Section IV., 1906. [3] Tbans. R. S. C. 



I. — The Gypsum Deposits of New Brunswicl'. 

 By L. W. Bailey, LL.D. 



(Read May 22nd, 1906.) 



A very large increase in the production of gypsuin has occurred 

 during the last few years, as indicated by the fact that while in the 

 year 1890 the total quantity produced in the United States was 183,995 

 short tons, with a value, as crude gypsum, of $19,148, and, as manu- 

 factured, of $574,533, in 1903 the total quantity was 73,913 short tons, 

 with a value, for crude plaster, of $87,608, and, for the manufactured 

 product, of $3,793,943, an increase largely due to the much wider range 

 of its applications. Similarly, from New Brunswick alone the ship- 

 ment to the United States, which in 1890 amounted to 25,673 tons, 

 had, in 1897, risen to 59,334 tons, and, in 1905, to 135,403 tons. 



Coincident with this increase in the employment of gypsum much 

 more attention has been paid to the conditions of its occurrence, and 

 to the numerous questions, of scientific interest, which a study of 

 such occurrence suggests. As the ISTew Brunswick deposits present 

 many features of interest, and in some instances exceptional oppor- 

 tunities for investigation, it has been thougbt by the writer that a 

 summary of the facts which have come imder his observation would 

 not be without value. 



The gypsum deposits of New Brunswick, like those of Nova Scotia, 

 are, without exception, confined to the Lower Carboniferous system, in 

 this respect resembling those of Virginia. They are also confined to 

 the summit of that formation, being in many instances immediately 

 followed by the basal beds of the Millstone grit. Finally, they show 

 in most instances little evidence of disturbance, being either in very 

 low undulations or quite horizontal. Eegarded with reference to the 

 present sea level the most important beds are within two hundred feet 

 of the latter, but some extensive deposits are found at elevations equal 

 to at least twice that amount. ,In northern New Brunswick the most 

 important deposits are those of the Tobique valley, in Victoria county. 

 As exposed in and near the village of Plaster Eock, to which a branch 

 of the Canadian Pacific Railway has been extended for the more ready 

 removal and marketing of the material, the gypsum forms vertical 

 bluffs about 130 feet high, consisting of numerous alternating bands 

 of gray, greenish and reddish colours and granular texture, traversed 

 here and there by seams -f wiiite fibrous gypsum or satin spar. Owing 

 to the want of exposures the horizontal extension of the deposit is not 



