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[TkANSAfTlONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OK MINING ENGINEERS.]
THE GEOLOGICAL RELATIONS OF THE PRINCIPAL NOVA
SCOTIA MINERALS.
BV E. (JIM'IN, JR., IIAMKAX, N. S.
Any estimate of the economic mineral value of an unvi.sitetl dis-
trict is to the mining engineer largely a comparative one. If lie
knows that certain minerals characterize any given geological horiz*>n
he naturally draws upon his expoience of the same ores as met l)y
him under similar geologic.»l conJit Jons And if he has not had the
|>ersonal experience, the investigation of the geology of a similar
district as given in a trustworthy report enables him to lay a fair
basis for conclusions.
In a general way these conclusions are of value, and while they
pronounce on the possible mineral fecundity of a given district, they
often give a decided rebuttal to startling statements of discoveries of
ores.
The number of the geological horizons in Nova Scotia is limited,
but they are well developed, in some case typically, and exert a
prominent eifect on the agricultural and industrial distribution of
its inhabitants.
The following table, basei, on Sir VVilliam Dawson's Acadian
Geology, will serve as an outline for my notes :
Modern.
Triassic sandstone and trap.
Permo Carboniferous.
Upper coal measures.
Productive coal measures.
Millstone grit.
Marine limestone.
Lower Carboniferous.
Upper Helderberg.
Oriskany.
Upper Silurian { I^ower Helderberg.
I Clinton.
Lower Silurian.
Cambro-Silurlan.
Cambrian, Longmynd series.
Laurentian.
Carboniferous
Devonian
»'
•AZ
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H^
"l GEOUXJICAL RELATIONS OF NOVA SCOTIA MINERAIii.
This list is intended to refer rather to the divisions known to con>
tain ores, than to be a complete geological scale of the province.
Geographically speaking, in Nova Scotia proper these divisions are
represented as follows : On the Atlantic coast are the Cambrian of
the gold-fields with their associated granites. Then follow the
measures of the Cobeqnids running through Cumberland, Pictou,
Colchester and Antigonishe counties, supporting Silurian and De-
vonian strata, the latter being met also in the western part of the
province, i'he Carboniferous occupies the Gulf shore, and much of the
district surrounding the Basin of Minas. The Triassic measures are
met in narrow fringes and outliers around the liay of Fundy. In
Cape Breton the northern part of the island is largely composed of
Laurcntian, which occurs also between the arms of the Bras d'Or
Lake. The Carboniferous rests on it, and forms fringes, while it is
replaced in Richmond County by several large areas of Devonian.
Taking the divisions in descending order, their best known
minerals are :
Modern. — Beds of bog iron-ore, manganese wad, peat, infusorial
earth and' clays are frequently met. A number of years ago the
iron-ore was smelted in coimection with older ores, at Clementsport
near Annapolis. Deposits of considerable extent have been observed
in Shelburne, Queens, Kings, and Pictou counties, and no doubt
exist at many other localities. The wads are met in Cape iireton at
several points, in deposits of considerable size, yielding from 20 to 40
per cent, of ore with water, iron, silicious matter, etc. Smaller
deposits are not unfrequently found, but as there is no demand they
are not sought after. The deposits of infusorial earth have l)een
used locally for insulating steam-pipes, and as an absorbent in the
manufacture of dynamite.
Triassic. — The trap and associated ash-beds yield numerous varie-
ties of zeolitic and other minerals. At several points they are
p'juetrated by veins of massive and crystalline magnetite and s[)ecu-
lar ore of remarkable purity. The thickest vein that has come under
the writer's notice, of magnetite, was about 15 inches wide.
At numerous points, most noticeably at Margaretville, copper-
ores, principally carbonates with native copper, are found in veins
in the ti.in and ash. These veins have been explored several times
without success. No records have been made of the " low-grade "
values of these rocks, and I believe from the frequent occurrence
of copper-ores over «o wide an extent of territory that locally, beds
may be found carrying the disseminated metal in amounts of econo-
i^^<
i
'•
GEOLCKHCAL RKLATIOV8 OP NOVA SCOTIA MINERALS.
3
if!
niio value. The asso<!iate<l sandHtones, red and friable, yield no
building stone of value, and as yet have furnished to the miner only
a few tor,s of manganiferous ochre.
Penno-Carifoniferowt. — In the great mass of sediments covering
large areas in Pictou, Colchester, and Cumberland counties, and
presenting fossil evidence of a transition from the Carboniferous to
the Permian, there are few minerals of economic value. A few thin
seams of coal are met, with fire- 'lays. At numerous points the
sandstones and shales present irregular bedded masses and layers of
copj)er-ore8, principally gray sulphurets, with films and coatings of
(jarbonate. These ores are associated with fossil plants to whose
presence their depoi<ition is to be attributed. Hitherto, attempts to
find these ores in workable amounts have not I)een successful. A
sample from Carribou, near Pictou, gave:*
Per cent.
Copper, 40.00
Iron 11.06
Cobalt 2.10
Manganese, 0.50
Sulphur, . 25.42
Lime, 0.92
Admirable varieties of building stone, variously tinted sandstones
and free stones have been quarried from these measures.
Upper Coal MeatmreH. — These strata in general resemble those
noticed in the preceding section. There is however more coal ; and
layers of clay iron-stone are frequently met.
Productive or Middle Coal Measures. — The principal mineral of
this formation is coal, which is worked in Cape Breton, Pictou, and
Cumberland counties. Deposits are known in five other counties,
but have not been worked to any extent. The production last year
was about 1,700,000 tons. The coal is bituminous, and the writer
is not aware of the occurrence of any hard coal, although several
discoveries of graphitic shale have been heralded as anthracite mines.
Speaking in general terms the Cape Breton coal is the most bitumi-
nous, that of Cumberland less so, while the Pictou coals rather
approach the semi-bituminous or steam variety. All the districts
furnish coke of fair quality.
The following average of an analyses, from a paper on Canadian
coals, r 1 before the Montreal meeting of the British Asso(;iation,
will serve to show the variation in quality :
* Acadian Otology.
OEOLOOICAL UELATIONS OF NOVA SCOTIA MINERALS.
('n\ie Breton.
Pictoii.
C'nralH.>rtand
MniHtnre
. 0.75
1.19
1.46
Vol. conibiiHlil)le mutter, .
. 37.2<i
29.10
33.09 •
Fixed carbon,
. 5H.74
(iO.63
59.35
Asl
. 3.25
9..34
5..50
The fire-clays accompanying these (joals have never been nyste-
matically tested as to their value for fire-brick. Some that have
come under my notice are too high in alkali and iron, while others
theoretically were of satisfactory compositiion. An investigation into
the capabilities of the fire-clays of Nova Siiotia would form an object
worthy the attention of the Canadian Geological Survey. Beds of
cannel and oil coal, and of bituminous shale, are frequently met, but
are not at present of economic value.
Beds of clay iron-stone (in a few instances of the black band va-
riety) up to a thickness of 12 inches are numerous. The following
analyses made by me are of samples from the Pictou coal-field.
'i
Moisture,
Iron protoxide,
Altiininsi,
Silicioim residue,
Lime,
Magnesia,
Manganese,
Sulphur, .
Phosphoric acid,
Carbonaceous< matter.
Carbonic acid, .
Metallic iron, .
Clay Iron-stone.
Mlnck Band
. 2.132
0.732
, 45.3(51
36.000
. 16.962
3.180
. 0.780
16.546
trace.
3.780
. 1.655
0.783
trace.
4.450
. 0.612
0.214
trace.
.586
6.140
27.589
. 35.00
28.000
MiUfitone Grit. — The dividing line "between the millstone grit
and productive measures is not a fixed one, and consequently there
are workable beds of coal in its upper part arbitrarily referred to
this horizon, but practically belonging to the productive measures.
Throughout this range of measures thin seams of coal occur at nu-
merous points, but in the presence of the larger and better known
beds they have not yet received attention. At the Joggins, Cum-
berland County, large quantities of excellent grindstones are made
for local use, and for export, and numerous beds of quarry rock are
known.
Marine Limestone. — This horizon is very strongly developed in
Nova Scotia, and to its presence is due ihe fertility of the central and
northern part of the province, for its gypsum, limestone, and marl
OFX>IXXJICAL RELATIONS OF NOVA HCOTIA MINKRAIJ4.
5
yield soils of permanent fertility. Its most prominent mineral is
gypsum, in every variety and texture, whicli occurs in be<Is in many
cases extending for miles, and reaching in thickness 100 feet. It is
quarried for export to the United States, chiefly near Windsor, in the
basin of Minas, the annual production varying from 100,000 to
150,000 tons. A few thousand tons arc annually sent up the (Julf
of St. Lawrence from Cape Breton, but the export trade, on account
of the difference in freight, is from the Windsor district. Limestone
is equally abundant, and is burne<l for local use, and used in rough
ma.sonry, and at Walton, near Wind.sor, furnishes a beautiful retl stone,
which it is said will flrst be used in the new buildings of a prominent
New York newspaper. At several points these limestones carry
deposits of manganese, lead, iron, and copper-ores and barytes.
The manganese is met as pyrolusite with a little hard ore, and is of
remarkable purity, carrying very minute amounts of iron. It brings
a price varying up to $100 a ton, but the demand is limited. I am
not aware of any deposits of these ores adapted to the steel-makers'
purposes, Tenny Cape, Onslow, and Loch Lomond are the best
known mines.
The iron-ores are limonite, red hematite, and spathic ore. As yet
the ores of this series are little worked, but they are of undoubted
value. The purity of some of them may be shown by the following
analysis of a sample from Brookfleld:
Per cent.
Water, 11.3«
Silica, 1.54
Sulphuric acid trace.
Phosphoric acitl, trace.
Metallic; iron, GO.UO
! \
\
The spathic ore occurs in beds, the limonite and red hematites as
.ontact and replacement deposits. The lead-ores occur as small
seggregated veins, and as aggregates. The silver contents of the
Nova Scotia lead-ores are variable, as.says have returned as high as
100 ounces, but the average would not exceed 10 ounces. The
copper-ores resemble in composition and niwle of occurren<'e those
already described. Celestine, fluorspar, and brine and mineral
springs also occur in these measures.
Devonian (Upper Ilelderberg, Oriskany). — In the hills lying to
the south of the Annapolis valley are numerous important bedded
deposits of magnetite and hematite. The ores vary in character, but
some are of excellent quality and favorably situated for raining and
OEOI/XilCAL KEI.ATfONH OF NOVA HCOTIA MINERALB.
oxportutioii. Ill Oiiysboro' County tlio Devonian nieasiiros (larrv
Hevenil large (leponitH of .specular ore oCgooil quality, but as yet iin-
pruveii. The ore is preNeiite<l in veins and in large nianses, aiul may
be connectetl with the dioritic dykuH found at this point. It (MTurs
under similar conditions nearSt. Peters. I believe that by some the
copper-ores of Poisons Lake and IiOchal)er in Antigonishe County
are referred to this hori/oii. These deposits are c<mnected with
igneous dykes, and, as far as they have Iteen explore<l, ap{)ear very
promising, but their distance from shipping, etc., has diverted atten-
tion from them.
Upper Sitarian (Lower Melderberg, Clinton). — In Pictou and
Antigonishe counties, strata which are referred to this age carry im-
portant deposits of bodde<l red hematites, varying in thickness up to
50 feet. The ores are silicious, but frequently free from sulpur and
phosphorus; their metallic contents vary from 35 to 50 percent.
Owing to their size and accessibility they can be cheaply mined, and
will probably be utilized in connection with the richer ores found in
their vicinity.
Lower Silurian. — These measures as developed in Cape Breton
carry several beds of red hematite, and deposits of copper pyrites and
sometimes cupriferous iron pyrites.
Camhro- Silurian. — This term has been provisionally applied to
the raa.ss of strata forming the Cobequid hills and reappearing in
Pictou County. The ores occurring in these measures embrace
several varieties of hydrate<l and anhydrous peroxide. At London-
derry the limonite occurs with a little specular in a large interstrati-
fied vein containing ankeritc and sideroplesite, the latter being used
to some extent in the furnaces of the company operating at this point.
Magnetites have also been met in parts of this range. In Pictou
County the ores occur in interst ratified veins with ankerite, but are
principally specular. Copper- and gold-ores are reporteil as occurring
in this range, but I am uninformed concerning their economic value.
The deposits of antimony-ore at Rawdon, Hants County, have been
worked for several years, and are probably extensive. Their exact
geological horizon is not yet clearly known, but they are referred to
here.
Cambrian (Longmynd). — The only mineral of economic value yet
found in these measures is gold. The strata are slate and quartzite
lying in large abrupt folds, which have permitted the intercalation
of the gold-bearing quartz-veins, varying in thickness up to 12 feet.
The gold is also found disseminated in some of the beds of slate.
/■< / :
/
OEOIiOGK'AL RELATIONH OF NOVA HCOTIA MINERAIX. 7
Cupper, lead, zinc, iron, and niolylxlenum sulphidcH (x:ciir witli the
gold in the quartz-veins, but not in amounts of economic value.
The auriferous territory is estimated to cover .'iOOO square miles,
and as the annual production of gold is only about 23,000 ounces,
there is an ample opening for miners.
Latirentian. — This series is widely distributed in Cape Breton,
and roughly speaking is divisible into the felsite and the limestone
series. They contain red hematite, in places magnetic, of excellent
quality, although some are reported to l)c rather high in phosphorus
for Bessemer purposes. Cop|)er-oro8, graphite, asbestos and mica
are also found. The limestones are frequently alteretl into marbles.
Some of the deposts are beautifully tinted, and are said to be adapted
for building and statuary purposes. .Vt present the West Bay (Cape
Breton) marble i.s largely burned into a lime of excellent quality,
which is used in the province, and exported to the United States,
etc. To complete the parallel between these Cape Breton strata
and the Laurentian rocks of the vicinity of Ottawa, there remains to
be discovered in the former " IMiosphate Rock," and there appears
to be no reason for its absence.
Copper ores are found at numerous points and are undou()tedIy
valuable as they are widespread and at the surface show well, but
uj> to this date no decide<l steps for development have been made
except in the case of the copper-ores of Coxheath, near Sydney.
Here the Eastern Development Company have |)roved several large
veins carrying copper in workable amounts to a depth of 300 feet.
The ore is calcopyrite with erubescite, and nirries considerable
amounts of gold and silver. Molylwlenite also occurs in small dis-
seminated grains and nodules at several points, and a few lots have
been shipped to England.
In summing up these brief notes it may be said that the visitor
to the province would place the minerals, irrespective of any devel-
opment effected, in the following order: Coal, Iron, Gold. It is per-
haps unusual to find these three so close together.