522 Bevieivs — The Lauren tian of Canada. 



associates, and on the other, and more especially, to study the 

 technically important minerals apatite, mica, and graphite. 

 Naturally, on account of the great variety of the gneisses and the 

 enormous area covered by them .... it was necessary to 

 select certain characteristic types. Their further geological study, 

 and the determination of their relations, must wait for a special 

 mapping of this highly interesting district. Kelatively the longest 

 time was given to the study of the apatite deposits." The report is 

 illustrated in the text with outline figures of remarkable crystals of 

 pyroxene, felspar, etc., as well as of rock-sections ; there are also 

 plates of a similar character. 



In the next report (R) we have an account of the section of 

 chemistry and mineralogy, by Dr. G. Christian Hoffmann, assisted 

 by Messrs. Wait and Johnston, This report consists of analyses 

 and descriptions of a great number of minerals submitted to the 

 laboratory for identification. 



The last report (S) describes the work of the section of mineral 

 statistics and mines for 1899, and is drawn up by E, D. Ingall, 

 with the assistance of T. C. Denis and J, McLeish. 



The rapid growth of the mineral industries of Canada is pointed 

 out, the increase of 1899 over 1898 amounting to nearly 11,000,000 

 dollars, or upwards of 28 per cent. The proportionate value of the 

 different mineral products is striking. On comparison with the 

 figures for 1898 it is found that in 1899 gold increased its lead over 

 other economic minerals from about 36 per cent, to about 43 per 

 cent., thus being by far the largest item, and with coal accounting 

 for over 64 per cent, of the total. A further analysis of the figures 

 for 1899 gives the following interesting data regarding the relative 

 importance of the different products. Thus, gold amounts to 

 exactly 42*88 per cent. The other metals account for about 16 

 per cent., or a total production of metals of about 59 per cent. 

 The combustible class is credited with 24-65 per cent., structural 

 materials with 12-44 per cent., and all other non-metallic products 

 with the remainder, about 4 per cent. 



A copious index concludes the report. Arthur H. Foord. 



11. — The Laukentian Eocks of Canada. 



DR. E. W. ELLS, writing^ on the Geology of some parts of the 

 Provinces of Quebec and Ontario, 1901, states that " much of 

 what was formerly regarded as altered sediments in the Laurentian 

 formations, north of the Ottawa, and so described in the earlier Reports, 

 must now be accepted as altered igneous rocks. Under this head 

 must be placed the greater bulk of the gneissic rocks, which form so 

 large a portion of the Laurentian system, as well as much of the 

 pyroxenic and felspathic rocks, in which are to be classed the great 

 bulk of the white binary granites, or pegmatites, so often associated 

 with the crystalline limestones. These limestones, however, with 



1 111 the Annual Eeport of the Geological Survey of Canada, Eeport J, p. 16,, 

 1899-1902. 



