USEFUL MINERALS OF THE DEVONIAN. 527 



"The only remaining district likely to be productive of this metal 

 is the peninsula of Pisarinco, I have already alluded to the resem- 

 blance between the latter and the beds of llcvcrldge Cove, and stated 

 that specular iron is not uncommon in its southern portion. Were 

 the metal in greater demand, its presence in this region might be 

 looked for with very good prospect of success. The same is true of 

 the district lying to the west of Musquash Harbour, and thence towards 

 the Basin of Lepreau. 



" Copper Ores. — The most important and well-known localities of 

 copper, appertaining to this series, are the mines occurring in the 

 eastern portion of St John, and western portion of Albert, counties. 

 In the district alluded to, between Martin's Head and the settlement 

 of Great Salmon River, no less than four distinct attempts have been 

 made to carry on operations, with varying success. These constitute 

 respectively the Veraon, Alma, Gordon, and Williams Mines. The 

 three latter were visited by myself in the summer of 1863, and de- 

 scribed in my Report of that year ; the former, though also alluded to 

 in tlie same Report, was not visited until the past season. It may 

 therefore not be out of place to add a few observations, made by Mr 

 Matthew and myself, upon its present condition. 



" The Vernon Copper Mines are situated upon the Bay Shore, about 

 three miles eastward of Martin's Head, and about two from the mouth 

 of Goose Creek. The rocks in which operations have been begun are 

 metamorphic beds of the Bay Shore belt, which here rise abruptly 

 from the level of the sea to a height varying from six to eight hun- 

 dred feet. Their character has already been described. They consist 

 of dull purple and gray micaceous slates, conglomerates, and grits, 

 much injected with igneous matter, and holding veins of quartz, calc- 

 spar and chlorite. They are in every way identical with the rocks 

 of Martin's Head and the region to the westward, belonging, with the 

 latter, to the Cordaite division of the Little River group, a formation 

 referable to the Upper Devonian age. 



" Since the date of my last Report, operations of a vigorous char- 

 acter have been begun, and a force of about forty men is now constantly 

 employed. At the time of my visit, three adits had been driven near 

 the base of the hill, and preparations were in progress for systematic 

 labour. Owing, however, to the abrupt character of the shore, the 

 want of a suitable harbour, and the difficulty of procuring supplies 

 tlirough the unsettled district above, active operations had been greatly 

 retarded. A road is now being opened to connect the mines with 

 the Shepody Road, and I believe it is tlie intention of the Company 

 to erect a breakwater, whereby the obstacles at present existing may 

 be greatly diminished. 



