98 



COLEMAN ON THE GEOGEAPHY 



R'icks Observed. — This range consists chiefly of quartzites, soft slates weathering into 

 clay, and limestones, the latter sometimes black and seamed with small ramifying veins 

 of calcite, so that they would probably form handsome marbles. These rocks are prob- 

 ably Paltuozoic, and of the same age as those described by Mr. McConnell from the 

 western part of Bow Pass.' Veins of quartz and calcite are common, and a few dykes of 

 eruptive rock occur. The strata dip at low angles away from the Columbia. 



Mountains south-ivest of the Spillimichene. — The mountains west and south of the 

 longer fork of the Spillimichene are loftier than those just described, and often rise above 

 the snow-line. From the top of one which was ascended, the scene in its confusion of 

 snow, ice and naked rock, reminded one strongly of views from the loftiest points of the 

 Norwegian f jelds. Scores of glaciers were in sight, one toward the head of the west fork 

 of the river appearing much larger than the well-known glacier near the Canadian Pacific 

 Railway. Patches of snow where the ascent was made were of a rosy color, probably 

 caused by the growth of Protococcus nivalin. 



Rocks Observed. — The rocks observed were chiefly slates, harder than those of the pre- 

 vious range, and with a very perfect cleavage ; and also some quartzites. The cleavage 

 cut the lines of stratification of the slate, as shown by bands of lighter and darker grey, 

 at all angles, but did not pass into the quartzite. 



Fig. 1. — Folds of Slate showing cleavage which does not pass into tlie quartzite. Summit of a mountain south- 

 west of the Spillimicliene. 



A A^ein, from IJ to 5 feet wide, was found to be largely charged with copper pyrites 

 (chalcopyrite.) 



(2.) From the Kicking Horse to Beaver. — From the mouth of the Kicking Horse 

 to Donald, the Columbia preserves its gentle character, and, though sometimes divided 

 by low, wooded islands into several channels, follows the wide and straight valley in 

 which it set out. It receives seA'eral tributaries from the Rocky Mountains, beside the 

 Kicking Horse ; for instance, the Blaeberry and Bluewater, but no large ones from the 

 Selkirks. About half way between Donald and Beaver, the Columbia leaves the broad 

 valley to a tributary and turning west, breaks through walls of slate in a series of rapids 

 and sharp curves. The rocks found in this part are chiefly lustrous slates, and are well 



■ Geological Features of a Portion of the Rocky Mts., Geol. Sur. Can., 1886, 



