189 

 MINERALS OF THE OTTAWA DISTRICT. 



Chas. W. Willimott. 



Rend loth Jatniary, 18S5. 



It will be unnecessary to enter into any iritroduction, more than 

 to define the limits expi-essed in the title as the Ottawa district. As my 

 own observations have extended only over portions of the three neigh- 

 boring townships, Templeton, Hull and Wakefield, and having a 

 strong aversion to indirect information, I think perhaps it might be 

 best to concentrate our views to this area, and even to do justice to 

 these three townships would require a far moi-e voluminous tieatise 

 than our available space will permit. 



About sixty minerals are found in these three townships, many of 

 which are not livalled in the Dominion. It is doubtful whether the 

 same extent of country elsewhere in Canada can claim one half that 

 number. 



In bringing together such a large variety of minerals in such a 

 limited space I must necessarily curtail many of their features, and, 

 indeed, little more than giving a general outline, touching on their 

 more important chaiactei'S, is all I can expect to accom[)lish. 



Each mineral will be treated se[>arately, giving at the same time the 

 lot and I'ange, or the name of the mine at which it occurs, so that those 

 interested in this science may have an opportimity of testing the merits 

 of this paper, as well as forming an introduction to the minerals of our 

 neighborhood. 



We shall first consider the metallic minerals, foremost of which is 

 native gold. 



Native Gold. — The only instance of the occurrence of this metal 

 is based on the authority of the late INIr. H. G. Vennor, who obtained 

 a specimen from Capt. Gates of thfe Peche village. It was said by the 

 latter gentleman to have been picked up during a journey through the 

 woods on the east side of the Gatineau river, in the township of Wake- 

 field. The mineral, which I had the pleasure of seeing, consisted of fine 

 visible native gold in a ferruginous quartz, associated with green apatite. 

 This specimen assayed, gold, 1 1.723 ozs. to ton, silver, 52.323 ozs. to ton 



