G12 THE OIL-FIELDS OF EASTERN CANADA — ELLS. 



ciirrenco of oil in thi.s distrct, where lie sajs "thei area of the 

 field is so limited and the dip of the strata so hig-h that there is 

 hardly a chance of its being obtained here in large enough 

 quantity to pay for its development." The area has apparently 

 been fairly well proved in depth, and it would appear that any 

 petroleum tliat may at one tme have beeii present in these rocks 

 has long since passed off along the lines of fracture. 



On the south side of Minas basin, at Cheverie, and on the 

 Avon river, near Hantsport, borings for oil have been carried 

 on during the last three years. Along the Avon, below Hants- 

 port, a considerable thickness of shale and sandstone, with 

 occasional beds of limestone, outcrops. These are regarded as 

 the equivalent in age of the celebrated Albert shales of ^ew 

 Brunswick, though the percentage of bituminous matter is much 

 less in the Avon, or, as they are usually styled, the "Horton 

 series". Though for many years regarded as a portion of the 

 Lower C-arboniferous formations they are now considered as 

 belonging to the Devonian system; since they uncomformably 

 underlie the lowest known Low^er Carboniferous rocks in this 

 province. 



These shales extend eastward from the Avon to the south 

 side of Cobequid bay, and at Cheverie underlie a considerable 

 thickness of gypsiferous rocks also associated with sandstone 

 and shales. In the borings which have been made at this place 

 the drill passed through these gypsiferous strata and entered .i 

 series of shales, etc., which were supposed to be a part of the 

 oil-bewaring series. In the underlying rocks indications of petro- 

 leum are found in cavities and crevices in the gypsum itself, 

 and the borings were put down on the assumptio'n that when the 

 underlying bituminous shales were struck the source of these 

 oils would be found. These underlying rocks are, however, 

 much disturbed, and no trace of petroleum w^as encountered 

 M-hen these were reached. 



This tilted a'nd faulted character is well seen in the section 

 of these rocks exposed along the lower Avon, and the boring 



