352 The Acton Copier Mines, 



To a geologist this region is, however, very inviting. The 

 traces of copper which the surface affords are sufficient stimulants 

 to invite elaborate research. The elevations of the strata with 

 their curious contortions are themselves interesting. The pros- 

 pect of finding a fossil among such altered rock-masses by which 

 the position of the formation in the great Silurian series might 

 with accuracy be determined, would of itself be an inducement 

 for the expenditure of much time and labour. As we approach 

 the mines we are reminded by the traffic of vehicles laden with 

 kegs heavy with precious ore that we are in the precincts of a 

 place of unusual industry. The sound of the hammer too rings 

 pleasantly upon the ear, and the deep hollow noise of constant 

 blasts awaken interest in the scene. As we reach the termina- 

 tion of the road between the village and the mines a sight of much 

 interest opens up to our view. An open space of about a mile in 

 length and a quarter of a mile in breadth, entirely cleared of tim- 

 ber, lies before us. It is covered with temporary wooden build- 

 ings and heaps of broken rocks. Along its whole length it is cut 

 up by trenches and shafts and deep quarries. In the back ground 

 there rises a ridge of rock to the height of about 100 feet strewn 

 with broken masses of stones and crowned with a scanty growth 

 of bush. 



But instead of describing these mines any further ourselves, we 

 shall take advantage of an exceedingly lucid and succint account 

 of the locality contained in the " Report of the Geological Survey 

 of Canada for 1858." We had the pleasure of tracing for our- 

 selves the topographical descriptions which it contains and verify- 

 ing their remarkable accuracy. 



" The existence of the copper ore on the thirty-second 

 lot of the third range of Acton was I believe discovered by Mr. 

 H. P. Merrill, and at the request of Mr. Gushing, the proprietor 

 of the land, Mr. Hunt visited the locality in August last. As 

 then seen, before any excavation had been made, the surface 

 presented an accumulation of blocks of copper ore, evidently in 

 place, and covering an area of about sixteen paces in length by ten 

 paces in width. These masses consisted of variegated sulphuret of 

 copper, intermingled with limestone and a silicious matter, 

 without any thing like vein-stone, and evidently constituted a 

 bed subordinate to the limestone, whose strike was about N. E., 

 with a dip to the north-west at an angle of about forty degrees. 

 In continuation of this bed for about seventy paces in either 



