of a part of the Saguenay Country, &c. 158 
saw projecting from the side of the mountain iron ore similar to 
that before seen at St. Urbain, but of a purer quality, though 
not by any means in such abundance. It here occurs ina visi- 
ble patch about one foot wide and perhaps three feet long, 
As it is in solid rock it would not be easily extracted if found 
upon excavation to form a continuous bed or vein. The rock 
in which this ore is imbedded is as before a pale syenite, in which 
the felspar only is very distinct. tis worthy of remark that 
the extensive deposite of iron ore at Marmora, Upper Canada 
is, according to Dr. Bigsby, in the immediate neighbourhood, 
though not in contact witha pale syenite. The metallic black- 
ness of this ore contrasts strongly with the whitened surface of 
the rock in which it is imbedded. 
Knowing that the forests in this country are extremely liable 
to spontaneous or accidental ignition, the whitened exterior of 
these rocks is often naturally coough attributed tothat cause, 
particularly, as was the case here, where other less question.ble 
traces of fire appear; but weather, acting upon the alkali, 
which the felspar in these rocks contains, causes an incipient 
decomposition to take place on their surfaces, by which an im- 
perfect kaolin or porcelain clay is formed, and hence arises this 
whitened aspect. Fire would certainly assist this decomposi- 
tion, but from the quantity of iron in these rocks their surfaces 
would, we think, be rather reddened than whitened by it, 
Other deposites of iron ore in these mountains were heard of, 
but they were not visited, satisfied of its abundance in places 
more conveniently situated. It may be stated, however, that 
a Canadian of the name of Baptiste Bridet, gave us on our 
return to St. Urbain, the following information. Between the 
pass of the mountains and Lake Bicene, about a league asunder, 
he observed at short intervals great quantities of iron ore jutting 
out of the rock ; also between Lake Bicene and a place called 
Le Grand Bris, about ten acres further, he saw the same ap- 
T pearence. 
