UNDEVELOPED COAL FIELDS OF NOVA SCOTIA GILPIN. 141 



As yet, however, this district has not as a whole been syste- 

 matically tested, and indications are not wanting that the con- 

 ditions, favorable to the formation of coal beds in the Millstone 

 Grit, decreased with proximity to the syenitic rocks of St. Ann's. 



The Millstone Grit of the Sydney district appears to attain 

 its maximum thickness in the Mira Bay section, and according to 

 Messrs. Fletcher and Robb, it decreases until at its northern 

 extremity in the Cape Dauphin district it has diminished from 

 over 5000 feet to less than 2000 feet. Being derived from the 

 detritus of the underlying strata it is reasonably noticed that as 

 it approaches the older and harder pre-carboniferous rocks it 

 becomes scanter and coarser. This change necessarily diminish- 

 ing the opportunity for the presence of those conditions per- 

 mitting the accumulation of carbonaceous matter. 



Passing to Richmond County there is found a long stretch of 

 the debateable Productive Millstone Grit measures running from 

 near St. Peter's across the lower part of the Inhabitants River 

 nearly to Hawkesbury. 



Coal seams of economic value are known at Coal Brook, 

 Little River and Carabacou Cove. At the first named place 

 explorations have shown a three feet, a four feet, and several 

 smaller seams of coal. The quality is stated to be good as far 

 as the crop workings were extended. At Carabacou Cove, or, as 

 it is also called Sea Coal Baj^. quite extensive workings were 

 carried on about thirty years ago in a seam eleven feet eight 

 inches thick, holding some layers of shale. Reports made to the 

 Government of Nova Scotia state that there are in this connec- 

 tion at least seven other seams ranging in thickness from three 

 feet upwards, beside a number of smaller ones. The Big Seam 

 was reported by Sir William Dawson to carry an abnormally 

 large amount of ash, as shown by the following analysis : 



Volatile Matter , 25.2 



Fixed Carbon 44.7 



Ash 30.1 



100.0 



