining brethren will think coal is dear, but I am obliged to pay freight and teaming. Following are the figures for three months of work with the IngersoU Sargeant Air Plant. (And it should be borne in mind that not only have green men been broken in, but the method of stoping is being gradually changed from breast stoping to back stoping.) The results are especially gratifying to the Brookfield Mining Co., as many old timers have flatly stated that a small lead could not be worked as cheaply by an air plant as by hand labor, and in one instance recently an air plant has been discontinued and a return made to hand drilling. The months taken are January, February and March, 1898, during which time 2,840 tons were sent to the mill at an average cost of $2.44 per ton, as follows, for ore landed at the rock-breaker. Labor(which includes blacksmiths and deck men) . . $5,078 95 Timber and poles 198 80 Shovels , 10 00 Picks 2 00 Blacksmith's coal, U tons at $10.00 47 97 Charcoal, 150 bushels at 15c 22 50 Hoisting ropes , 25 00 Candles 171 00 Loss of steel , 1 1 25 Fuel at pumping station and mill 717 00 Carried forward $6,284 47 OF NOVA SCOTIA. 31 Brought forivard $0,284 47 Explosives 51 2 50 Iron, iiu'ludiii*;- rails for tracks 43 45 IVIiscullaneoua expenses 75 00 Lumber 25 00 Total S(),940 42 Tlie result thus far is apparently to place our ore at the deck head ten cents per ton cheaper with an air plant than \>y hand work. We are, however, doing more than twenty-five per cent, of .sinking a]icted from it, is a little difficult to see. It is perfectly evident tliat those connected with the erection of the plant had not even ar lementary knowledge of the business, and failure was the natural .suit. The early attempts at cyaniding met with a fate similar to those of chlorination. Dr. Kendall and his assistants came from the States and erected a plant at North Brookfield, with a view to treating an old tailing dump at that time (about 1893) owned by the Brookfield Gold Mining Associates. Dr. Kendall experimented for some time without obtaining any results, and the Brookfield Associates who had emplcecj him, gave him notice to quit, and continued the researches themselves for some time with no better results, and the attempt was abandoned, These early failures naturally had a bad effect upon this branch of the gold mining industry, and gave the general public the false im- pression that even \f the conccnti-ates of Nova Scotia contained gold, it would cost njore to extract it than the gold was worth, and the con- centrates wore allowed to go away with the tailings down streams and HHiongst brush wood, never to be recoxered. At the time of m v arri val in tiie province, it had become generally recognized that the ores of OF NOVA SCOTIA. 35 Nova Scotia were free milling ores, and that gold wliich could not be saved in the mortars and on the plates of the stamp battery was not worth savini;. I at once turned my attention to studying this remarkable phe- nomenon, of a country with a large area of auriferous formation, in wdiich all the gold. was said to be of a free milling nature, with a view to establish either the truth or fallacy of this then generally' recognized state of affairs. By obtaining samples of a number of old tailing dumps and ^ -■.king a number of careful assays of them, I soon dis- covered tl. ' . ■ iiplete error into which the gold mining fraternity of No' .1 Sci.tia had fallen. Assam's of these samples gave from two dollars to seventeen dollars per ton. Of course in many cases a nat- ural concentration had taken place, and these samples did not represent actuMl losses in the mill, but it did clearly prove to me that consider- able (juantities of gold wcrt* being lost, a large percentage of which might have been saved by the employment of proper machinery. During the last five years I have made a large number of assays of tailings taken both diiectly from the end of the plates and also from dumps. 1 have also assayed a nundjer of samples of concentrates. The followinc; table of maximum au I minimum results from dif- ferent districts will be of interest : 36 GOLD, LEAD, AND COPPER ORES £ 1, 00 00 tn : *• £ so s^ Sb so L. bO _£ TS ^ ;= -r •«-> -4J -4^ > ^ EC bc is 00 2 ! 1 ^ c r- r- -J 11^ 'U I* <» E- N sj n' N N N N §• < •/u o C i-H < _< _ I -H -« 5 10 * * * CD o 'ft o p s M - £ £ 1 ■ c S3 1 1 1 00 O « *-> 10 1 00 cc >»^ ^ ^j N o ^ s s N N a C o c CD C c c ^ t to c< 5 o rH 'A C ■t. *j 4J ^ -t-i ■tj a. & ■r « 5 re if CO 5C I- S « CO e 2 2 S e £ £ £ £ 2 bo bo eo b bo bt be bo 3 c (^ ?} <^ t- t-- s s <. E -^ ■4- -ti -u -4-f 4i -J *J *i ^ •1^ ? » * ? ^ ^ ^ ^ je «8 t: F^ 13 T! r^ ^ 50 «C (O se «c •* X 2 1-- ^^ c r- + + 2 t t I £ 2 £ i tc M b C bO S b C bo E _ F* ■* - « p. ,« 1- •* 3 o 2 ^ ^ ■< i »« ♦- -c t3 1-1 — ^^ a i * -t- ^ sc &o a So i £ OS E I bc b £ C bO 4 8^ oc e< M •* flO If i n 2 <* X .J ^" p« *• 1 ^ "s 4^ ? ■4- • * 11 "9 •r ^ TS ^ T3 T -0 "fl •r TJ W :^ « W CI ac i2 ff (N « a- M 8 «5 , a ,* , 1 ^ ■» ; H § a H ■r. 1 u V ja 3 i x c3 § 1 2 "i ca a 6 •5 c e5 a ■fc-> S J3 > ■© 2 3 e a a 53 5 s 1 S 4 1 be s S 3 <• .2 >. •= § S 6e « .5 s > ^ o ° a u. 3 c '5 3 B O U OF NOVA SCOTIA. 37 The results given in the foregointjj table clearly show that the stamp mill only saves a part of the gold present in our Nova Sc(3tia ores. It is true in many cases a greater percentage of gold might have been saved by more skillful crushing and amalgamation, but on the other hand it clearly shews the large amount of gold which is going to waste for the want of proper appliances to save it. Concentrators have now been running for upwards of 12 months at Central Rawdon and at North Brookfield. At Central Rawdon the ore gives 4% of concentrates, having an average assay value of $80 in gold amd $1 in silver. I am unable to give any values obtained at Brookfield, as the Brookfield Gold Mining Co., Ltd., refuse to give any information on the subject. Another considerable source of waste in Nova Scotia jjold minins: is to be found in the waste rock dumps. At many mines it has been the custom to dump and stow^ away on the scafiblds nearly the whole of the slate rock mined, nuich of which is often auriferous. In a paper read by Mr. C. F. Andrews he gave assays made by myself of rock taken from the waste dmnp at tiie Richardson mine. These samples were not average samples of the dump, but were taken on account of the large proportion of mineral (mispickle) contained in them. The following are the assa3^s and per centage of concentrates : 1. Contained W"/ of concentrates, having an assay valug of 28 oz. 8 dwts. of gold per ton. 2. Assayel 11 dvvt 2 grains per ton, contained 120.5 ^ of con- centrates, having an assay value of 4 oz. 2 dwt. per ton. 3. Assayed 17 dwt. grains per ton, contained 15 ^ of concen- trates, having an assay value of 5 oz. dwt. per ton. Mr. Dimock milled a trial lot of slate rock taken from hiw scafl'blds at the Central Rawdon mine which he had previously been in the habit of dumping and stowing. The result was a saving of (10 cents per ton in the mill, while the tailings contained .i?2.()0 per ton. Undoubtedly niany other mines might obtain simihir results from material which at the present time is being piled on the waste rock dump or stored on the scafiolds under ground. I liave made a large numlx'r of experiments in my laboratory upon concentrates from all parts of the province, and up to now I have not come across a single instance in which any difficulty has been found in obtaining from 90 to 9(5 per cent, of the assay value by chlor- ination. Cyanide, on the other hand, has not proved so satisfactory. In one case I obtained a 94 ^ extraction. With this exception 78/^ is 38 GOLD, LEAD, AND COPPER ORES the best extraction I have obtained, while in many cases tlie extraction has fallen below '^0^, even with prolono-ed treatment lasting over SO days. Tliere are other sources of j>"old in Nova Scotia which up to now have received no attenticm. The stibnites of East Gore are hitjhly auriferous, runninij at times over 50 ounces of (;old per ton and shew- ing no free gold by panning. In several sam[)les of copper pyrites I have found over half an ounce of gold per ton. The fahl ores of Cheticamp have assayed as high as !515 in gold, while samples of rock carrying phyrrotite have at times run over half an ounce. All of these, especially the first named, will pay for further investigation. The foregoing remarks of Mr. Mason are interesting and important, and should be carefully considered by our gold miners. The following table shows the production of the Nova Scotia gold mines for a number of years. The animal production has varied from 7,275 ounces in the year 1862,the first year during which official returns were made, to the highest year 18(57, which showed an output of 27,314 ounces. For some years past the production has been in tlie vicinity of the last named amount, altho derived from a nuich lower average yield per ton of (piartz. Thus in 18()7, there were 31,38(5 tons of sturt' crushed for 27,314 ounces, while in 1897 there was a return of 2(i,579 ounces from 7(5,551) tons of stufi*. OF NOVA SCOTIA. 39 00 Cu O H rfi O I— ( >'/} c >^ !^ O I— t H O t) Q O OS O O < >— ( H O O o P5 O ■D O N r* 1 ^ y.' © P- 2 o ^ T3 O O r. X X c O 'Tl cc t^ t^ * Ci (M X »o -^ ^l ^. '-. ^^. '■'v ^. ^. "-I ^ <^ — ' '-^ cc O 1^ X r^ LO ic r>f ::^'~ cc T^f r^"^ c^" r- " TfT qg" cc i-T (>f o" oi" »o" x" i-h t^ rf c: rf (TJ CI X -l>-C^w'^C;CCJt>'r-il>.(Nr— lTj.^ rf C^ P^ c^ o" ct Cj:" cc i^" x" O 1-^ i-H Ci" ■^'~ ci" <>f cT ci" x" »n trT rf*CC'*CC. :r; cf >o" X »o c^i cc cc CI 10 cf o" o" cc" cc cc x" ■* OOI'^^XO'^'OCICICI Pi 2 > S 2 ^15 2 o +s _eo kj^ r a 2 'J c eg 5u « u <1> CJ -ti be u cr)Ht-^:^ccPQP^h3p^f^|iH;^0 to cc cf 1— I Oi I— I to cc !>." to o o C-4 40 GOLD, LEAD, AND COPPER ORES NOVA SCOTIA LEAD ORES. Ah 3'^et little hras been effected in the development of the ores of this metal in Nova Scotia. They occur principally in two geological horizons, the lower carboniferous or mountain limestone, and the pre- cambrian or laurentifin. As the formei- horizon in other countries has yielded productive deposits of Galena, some attention has been paid to it here in this respect. Observation has shown that at many local- ities lead ore is more or less distributed through the limestones. Among the places showing it may be mentioned the East and West Rivers of Pictou county ; Gay's River and Musrjuodoboit, Halifax county; Smithfield and Pembroke, Colchester county; Milford Haven, Caledonia, and Salmon River, in Guysboro county ; and numerous points in Cape Breton Island. At Ga3'^'s River it occurs over a large track of country, in limestone, disseminated in small crystals, in small nodules, and occasionally in thin veins. The average percentage at any place is small, and carries I believe up to 15 ounces of silver to the ton of lead. At Smithfield and Pembroke it occurs in greater (juantity, and a considerable amount of exploratory work has been done. Here it is found in limestone also, apparently replacing it in part, and as a residual concentration from the removal of the rock. A very consider- able amount of lead ore has been shown here at one point, but as the silver contents of the ore were not high, the low lead prices discouraged prospecting. It is, however, evident that in this district there are widespread and promising galena ores, which merit much more atten- tion than has yet been paid to them. In Musquodoboit, near the Crawford Settlement, pockets of ore in the granite have yielded lead carrying large amounts of silver. At Caledonia, small veins of lead ore have received occasional atten- tion. The ore is essentially galena, carrying from 15 to 18 ounces of silver to the ton. Galena also occurs in considerable amount near Arichat, Richmond county, and on the head waters of the Gold and LaHave Rivers to the west of Halifax. The latter ores carried in some cases as nnich as 100 ounces of silver to the ton of lead, but, as far as I am aware, no atten- tion has been directed to then). These ores are presuniably in the precarboniferous rocks. On the Salmon River, and near Sydney, in the county of (^ape Hi-eton, galena also occurs in limestone, at the former place in considerable amount. Near Burnt and Boulacet OF NOVA SCOTIA. 41 Harboura, on the Bras d'Or Lake, are quartz veins carrying galena, copper pyrites, etc. Samples have shown 18A ounces of gold and 97 ounces of silver to the ton. The adjoining rocks are in places heavily mineralised. On the North and Barasois Rivers of St. Ann's, in the county of Victoria, and several other places in this locality, in pre- cambrian rocks, are veins of quartz and zones of rock showing galena with copper pyrites, blende, etc. A sample of 900 lbs. of ore from McDonald's farm, one mile north of the bridge over the North River, yielded 155 lbs. of lead and 8 oz. of silver. The most promising deposit of silver lead ore yet found is being developed at L'Abime Brook, Cheticamp, Inverness county, by S. M. Brookfield of Halifax and his associates. The ore occurs as a vein in the precambrian felsites, etc., and has been traced for several hundred feet, and where opened shows twenty feet of very high grade galena carrying a little copper pyrites. Mr. Mason, of Halifax, states that, from assays made by him and by others, the ore carries an average of one ounce of silver to each unit of lead. Gold also occurs in some assays as high as 1 4 dwts. per ton, but it does not appear to be a regular constituent. From his examination of the openings he considers that 50 tons of ore contains 5 tons of galena, and 1,500 lbs. of copper pyrites. This would yield, allowing for loss in dressing and smelting, 3 tons 1,200 lbs. of lead, and 360 ounces of silver, in addition to the copper. These figures, coupled with the accessibility of the mine, etc., etc., and the duty on lead, would indicate very promising results. Other deposits, of galena are reported in the same district, but as yet little work has been done on them. Galena ores occur northerly from the Cheticamp River, to beyond the McKenzie River, and native silver and carbonate of silver occur in the valley of the latter river and its tributaries. It is probable that the opening of the Cheticamp mine will lead to a care- ful prospecting of this district, and it is, I feel sure, from information that I have gathered for some years, one of the most promising localities in the province. From these remarks it will be seen that the lead ores of the prov- ince are widely scattered, and have hitherto received little attention. It is very probable that the lower carboniferous limestones, which cover a great extent of country, may reasonably be expected to afford workable deposits at favorable points ; for instance, in proximity to intrusive rocks of later date, or wherever they appear to have been in a position favorable to the concentration, aggregation, or deposition of such ores by aqueous agency. 42 GOLD, LEAD, AND COPPER ORES ' . NOVA SCOTIA COPPER ORES. ; , ' "J" 1 • • ■ .>■■'.::•: The remarks I have made about the lead ores of this province apply in a general manner to those of copper. The metal occurs frequently, in the metallic form, in veins and joints in the Triassic trap ranure running along the south shore of the Bay of Fundy, and in the isolated masses of the same mineral on the opposite side of the Bay. It also occurs in a similar manner in the consolidated ash accompanying the trap, and has been observed in the sandstones of the district, which are referred to the same creoloijical horizon. As yet none of the deposits have, from the superficial tests hitherto made, appeared to be of permanent value. In some localities it is observed disseminated in the rock, and all such occurrences should be carefully tested. It is well known that in the Lake Superior district very small percentages of copper have yielded rich returns to the systematic and economical systems of mining and milling. It is true that the two districts differ widely from a geological point of view, but as both yield metallic copper in masses, etc., it does not appear unreasonable to expect, that here as at Lake Superior, it may be found in some localities, scattered in fine grains in the trap, in quantity sufficient to allow of its profitable extraction. Copper also occurs native in the Lochaber district, in Antigonish County, and at Cheticamp, Inverness County. The carboniferous strata of Cumberland, Pictou, Colchester, Antigonish, and other counties, frequently show outcrops of nests and layers of vitreous sulphuret and green carbonate of copper, sometimes associated with coaly matter. Prospecting has shown these outcrops at Maccan, Wallace River Pugwash, Tatamagouche, Athol, Oxford, River John, Salmon River, Caribou, Durham and Waugh's River, in the counties of Cumberland, Colchester and Pictou. A few attempts have been made to work these deposits, but the ore although rich is variable and irregular in its occurrence, and work has been abandoned after tlie extraction of a few tons. A good deal of work has been done during the past two years on some defined beds of sandstone and shale, more or less uniformly impregnated with these and other ores of copper. Among these localities so tested may be named Doherty Creek, River Philip, Malagash Point, Fox Harbor, Gulf Shore, New Annan, Wentworth, and Henders6n's Settlement in Cumberland County. The ores are also present at some points in bods of clay OF NOVA SCOTIA. • 48 resttng on cupriferous sandstones, etc. Working samples are reported to have yielded as high as 18 per cent of copper, with in some cases small amounts of gold and silver. It is understood that the work of t'esting llv'sc deposits will be continued, as the parties interested have so far hi'cn much encouraged by the results. The numerous outcrops of the ores over so wide a tract of country warrant much more {Attention than has hitherto been pai)unty, and at several points in Queens and Vai-mouth Counties, and is connnonly present, in small amounts, in the auriferous (juartz veins of our gold fields. The district extending frojn the head waters of the East River of Pictou, along th(^ county line, to Poison's Lake, in Antigonish County, has yielded nmnerous indications of the presence of copper ores. At the liead waters of the East River specimens of copper ore occur with a gangue of carbonate of iron, but no attempt has been made to search for th 'ir source. In the vicinity of the Garden of Eden, there an* veins of spathic iron ore, up to several feet in thickness, holding crystals of copper pyrites. At Lochaber there are a immbc^r of veins carrying copper pyrites, and associated with diorite dykes. These veins have been pros- pected a little, and are apparently valuable, as the copper contents in the'case of the largest vein, about si.K feet thick, were returned from large average samples at 19 per cent. From this point the cupriferous belt has been traced about four miles to Poison's Lake. Here the presence of large rich boulders instigated desultory prospecting for a number of year.s. Finally a vein of spathic ore, holding copper pyrites, was found in the year 1875, and traced several hundred feet. Its width, as proved by several shallow pits, varied from (i to 11 feet. Large average samples yiehled from 5() to ITT per cent, of copper. The distance of this district from a railroad and a shipping point, has apparently postponed indefinitely its development, although it is probably well worth the cost of a railroad. On the Salmon River, in Cuysboro County, some veins were testied a ruimber of years ago, containing copper pyrites and erubescite, and yielding as high as 39 per cent' of copper. The age of the rocks holding these deposits in Pictou, Antigonish and Guysboro counties, is, I believe, determined as Devonian, and is in favor of their richness and permanence. ' . '• At Ohio, St. Joseph, Brierly Brook, and other points in Antigdnisli County, deposits of copper ore occur at the junction of carboniferous 44 GOLD, LEAD, AND COPPER ORES with older rocks. A little prospecting has shown small v^eins of rich ore, but as yet enough work has not been done to enable a correct idea to be formed of their extent. The reports of Mr. Fletcher, of the Canadian Geological Survey, on the Island of Cape Breton, contain frequent references to copper ores. The following places may be mentioned : Benacadie, White Granite Hills, Gillis Brook, Spruce Brook, Irish Cove, East Bay, Washaback, Middle and North Rivers, French Road, Gillis Lake road, Mira, Cape North, etc. At Washaback, the ores yielded in addition to the copper, gold up to about one ounce to the ton. At Eagle Head, in Gabarus Bay, Cape Breton County, several shafts have been sunk showing quite large beds, carrying mixtures of copper pyrites with other ores. Those acquainted with the operations consider that the deposits are well worth further examination. At Cheticamp, Inverness County, there are numerous signs of copper deposits, and occasionally attempts have been made on a small scale to determine their value. This district shows copper ores over so large an extent of ground, that it is probable that this metal will be found present in workable amounts, as well as the lead already referred to. At George's River, near North Sydney, a little prospecting has been done on a very promising outcrop. On the Coxheatii Mountains, a few miles to the south, a quite extensive development has shown the presence of several leads carrying copper pyrites, with some silver, from three to twelve feet thick. The copper contents of these beds vary from 8 to 10 per cent, from extraction of large lots^ The shafts and levels have yielded several thousands of tons of good ore. Several causes, including financial ones as well as the low prices of copper, have retarded the development of this property ; but as the outlook is now encouraging, arrangements are being made for working it. In the Island of Cape Breton the copper ores occur in the precamlirian felsites, etc., at Gabarus, Coxheath, George's River^ Cheticamp, etc., and are found also in carboniferous strata. These brief remarks on the occurrence of copper ores in Nova Scotia will show that they are very wide spread. They have as yet received almost no systematic examination, and local capital has preferred to venture in better known chatmels. It may, however, be justly claimed that the province presents, in several districts, unusally promising deposits, and that in better known and richer communities, they would before this have supported at least several profitable mines OF NOVA SCOTIA. 46 The following table shows the average wages paid in the gold mines : — Per Day. Engine drivers SI 50 * Drill men 1 50 Drill helpers 1 25 Miners 1 40 Muckers 1 25 Deekmen, (laborers) 1 25 Blacksmiths 1 75 Foremen 2 00 Mill men 1 25 Mill Foremen 1 75 Carpenters 1 50 The gold mines are acquired from the Crown on the following terms: — Licenses, comprising areas 250 by 150 feet, up to one hundred in number can be taken in one application. They cost at the rate of 50 cents per area, and are in force for twelve months. At any time prior to the expiration of the license anj^ number of the areas in- cluded in it may be taken under a lease for forty years. The lease costs $2.00 for each area included in it, and is subject to an annual rental of 50 cents per area, which is refunded if a certain amount of work is performed. Licenses are issued to the owners of stamp mills, who are required to make returns under oath and to pay the royalty. The gold, for the purpose of royalty, is valued at $19.00 per ounce ; and the royalty is at the rate of two per cent. The average mint value of the gold is somewhat higher than $19.00 per ounce. Provision is made for the free recording of all documents of titles, etc., in the mines office, for surveys, arbitration, etc. The law is liberal, and every effort is mtiJe to meet the require- ments of the mining fraternity. In the case of copper and lead ores, licenses to search are issued, at a cost of $30.00 for eighteen months, covering an area not exceeding 2 by 2| miles. Out of this, during the term of the license, a lease of one-half a square mile covering either of these metals may be selected by the licensee. The lease io for four renewable terms of twenty years each, and is subject to an annual rental of $30,00, refunded if royalty be paid exceeding that amount. These copper and lead leases carry the gold and silver associated with the copper or lead ores. In compliance with your instructions I will not in this report pro- ceed to consider the coal, iron ore, gypsum and other minerals found 46 GOLD, LEAD, AND COPPER ORES and worked in Nova Scotia. It may, however, be appropriately re- marked tliat an extensive development has been reached in the various coal fields, assuring the miner and metallurgist ample sun])lies of coal and coke for their operations. The iron ores are l)eing worked, smelted, and converted into steel. The gypsum deposits are extensively worked. The quarries yield supplies of the best varieties of building stones, of limestone, marble, freestone, etc. There are in addition mines of barytes, manganese, etc. In short the province, in proportion to its size, has been furnished by nature with an unusal and abundant variety of useful minerals; which it is regretted, have in many cases been allowed to remain undi'veloped. Lumbering, fishing, and, until a few years ago, ship building and freighting, have absorbed the energies of local capitalists, and little attempt has been made to interest outside capital in any of our mines, except those of gold and coal. The field, however, for mineral invest- ment in the province is being recogiiised as in many respects superior to that of other countries which hav^e hitherto received so much at- tention from foreign investors, and the indications are that a short time will see the enquiries and investments of the past few years largely extended. . , . ,.,'.,• ■ i