On Metallic Minerals. 373 



MINERAI.OGICAL CHARACTERS OF ORES FROM THE 

 HEAD OF CROW LAKE. 



1st. — A specimen of ore taken from the summit of the 

 hill where it is found in loose masses detached from the 

 rock beneath them. 



Colour, on a fresh fracture, steel grey, sometimes much 

 modified by epidotc, wliich is mixed more or less with all 

 the magnetic ores from this district ; structure, when not 

 influenced by the cpidote, is fine grained ; cross fracture, 

 uneven, but fracture is effected more easily in the disection 

 of even rusty seams which traverse it, the colour of these 

 seams is generally red, but sometimes purple; lustre, 

 glistening metallic. It yields, but with considerable diffi- 

 culty, to the knife and portions strike fire under the 

 hammer ; not so frangible as the last magnetic ore examined, 

 which is owing to the presence of the epidote ; when free 

 from it the powder of the ore is of a glimmering black 

 colour ; s[)eciric gravity, an average specinien 4-1. It is 

 magnetic, but not with polarity ; insoluble in nitric acid. 

 Its blow-pi|)e characters are much the same asthe last, and 

 as that is the case with most of the ores I have to describe, 

 they will not be given again unless to mark an important 

 difference. 



2d. — " The favorite ore" differs from No. 1 of the same 

 bed, in being nuicli more free from epidote and sulphur, 

 and by occurring luider a very slaty or schistose form, both 

 of which circumstances render it much easier reduced to 

 fragments for the furnace ; it has also a greater specific 

 gravity, viz. 4-4. It is very absorbent, and produces a 

 hissing noise, when it is first placed in water. 



3d. — This is of a light j)urplish steel blue colour on the 

 recent fracture, but like most of the rest, rusty cxternnlly. 



