280 Messrs. Jackson and Alger on the 
phenomena, — that the quantity of trap present was inadequate to 
complete the process at this locality. 
Beds of gypsum, of practical value, occur near the head of 
the Basin of Mines, in the vicinity of the Subenacadie River, 
where also occur large beds of limestone, containing the relics 
and impressions of marine shells. It is of an ash-grey color, and 
not very compact. In one specimen, a few crystals of galena 
were observed, scattered through a mass of petrified shells, which 
resemble the lituites described in Parkinson’s Outlines of Oryc- 
tology, p- 165, and portrayed in plate vi, fig. 7, of the same work. 
Much larger and more valuable beds of gypsum occur in the 
county of Hants, and were first explored in the vicinity of Wind- 
sor about thirty years ago. It there forms a precipitous wall 
rising from the River St. Croix, and extending along its course 
as shown on the map. It still continues to furnish immense 
quantities, the greater part of which is sent to the United States.* 
This gypsum is of a bluish color, and is highly valued in the 
United States as a manure, although in its native country it does 
not appear to contribute in the least to the fertility of the soil ; 
in fact, the hills entirely composed of gypsum, were not clothed 
with so luxuriant vegetation as those where this mineral was 
altogether wanting in the soil. The trap rocks by their 
decay furnish a far more productive soil, as is exhibited in the 
township of Cornwallis, justly entitled, the «‘ Garden of Acadia,” 
and along the whole extent of the base of the North mountains. 
Gypsum also occurs abundantly in the county of Cumber- 
land at the head of Chignecto Bay, and at several places along 
* Tt is stated in Mr. Halliburton’s History that for the last few years nearly one 
hundred thousand tons of this valuable mineral have been annually shipped to dif- 
ferent parts of the United States. 
