34 
where the mineral closely resembles the finest European varieties, although it 
cannot approach them in length of fibre. 
That occurring in Canada will be referred to hereafter. 
There are some other very curious allied fibrous substances that deserve 
passing notice. Mountain Leather, a kind in thin flexible sheets made of inter- 
laced fibres, and Mountain Cork, the same in thicker pieces; both so light as to 
float in water, and both often hydrous, or containing water in their composition. 
Another substance, known as Mountain Wood, is compact fibrous, varying in 
color from gray to brown, looking a little like dry or petrified wood. These are 
found generally in the same districts as the common varieties of asbestos. An 
interesting specimen of mountain leather has been found on the Grant lot, in 
Buckingham. 
x % * x * * % 
An account of the history of asbestos, and its various uses in arts 
and manufactures was here given. 
* 2 2 7% * % % 
As explained earlier, asbestos is an altered form of either hornblende, augite 
or serpentine, and wherever we find formations containing these substances, we 
may reasonably look for asbestos. These minerals are found abundantly 
throughout the older formations, the Laurentian and Lower Silurian. The 
country bounded on the south by the St. Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers is almost 
entirely Laurentian, while the remainder of the Province of Quebec embraces. 
principally Lower Sifurian rocks 
As yet, comparatively little asbestos has been found, and the few discoveries. 
that have been made are without exception of the serpentine variety, more 
properly known as chrysotile. It has been asserted that chrysotile fibre is 
useless for making fire-proof fabrics. It contains about 12 per cent. of water, 
and chemists explain that when exposed to flame the heat drives off this water, 
and so destroys the composition of the mineral. But notwithstanding this 
theory, the fact remains that Canadian chrysotile commands a price in the 
United States market, varying from $40 per ton for inferior grades, up to $120. 
for long and silky fibre, with a demand exceeding the supply. 
The source of the Canadian asbestos of commerce is a narrow band of 
serpentine in the Quebec group, aseries of rocks at the bottom of the Lower 
Silurian formation, and which runs from the Vermont boundary to the River 
Chaudiére, through the Eastern Townships of Potton, Bolton, Orford, Brompton, 
Melbourne, Shipton, Cleveland, Ham, Garthby, Coleraine, Thetford and 
Broughton. 
There is a mine being worked in Shipton, near the village of Danville, on 
the Grand ‘lrunk Railway, from which a considerable quantity has been got out 
and sold at $60 per ton. The output of this mine for the next ten years has been 
contracted for. 
The most successful mine in Canada was discovered in the autumn of 1877, 
in the Township of Coleraine, by a Frenchman, and is now owned by the Boston 
Packing Company, who, during 1878 and 1879, sent about 200 tons to their 
factory in Boston. In the spring of 1878, Dr. James Reed, of Inverness, and L. 
H. Goff, of Vermont, purchased a large tract of land adjoining this mine, and 
opened up several more. The district in this neighborhood in which asbestos is. 
found is about three miles in length, northerly and southerly, by one in width. 
The rock formation is serpentine, with chromic iron ore. These gentlemen 
have sent samples to manufacturers in Europe, who, it is said, pronounce it the 
finest and strongest fibre known, and have sent out orders for large deliveries 
this year. English and American capitalists are negociating for the purchase of 
some of these mines. 
