THE OIL-FIELDS OF EASTERN CANADA ELLS. 601 



entertained by certain persons that Ontario had at hist obtained 

 a fuel supply peculiarly its own, and it is to be regretted that 

 these expectations have not yet been realized. So also at Quebec 

 it was at one time anticipated that workable deposits might be 

 obtained, tlie mineral found at this place giving fairly &atis- 

 factorv results as a fuel. It was, kowever, found, on attempt- 

 ing development, to be ccmfined to mere strings and pockets of 

 no commercial importance. 



The presence of these carbon compounds in rocks of great 

 antiquity would, on the hypothesis that all these substances, 

 including graphite, are of organic origin, carry the life history 

 of the o'lobe to a verv remote period. While it is no doubt true 

 that organic remains are found as far back in time as the early 

 Cambrian period, and in some of these older rocks are abund- 

 antly displayed, crude petroleum in workal)le quantity has not 

 yet been found therein. Moreover, the presence of petroleum 

 and its kindred minerals in rocks of igneous origin, such as 

 basalts and various diorites, where there is no indication of 

 sedimentary rocks or traces of organic life opens up another 

 aspect of the question that should receive careful consideration. 

 In this connection it may be stated that petroleum in some of 

 its forms occurs in greenstone and basalt, hornblende rocks, 

 augite, feldspar, etc., at various places both in iiurope and 

 America. It is found in the Laurentian, both in Scotland and 

 Canada; in melaphyre at several places; in the granite of C^orn- 

 wall, England; and in trap rocks l)0th in the province of 

 Quebec at Gaspe, in comiection with Devonian slates, and on 

 the west coast of the Queen Charlotte islands in basalts of 

 Tertiary age. 



In so far as the petrcjleum deposits of economic importance 

 occur on this continent it may be said, generally speaking, that 

 in the eastern or Atlantic division these are confined to Silurian, 

 Devonian and Carboniferous rocks, while in the western or 

 Pacific division they belong to formations of Cretaceous and 

 Tertiary age. 



Puoc. & Tkans. N. S. Inst. Sci., Vol. XI. Tkans. NN. 



