ECONOMIC GEOLOGY. 287 



CHROMIC IKON ORE. 



This valuable mineral was said to have been met with in Laventille. 

 The specimen obtained bears a striking resemblance to titanic iron, 

 and on analysis was proved to contain only 1.02 per cent, chromic acid ; 

 while to be available as a commercial article, it should contain from 

 40 to 45 per cent, of this substance, which gives importance to the 

 mineral. 



SILVER LEAD ORE. 



This mineral, so often reported to exist in the district of Santa Cruz, 

 and of which samples have been frequently exhibited, was the su])ject 

 of a careful search in the localitife indicated, but nothing differing 

 from the features of the adjacent country could be detected, no signs 

 of mineral deposits, no trace of metallic combinations, or the usually 

 associated minerals; the specimens produced were those of an ordinary 

 lead ore, and contained 81 per cent, of lead, and 3.33 ounces of silver 

 to the ton, which small amount would not repay extraction. 



QUICKSILVER. 



It has also been currently reported and believed that there exists 

 a deposit of mercury in strata adjacent the Dry river ; without any 

 desire to discredit the fact of the mercury having been found there, it 

 may be stated that a particular examination of the locality appears 

 to indicate that its j)resence was the result of accident, and not due 

 to any natural deposit of that metal. 



MINERAL SPRINGS. 



The only one in this district likely ever to be of importance is the 

 tepid sulphur spring, which rises in the bed of the St. Joseph's river, 

 not far from the valley leading to the Cascade ; it is similar to those 

 mineral waters which have proved so highly beneficial in cutaneous 

 diseases. The White Sulphur Spring, in Virginia, is annually re- 

 sorted to by many thousands of visitors, who, whilst adding to the 

 wealth of the vicinity, derive great benefit from the use of the waters. 



PITCH DEPOSITS WHICH MAY PROVE AVAILABLE POR GAS. 



These remarks on the mineral value of the portion of the island 

 explored sliDuld not be concluded without allusion to the abundant 

 supply of pitch existing in the marls and clays of the western section 

 of the country, since so many applications of this are proposed and 

 the question of the success of some is now in course of solution. 



The substance itself, and more particularly the adjacent strata im- 

 pregnated with pitchy matters, bear a resemblance in mineral char- 

 acter to the bituminous shales of Scotland, now attracting so much 

 attention in the home country, on account of the large proportion of 

 gas extracted from them, for which reason they command a price far 



