uo 



Sa/in Gypszim, sometimes called Satin Spar, which bears a strong 

 resemblance to the former, is much softer, and consequently not so 

 often used. 



Firie specimens of this material are found at various places on 

 Minas Basin, more particularly at Cape Blomidon, Cape Sharp and 

 Swan Creek. 



Alabaster is represented 1 y Limestone (caibonate of lime), and 

 Gypsum (sulphate of lime). Ihe purest material used in Italy, and 

 from which souice ir.any of the ornaments of this mineral come, 

 is derivL-d from a bed 2co feet dtep at Caste! ino, in Tuscany, One of 

 the principal manufactories of Alabaster ornaments is at Valterra, 

 thirty miles from 1 cghc;rn, where about 5,000 persons are dependent 

 upon this industry. This \ariety of Limestone has not yet been 

 observed in Canad 1. 



Gypsum Alabaster is found at Hillsborough, N.B., and is suscepti- 

 ble of a good polish. Large blocks, hundreds of pounds in weight, are 

 often taken out, consisting of translucent white anhydrite, which are 

 generally veined with Gypsum ; the latter muieral, being softer, wears 

 away faster in the polishing, leavir.g a somewhat uneven surface. This, 

 however, should not be sufficient to detract from its value as an 

 ornatnenial stone, as the effect produced by the sunken veins is ofttn 

 very grotesque. 



Malachite.— 'X'\\\'~> beautiful carbonate of copper which comes to us 

 from Australia, Hungary, Tyrol and Siberia is also met with sparingly 

 in Canada associated with other ores of coi)per. In the County of 

 Hastings nodules of this mineral as large as a cricket ball are said 

 to be found occasionally in the loose soil, from some of the cop|jer 

 mines of tne Eastern Townships and New Biunswick, hardsome small 

 spectimens are sometimes met with and would contribute small gtms. 



Serpentine. — This mineral with its rich colour has always bten an 

 attractive ornamental stone. In Saxony sevrral hundred people are 

 employed makirg boxes, trinkets and other ornaments out of this 

 material. Our Canadian Serpentines, more jjarticularly those occurring 

 in the Laurentian, are often of rich yellowish ard greenish colours and 

 might be utilized lor all purposes of initrior decoration. Some years 

 ago an enteiprising machinist established himself in the vicinity of the 



