428 Dr. Dawson on the recent 



dron with its edges slightly beveled, and although its faces were 

 marked with delicate striae several of them were unusually bril- 

 liant. The other two crystals were octahedrons, with dull and 

 somewhat rounded faces. One of these was flattened and also 

 much elongated. The smallest crystal was about two lines in 

 length and quite perfect. 



"At Lunenburg, which is about seventy miles west of Halifax 

 and one hundred and thirty from Tangier,* the gold also occurs in 

 quartz veins traversing the clay slate, which here forms a high 

 bluff, but it is most abundant in the sands of the adjacent beach. 

 Those who first commenced explorations at this place obtained 

 large quantities of gold with very little labor, and their success 

 soon attracted others from all parts of the province. This loca- 

 lity is known in the neighbourhood as "The Ovens," from some 

 deep caverns which have been worn in the bluff by the action of 

 the sea. It is this denuding power which has torn the gold from 

 its bed and collected it on the beach. There is some reason to 

 believe that a large amount of gold derived from the same source 

 exists in the bottom of the harbor, as the sea-weed which is 

 washed on shore has occasionally small particles of the precious 

 metal attached to it. This point will probably soon be decided ; 

 as a " Dredging Company " has been formed, and in a short time 

 will commence operations. 



" The strata at this place are similar in appearance and structure 

 to those at Tangier, and seem to have been equally disturbed. 



" At one point near the shore where they were well exposed the 

 strike was S. 80° W., and the dip about YS^ N. Quartz veins 

 pass through the slate in many directions, and are generally 

 found to contain gold, especially those running north and south. 

 Several dikes of basaltic trap were also observed, one of which 

 was seven feet in width and appeared to be conformable to the 

 strata. The auriferous sand on the shore rests on the edges of 

 the upturned slate, which has here been worn out into " pockets " 

 of various sizes, well adapted to retain the gold as it is washed 

 over them. After these cavities have been apparently exhausted 

 a large amount of fine gold can be obtained, for several feet be- 

 neath them, between the thin laminae of the slate. 



" Nearly the same minerals which were noticed at Tangier also 

 occur with the gold at this locality. The mispickel is more 

 abundant, and is usually in very perfect octahedral crystals, some 



♦Only 80 miles in a direct line. — j.w.d. 



