105 



MINERALOGICAL NOTES. 



Manganese Ores in Canada, by H. P. Brumell, Ottawa. — The 

 August number of tha American Geologist for 1892, contains an inter- 

 esting as well as useful contribution regarding the distribution, origin and 

 geological relations, as well as economic uses and value of the ores of 

 manganese in Canada. 



We are informed here that all the known workable deposits are 

 located in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, and belong chiefly to rocks 

 of the lower carboniferous age, whilst the " bog ore deposits, being of 

 recent formation, are found overlying rocks of any formation from the 

 Cambrian upwards." 



From the Markhamville deposit of crystalline ore, Mr. Brumell in- 

 forms us, upwards of 20,000 tons have already been shipped The 

 analyses of this ore are also given, ,ind reference made to another im- 

 portant deposit in the same (Sussex) County in New Brunswick, at 

 Jordan Mountain, where some 400 tons of from 80 to 85 per cent, ore 

 have been extracted from the western side of this mountain. At Quaco 

 Head and Gowland Mountain crystalline ores of manganese also occur. 

 At the lattc^r locality it "consists principally of psilomelane and fills the 

 interstices of a very much broken and partly decomposed granite of 

 Pre-Cambrian age." Upham, Waterford, near Petitcodiac, Springfield, 

 Tete-a Gauche Falls and Albert County. The Shepody Mountain de- 

 posits have been described by Dr. R. W. Ells in his report (1884) and 

 shows that the ore "consists of pyrolusite and psilomelane, and occur- 

 ring in the base of conglomerate in irregular pockets." 



"Wad" is the common name which miners give to that ore of 

 manganese which is found in swampy districts, and is of recent origin 

 and still in process of formation in many places. 



The most important deposits of " wad " occur at Dawson Settle- 

 ment in Albert County, N. B , "where many acres of ore are found, the 

 beds varying in extent and depth, and attaining in some places a thick- 

 ness ot over forty feet, to which point they have been proved." Anal- 

 yses of this easily worked ore are then given by Mr. Brumell from the 

 reports I y Messrs. W. F. Best, of St. John, N. B., and John Burwash, 

 showing the percentage of manganese binoxide "to vary from 35.5 to 



