136 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. vii. 



the resemblance, loose masses of Limonite are found in the vicinity 

 of the vein, giving rise to the expectation that a vein or veins of 

 this mineral may be found to be associated with the specular 

 ore. The ores of this vein in Pictou County are nearly pure 

 peroxide of iron, containing from 64 to 69 per cent, of metal, 

 and can be obtained in great quantity fioiu the outcrop of the 

 vein where it appears on the rising grounds. 



*^ o Jj CL Jb 



Ideal Section^ showing the general relations of the Iron Ores of the East 



River of Pictou. 



1. Great bed of Red Hematite. 



2. Vein of Specular Iron. 



3. Vein of Limonite. 



"(a) Older Slate and Qaartzite series, with Trap, &c. 

 (h) Lower Helderberg- formation and other Upper Silurian rocks. 

 (c) Lower Carboniferous of the East Branch of East River. 



(2) Limonite veins of the East River of Pictou. 



The valley of the East River of Pictou above Springville is 

 occupied by a narrow tongue of Lower Carboniferous rocks, 

 havinor at one side the slates containins; the ore last mentioned, 

 and on the other a more disturbed country already referred to 

 as containino- the o;reat Lower Helderbero: bed of Hematite. It 

 is highly probable that the river valley follows the line of an old 

 pre-carboniferous line of fracture, denuded and partially filled 

 with the Lower Carboniferous beds, including large deposits of 

 limestone and gypsum. At the line of junction of the Carbon- 

 iferous and older rocks on the east side of the river, occurs the 

 great Limonite vein of the district, forming a vein of contact of 

 exceeding richness and value. It follows the sinuosities of the 

 margin of the older rocks, and varies in thickness and quality in 

 different places ; being apparently richest opposite the softer 

 slates and where these are in contact with a black maniranesian 

 limestone, which here, as in man}" other parts of Nova Scotia, 

 forms one of the lowest members of the Carboniferous series. 

 The ore is sometimes massive but more frequently in fibrous con- 

 cretionary balls of large size, associated with quantities of 



