GEOLOGY 245 



easy and cheap, if advantage were taken $>f the great water- 

 power of the Nastapoka river, which falls 160 feet into the sea 

 within a few miles of the best ore deposits, and from which 

 electrical power might be generated easily and cheaply. Owing 

 to the distance of these ores from the nearest furnaces, and the 

 want of experience in the navigation of Hudson strait, the ship- 

 ment of them is at present out of the question. No coal is found 

 in Hudson bay, so that economical smelting near the mines 

 cannot be attempted, until electrical smelting becomes practic- 

 able some time in the future. 



In all the fields where extensive areas of iron-bearing rocks 

 occur in the Lake Superior region, the search by drilling has 

 disclosed large deposits of concentrated ore, and there is little 

 doubt that such a search in the Hudson bay region would lead 

 to similar discoveries, as the manner in which the ores occur is 

 favourable for such concentrations. 



Mica. Active mining operations for mica are being carried 

 on at Lake harbour, on the north side of Hudson strait. This 

 mine is being worked in connection with the whaling steamer 

 Aciive. A number of white men are brought to the place from 

 Scotland in the early summer, who, with the assistance of the 

 Eskimos, work the mine, and then return home in the fall. Last 

 summer thirteen tons of excellent mica were taken out in this 

 manner. Other deposits of this mineral will probably be found 

 on that coast to the westward in association with the crystalline 

 limestones so largely developed there. A mica mine was opened 

 some years ago on the west side of Cumberland gulf, but for 

 some reason was shortly after abandoned. 



Graphite. Extensive bands, or veins, of this mineral were 

 discovered by Mr. C aid well to the south of Port Burwell along 

 the east shore of Ungava bay. Graphite has also been found in 

 the neighbourhood of Cape Wolstenholme, and along the east 



