248 THE CARBONIFEROUS SYSTEM. 



power. In the latter case, where other coals are at the same time 

 employed, there is left as a residuum a valuable coke. 



Numerous attempts have been made to obtain Albertite from other 

 localities than that above alluded to ; but though the mineral has been 

 found, and operations have been begun at several points, these latter 

 have not as yet met with any marked success. The peculiar nature 

 and origin of the substance, and the uncertainty attending all subjects 

 relating to mineral carbons, may be one cause of this result. As, 

 however, the accompanying and very characteristic shales have been 

 traced over a wide extent of country, and have been observed to 

 contain Albertite, though in small quantities, at points more than fifty 

 miles remote from each other, it is reasonably hoped that other 

 workable deposits will yet be found. 



Bituminous Shales. — These, as above stated, occupy a wide extent 

 of country, having been traced, in more or less parallel bands, from 

 Apohaqui Station, near Sussex, to Dorchester, in the county of 

 Westmoreland. The amount of bitumen contained in them is very 

 various, that of the " Black Band " or richest bed at the Caledonia 

 AVorks, in Albert, yielding 63 gallons of crude oil per ton, while those 

 on the Memramcook, in Westmoreland, yield only 37. Numerous 

 leases have been taken out within the last year for operations on 

 these shales, both in Albert and Westmoreland, a company in the 

 latter being about to erect 100 retorts, with the design of subjecting to 

 distillation 100 tons of shale per diem. This is at present regarded 

 as more profitable than to export the shale for distillation abroad, 

 especially to the United States, where it would necessarily come into 

 competition with the immense production of natural oils in that country. 

 1230 tons of shale were exported in the year 1865, of the value of 

 $3075. The " Black Band" shales of Caledonia will yield 7500 cubic 

 feet of gas per ton (about one-half of the quantity yielded by the 

 Albertite), but leaves as a residuum a bulky and worthless ash. 



Petroleum. — Springs containing an admixture of mineral oil or 

 petroleum have been observed at several points in the Carboniferous 

 districts, on the sides of the Petitcodiac River, in Albert and Westmore- 

 land counties, and borings have been undertaken, but the amount of 

 oil so far obtained has not proved sufficient to be remunerative. The 

 latter is sometimes fluid, floating on the surface of the water ; in other 

 cases, hardened by exposure into a sort of mineral pitch termed 

 " maltha." 



Common Salt. — Saline springs, containing variable proportions of 

 common salt, occur in the rocks of the Lower Carboniferous series, at 

 a variety of points, and especially near Sussex, on the Salt Spring 



