278 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



to be no apparent reason why these beds should not some day be exten- 

 sively used for domestic or manufacturing purposes, apart from their 

 utilization in the distillation of the contained petroleum. The asso- 

 ciated Albertite is apparently a highly altered or inspissated petroleum, 

 the analysis shewing the merest trace of ash in composition. 



The province of Quebec has always been regarded as en- 

 tirely lacking in mineral fuel, and as regards coal this is 

 practically true from the economic standpoint. Mineral ooal 

 does, however, occur in a small seam from two to four inches 

 thick in the Devonian shales of the south side of Gaspé 

 basin ; and in connection with the same geological formation are a num- 

 ber of oil springs some of which are on or near the shore and others at a 

 distance of some miles inland The containing rocks in this area are as 

 a rule, highly inclined and shew the presence of faults, near which 

 several of the largest oil-springs are situated. Boring operations have 

 been carried on at intervals in the vicinity of Gaspé basin for more than 

 forty years, and have led to a vain expenditure, within the last sixteen 

 years, of over one million dollars. Although a number of holes were 

 sunk to depths ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 feet, several of which Avere 

 in the immediate vicinity of the oil springs, no petroleum with the ex- 

 ception of small showings was found. In all some 60 holes were bored 

 in an area about thirty miles in length by ten in breadth. The same 

 broken character of strata prevails throughout, and the shales and sand- 

 stone, while differing in character from those of New Brunswick, are 

 closely related in geological time. Bands of rich oil-shale also occur in 

 these rocks but not, so far as known, in quantity sufficient to incur the 

 expense of development. 



The Carboniferous rocks in this province are limited to a small strip 

 of Lower Carboniferous age situated along the north side of Chaleur 

 bay and quite beneath the productive coal measures of Nova Scotia, or 

 the Millstone-grit areas of New Brunswick. The Devonian shales oppo- 

 site Dalhousie near the estuary of the liestigouche river abound in the 

 remains of fossil fishes, but no trace of petroleum has ever been seen in 

 this area; while on the shores of Gaspé basin petroleum is found filling 

 a cellular structure in a dike of diabase some 150 feet in width, which 

 traverses the Devonian slates and ;sandstone of that district. , 



The veins of anthraxolite found in the Cambrian rocks of Labrador 

 and near Quebec city have already been referred to as interesting from 

 the scientific rather than from the economic standpoint. The recent 

 development of the peat industry in this produce as well as in Ontario 

 bids fair to furnish for certain purposes a fuel which will to some extent 

 supply the absence of beds of true coal. 



