UNDEVELOPED COAL FIELDS OF NOVA SCOTIA—GILPIN. 141 
As yet, however, this district has not as a whole been syste- 
matically tested, and indications are not wanting that the con- 
ditions, favorable to the formation of coal beds in the Millstone 
Grit, decreased with proximity to the syenitic rocks of St. Ann’s. 
The Millstone Grit of the Sydney district appears to attain 
its maximum thickness in the Mira Bay section, and according to 
Messrs. Fletcher and Robb, it decreases until at its northern 
extremity in the Cape Dauphin district it has diminished from 
over 5000 feet to less than 2000 feet. Being derived from the 
detritus of the underlying strata it is reasonably noticed that as 
it approaches the older and harder pre-carboniferous rocks it 
becomes scanter and coarser. This change necessarily diminish- 
ing the opportunity for the presence of those conditions per- 
mitting the accumulation of carbonaceous matter. 
Passing to Richmond County there is found a long stretch of 
the debateable Productive Millstone Grit measures running from 
near St. Peter’s across the lower part of the Inhabitants River 
nearly to Hawkesbury. 
Coal seams of economic value are known at Coal Brook, 
Little River and Carabacou Cove. At the first named place 
explorations have shown a three feet, a four feet, and several 
smaller seams of coal. The quality is stated to be good as far 
as the crop workings were extended. At Carabacou Cove, or, as 
it is also called Sea Coal Bay, quite extensive workings were 
carried on about thirty years ago in a seam eleven feet eight 
inches thick, holding some layers of shale. Reports made to the 
Government of Nova Scotia state that there are in this connec- 
tion at least seven other seams ranging in thickness from three 
feet upwards, beside a number of smaller ones. The Big Seam 
was reported by Sir William Dawson to carry an abnormally 
large amount of ash, as shown by the following analysis :— 
Molatile: Matteri a. ios <.<6%< Bene Mm err ae 720 
Paerea Carbon exes ccyava ache ese 2 2 Tee rit 97) 
JRWEIS Aca Sen OF Ste Ente aa a Pr nara 31) bal 
