CHAPTER VI. 



MINERAL RESOURCES. 



The First Mines Geological Distribution of the Copper Ores 

 Lead Ore Gypsum and Marbles Iron Pyrites Mine on 

 Pilley's Island Asbestos Coal Areas Petroleum. 



HILE the fisheries, lumber and agricultural 

 products are large and remunerative, the 

 mining resources of the island are destined 

 to eclipse all others in the near future. 



THE FIRST MINES. 



It was not until 1857, when Mr. Smith McKay first 

 discovered copper near a small fishing hamlet called 

 Tilt Cove, in Notre Dame Bay, that any attention was 

 paid to prospecting for minerals. Here a mine was 

 opened in 1864 under the management of Messrs. 

 C. F. Bennett and McKay. During the next fifteen 

 years Tilt Cove mine yielded over 50,000 tons of cop- 

 per ore, having a market value of $1,572,154, and 

 nickel ore worth $32,740. This mine to-day employs 

 an average of about 500 miners. In 1875 another 

 copper mine was opened at Bett's Cove, a distance of 

 ten or twelve miles south of Tilt Cove. In four years 



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