GEOLOGY OF MOOSE RIVER GOLD DISTRICT — WOODMAN. '71 



instances along the margin. In numerous cases a crystal has 

 been seen lying directly across the plane of separation, partly in 

 the upper and partly in tlie lower layer. In the quartzite its 

 distribution is without sj^stem. The mineral is here always 

 crystalline ; and its striated prisms, up to half an inch in length, 

 lie at all angels to the stratification planes, usually without 

 arrangement. In a few places the crystals line the parting 

 planes spai'ingly, but in general their position has no reference 

 to them. In one or two cases the longest axis of the crystal 

 crosses one of the major planes of division. 



The distribution of arsenopyrite appears to have no relation 

 to the proximity of veins, except in a few instances. The 

 vicinity of the Britannia belt is thickly studded with coarse 

 crystals, largely within the belt, and to a decreasing extent out- 

 ward from it on either side. The veins themselves contain 

 pyrite and arsenopyrite in massive and granular lumps, and the 

 latter mineral somewhat crystallized locally. The gold in this 

 belt is very pockety ; and appears to have no present relation to 

 the proximity of the sulphides, which by assay are shown to 

 contain almost none of the metal. The habit of this belt is so 

 peculiar as to give local miners the idea that it could be identi- 

 fied to the east, with one or more faults intervening. Thus in 

 the south entrance to the quarry on area 73, the large lead in 

 the south of the trench was thought by some to be the main 

 Britannia, partly from expectation, partly because of the large 

 amount of arsenopyrite near it. In this case, however, the lead 

 itself contains none, and practically none is found on the south ; 

 while to the north the mineral extends throughout the length of 

 the trench. At the east end of the district the Cowan lead has 

 been called the Britannia, because of the accumulations of 

 crystalline arsenopyrite. There is no probability that either of 

 these represents the real Britannia. 



The unsystematic arrangement, difference in crystallization 

 in veins and country rock, and apparent lack of connection with 

 the pyrite for the most part, are the most important character- 



