124 ^riNEKAL JtESOritCES. 



METALLIIKKOUS ZOXE. 



TliL' verdict of scii'iice warrants sucli an expectation. The 

 larg-e ilevelojjment of tlie serjientine rocks in tlie island is a fact 

 of iiriniary importance. These serpentines l^elong to what in 

 Canadian Geology is termed the (^)ue1)ec Group of the Lower 

 Silurian Series, and to the middle or Lau/.on division of that 

 .■series. "The Lanzon division," says Sir William Logan, "is the 

 metalliferous zone of the Lower Silurian in North America. It 

 is rich in co])per ores, chieHy as interstratitied cupriferous slates, 

 and is accompanied l)y silver, gohl, nickel and chromium ores." 

 This Lauzon division is the one which is develoj)ed in Newfound- 

 land, and in which all the copper mines are situated. It is of 

 importance therefore to ascertain wliat is tlie extent of these ser- 

 l)entine niineral-l)earing rocks in the island. Tlie Geological 

 Survey's Re])ort gives the following tnistwoithy t'stiuiate of the 

 .ser^K'ntines : — 



]jetween Hare and Pistulel Days 



North from Bonne Bay 



South from Hare Bay 



South fri)m B>i)une Bay 



South f)-om B)ay of Islands 



Surrounding Notre Dame I'ay 



Gander Lake and River ciunitry 



Bay d'Est River .... 



Total . . . 0,097 " 



KXTENT OV DEPOSITS. 



Tiu' whole shoi'es of the (xreat Bay of Notre Dame, where 

 copper was first found, are of the sei'pentine formation, and so 

 are its numerous clusters of islands. On the opjiosite shores, on 

 the West Coast, at Bonne liay and Bay of Islands, there are large 

 developments of the ser]unitine ; and there are strong reasons 

 for believing that ihe serpentine foi'matiou runs across the 

 island, between these two ]ioints, and prol)aMy comes to the 

 surface at many jdaces far inland. The new line of railwav will 

 greatly facilitate the exploration :)f this I'egion with the view of 



