88 NEW MINERAL DISCOVERIES IN NOVA SCOTIA.—GILPIN. 
coveries are seldom announced. Already the vast iron ore deposits 
on the Canadian side of the great lakes are engaging the atten- 
tion of the more far-seeing of the United States iron masters 
At present these deposits are not available. England, France 
and Germany draw large supphes of Bessemer ore from Spain 
and Algiers, This source now shows signs of weakening, and 
the magnetic ores of Sweden and Norway are gradually being 
drawn upon in amounts annually increasing. 
There is no known geological reason why Labrador, New- 
foundland, and Cape Breton should not contribute to this 
demand, ever increasing and never satisfied. The existence of 
iron ore at’ many points in Cape Breton is already known. The 
attempts made to find deposits, and to test them are scarce 
worth noticing. In the forest and swamp-covered tracts there 
may be masses of iron ore worth an empire’s ransom. 
It must, however, be remembered that these deposits, to be of 
any value, must be pure, extensive, and capable of cheap mining 
and shipping. The output must be large and the expenses low 
to enable the Cape Bretoner to enter into the world’s competi- 
tion in selling iron ore in the markets of the world. 
Wolframite. 
Last spring a discovery of this mineral was made at North- 
East Margaree, Inverness County. Full particulars of this deposit. 
are not yet available. It is stated to occur in a vein, in places 
three feet wide, and to be present in amounts permitting readily 
of concentration to a high percentage. The mineral is of a dull 
gray color, in places almost black, and with a somewhat 
metallic lustre. Its specific gravity is 7.1—7.5, and its hardness 
5—5.5. It is sometimes feebly magnetic, and contains 67.47 
WO. The price quoted for the mineral on the continent is 
stated to be $375.00 per ton of 65 per cent ore. The demand at 
present is not large, and is met by an annual output of a few 
hundred tons. Its principal, if not its only commercial value, is 
as an alloy for steel. It is believed that, if a large and per- 
manent supply of the mineral could be secured, it would be 
utilised for hardening armor plate and similar purposes. 
