194 SEVENTH REPORT. 



of as breaking through the ridge near Bessemer. This ridge has in it 

 several characteristic beds such as felsite-porphyrites and labradorite- 

 porphyrites. The identifying of these bands is an easy task, and the 

 identification makes it quite evident that there are at least four dip 

 faults in the area worked. 



Lying immediately north of Bessemer is a gap, at least a mile wide, 

 through the ridge. The rocks are well exposed on either side, and a 

 throw of about 1500 ft. is easily proved. West, about a half mile, from 

 this gap is another fault with a throw of about 75 ft. The evidence of 

 this fault is shewn by the rocks exposed about three-eights of a mile 

 south of quarter-pin 4-9-47-46. About 300 ft. west of the rocks are 

 thrown in the opposite direction about 125 ft. The stream bed of 

 Powder-Mill creek lies in the line of weakness of another fault, the beds 

 mi the west side of the stream being shifted between 400 and 500 ft. 

 north of those on the east side of the stream. Again in 6-47-46 there is 

 evidence of a fault with considerable throw. In all these cases the west 

 side is thrown north. These faults cause a line of weakness along which 

 the rocks are easily weathered away, hence the gaps through the ridge. 



There are evidences of faulting along the bed of Black River, slicken- 

 sides and fractured rock being very common. In one place, 28-48-46, 

 there is a very prominent fault-breccia. In no place in the river bed is 

 there any evidence of the amount of throw. It is always evident that 

 the fault plan is nearly north and south. 



The Nonesuch shale is well exposed, west of the river mouth, along 

 Ihe lake shore, but it shews no ready evidence of faulting. 



It is possible that the bed of Maple Creek is along the line of weak- 

 ness caused by a fault. 



The general surface of the country is about 600 feet above Lake 

 Superior. The Bessemer ridge, Chippewa hill, the eastern highlands and 

 the conglomerate ridge are all about equally high and are between 200 

 and 300 feet above the surrounding country. Except these elevated 

 portions the country is generally level. The lake front is marked by 

 terraces the first being about 100 feet. Behind it the country generally 

 rises, so that with a distance of two miles the general elevation is 

 reached. The lake has banks of red clay from 90 to 100 feet high, 

 along whose base is a narrow bench. 



Over the whole area there are numerous swamps of cedar and alder. 

 A great deal of the land is swampy and would be very difficult to 

 traverse during the wet season, especially the western part of the area 

 worked. 



In the last three miles of its course Black River has held pretty 

 permanently to its jDresent bed, but above that it has wandered con- 

 siderably, and has cut out a valley of some width. For the most part 

 there are thick cedar swamps along both edges of the river but in some 

 places it is cutting into the foot of the bank. 



The whole country is covered with glacial till, and in many places 

 there are numerous large boulders in the soil. Of the fifty square miles 

 of area covered by the party at least forty are fit for cultivation. Most 

 of the land is second rate and, indeed, some is third rate, but there is a 

 small amount Avhich is first rate. However, before being put under 

 cultivation, much of it would require to be drained. There are some 

 farmers near Bessemer, and where they have cleared the land they have 



