84 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. vi. 



The specific gravity of the sand, in bulk, was determined by 

 weighing 100 measured cubic centimeters of it, equivalent to 100 

 grammes of water ; and the proportion of grains of magnetic ore 

 was also determined. Of three specimens from Moisie ; A was 

 an average sample of several hundred tons gathered in the manner 

 just described, preparatory to washing; B, a portion taken by 

 myself from a layer six inches thick, about three feet below the 

 surface of the beach ; and C, the washed ore, as prepared for the 

 bloomary fire. In this connection are given the results of some 

 similar determinations with iron sands from other localities. 



Specific gravity. Magnetic. 



Moisie, A 2-82 46-3 per cent. 



Moisie, B 2 88 49-3 



Moisie, C 2-97 52 



Mingau 2-84 48-3 



Bersimis 2-81 34-3 



Natasquan — 55-7 



Kagashka — 240 



Batiscan — 55-0 



The specific gravity of the silicious sand with which these iron 

 sands are associated, was found, when determined in bulk, as 

 above, to be about 2.00. It consists chiefly of quartz, whose real 

 specific gravity is about 2.65; that of magnetic iron ore being 

 about 5.18, while the titanic iron ore is about 4.70, and the asso- 

 ciated garnet not far from 4.0. The amount of material removed 

 in the process of washing at Moisie is not very great, as may be 

 seen by comparing the proportion of magnetic grains in A and C, 

 the Moisie sand before and after washins;. The latter was found 

 by analysis to contain about 5.5 p. c. of insoluble matter, chiefly 

 silicious sand, the remainder being almost entirely oxyd of iron 

 and titanic acid. 



The sand of Batiscan, mentioned above, had been purified by 

 washing. Considerable deposits near Champlain, contain, accord- 

 ing to Dr. Larue, about 10.0 per cent, of magnetic ore, the re- 

 mainder being chiefly silicious sand. The specimens from Bersi- 

 mis, Mingan, Natasquan and Kagashka, however, though collected, 

 as I was informed, without washing, compare favorably with those 

 from Moisie, and, with the exception of Bersimis, even surpass it 

 in the proportion of magnetic ore. I am indebted for all of these 

 to Dr. Larue, the professor of chemistry in Laval University, 

 Quebec, who has paid much attention to the iron sands of the 



