1899] Mineral Resources of the Ottawa District 33 



is usually found in connection with white granite dykes -vhich 

 cut the crystalline limestone and associated gneiss of the Grcn- 

 ville and Hastings series, which have a wide extent in this area, 

 both north and south of the Ottawa. The market at present 

 for this mineral is not large, but the demand has increased 

 rapidly within the last three years, so that there is a fair pro- 

 spect of some of these deposits being utilized at no very distant 

 date. 



Asr.ESTUs. 



Of the peculiar mineral asbestus, or rather chrysotile, of 

 which you have all heard, though there are limited deposits at 

 several points, they are of such small extent, as compared with 

 the great deposits in the Eastern Townships of Quebec, that it 

 may be safely said we cannot hope to successfuly compete with 

 these in the matter of production. In point of fact, ^thc great 

 deposits of this mineral in Quebec have practically closed down 

 the output of the mines for the rest of the world, at least as 

 regard the finer qualities. Asbestus proper is a variety of horn- 

 blende, and is found and has been worked for some years in the 

 County of Hastings under the name of dctinolite. What passes 

 under the name of asbestus in commerce is a fibrous serpentine 

 or chrysotile, which has a soft, beautiful and silky fibre, of great 

 tenacity and strength, so that it can be readily teased out, spun 

 and wove, or made into rope, while the shorter and more im- 

 perfect fibre is used for millboard, packing, and for a variety of 

 purposes. Its great value depends upon its capacity to resist 

 combustion, that is, it is practically a fire-proof material. 



In connection with some of the limestones of the Grenvillc 

 series there are certain serpentinous bands which contain small 

 veins of this substance and these have been mined at a number 

 of points, though the small size of the fibre prevents it from 

 competing with the longer material of the Eastern Town.ships. 

 This Ottawa product is, however, utilized for the manufacture of 

 a celebrated fire-proof plaster which possesses many advantages 

 over the common xariety for interior work, and this is rapidly 

 growing in favor with builders, so that the industry promises to 



