98 



Serpentine occurs in many places in this country, from the far 

 west to the extreme east, associated with strata of different ages, and one 

 would be surprised at the ai"ea it occupies on our maps although a great 

 extent of the Dominion is still geologically unknown. 



Our serpentine may be divided into four groups : — 



1st. The Archaean group, or group No. 1, consisting of the 

 Laurentian, Huronian and Pre-Cambrian serpentines ; 



2nd. The Palaeozoic group, or group No. 2, consisting of the Cam- 

 brian and Carboniferous serpentines ; 



3rd. The Cenozoic group, or group No. 3, consisting of the Tertiary 

 serpentines. 



4th. Group No. 4, consisting of those of doubtful age. 



LAURENTIAN SERPENTINES. 



This serpentine is found associated with limestone and dolomite' 

 but is most abundant in the limestone. It is frequently disseminated 

 in grains varying in size, occasionally in scattered masses, and some- 

 times in interstratified beds. Its color varies from light green, greenish- 

 yellow, pale-yellowish or greyish-green. It sometimes presents masses 

 of yellowish-green spotted with crimson or blood red patches from dis- 

 seminated peroxyd of iron. It has a lower specific gravity, contains 

 less oxyd of iron and more water than ordinary serpentines. It is very 

 widely spread all over the country, and is found in nearly all the 

 provinces. 



Near Pisarinco Cove, New Brunswick, are reported crystalline 

 limestones, grey and beautifully white, alternating with quartzites and 

 diorites, and with occasional bluish argillites. Along with these lime- 

 stones there are also some thinner beds of yellowish and purplish 

 colours which contain serpentine. At another point apple-green and 

 pinkish limestone is enclosed in a bed of diorite, both rocks being 

 travei*sed by veins of -serpentine holding chrysotile. Again, on the west 

 side of the Narrows of the St. John River, in this same Province, can 

 be seen pale grey and white crystalline limestone with a conglomerate 

 of limestone pebbles in a serpentine paste. What is worthy of men- 

 tioning of the St. John River serpentinous limestone is that it contains 

 the Eozoon Canadense. 



