\J 



276 THE CARBONIFEROUS SYSTEM. 



River, De Bert River, Folly River, and Great Village River, in the 

 Coal measure belt extending along the south base of the Cobequids, 

 and these small seams appear at intervals as far west as Cape Chieg- 

 necto. I have seen the outcrops of these coals in several places, and 

 according to my own observations and the best information I can 

 obtain from others, none of them exceed eighteen inches of clean coal.. 

 Better seams may possibly be found, but the measures are exposed by 

 so many river sections that it seems unlikely that they should have 

 so long escaped observation. Indications of coal have also been 

 observed in the Coal measure band extending from Lower Stewiacke 

 toward and along the Kennetcook River. These measures are not 

 well exposed, and I believe that nothing definite is known as to their 

 real value. The occurrence of coal in this central district would, 

 however, be of so great importance to the province, and to the success 

 of its main line of railway, that the subject well merits a thorough 

 investigation. 



Sulphate ofBarytes, which is manufactured into a pigment employed 

 as a substitute for or adulteration of white lead, has been quarried on 

 the banks of the Stewiacke. The deposit, which at first appeared to 

 be large, is stated to be now exhausted, at least in so far as it can be 

 reached by the ordinary operations of the quarryman. As already 

 stated, this mineral is said to occur in connexion with the iron deposits 

 of Brookfield. 



Brine Springs issue from the Lower Carboniferous rocks in several 

 parts of Nova Scotia. In the district now under consideration they 

 are found at Walton in Hants county. A specimen analyzed by 

 Professor How gave, in the imperial gallon of water, — 



Chloride of sodium, or common salt . 787*11 grains. 



Sulphate of lime . . . . .161-16 „ 

 Carbonate of lime ..... 14*73 ,, 

 Chloride of magnesium .... 4*48 ,, 

 Carbonate of magnesia, carbonate of iron, and 

 phosphoric acid ..... traces. 



967-48 



The large quantity of sulphate of lime contained in this brine is, 

 without doubt, connected with the abundance of gypsum in the Lower 

 Carboniferous series, and points to the association of gypsum and 

 common salt, probably in the gypseous marls. Professor How ex- 

 presses a favourable opinion of this and other saline springs in Nova 

 Scotia as profitable sources of common salt. 



