Reviews— Geological Survey of Canada. 81 



"The surveys," writes the Director in his summary report (pp. 1a 

 to 124a), "consist of— (1) Reconnaissance surveys and explorations, 

 covering m a general way large tracts of country; and (2) the 

 systematic mapping and description in detail of less extensive areas. 

 1 he first inevitably precedes the second class of work, and for many 

 years it must, in the nature of things, remain the only method 

 possible of dealing with the vast regions of Canada which lie 

 beyond the boundaries of connected settlement," The distribution 

 of the field parties was as follows : British Columbia, 2 ; North- 

 West^ Territories (boring operations), 1; Keewatin District, 1; 

 Ontario, 3 ; Quebec, 1 ; Labrador Peninsula, 1 : New Brunswick 1 • 

 Nova Scotia, 2: total, 12. ' ' 



Experimental borings at Athabasca Landing, on the river of that 

 name, favour the belief in the existence of a great petroleum-bearino- 

 region in the north-west ; and it is suggested that if the oil could 

 be supplied at a low price, it would be employed as a liquid fuel 

 for railways in the North-West Territories and British Columbia. 

 A large foreign demand might also be met from this region such 

 as that now supplied by the United States from their own resources 

 to Japan and China. 



The work done in British Columbia by Dr. Dawson and his two 

 assistants, Messrs. McEvoy and McConnell, forms the subject of an 

 extenswe report on the area of the Kamloops map-sheet (pp. 1 b 

 to 42 <b). An interesting feature in this exploration was the 

 examination of some important deposits of economic minerals, 

 consisting _ of cinnabar, copper-ore (not very productive), and 

 niagnetic iron -ore. An inspection was also made of the property 

 of the Van Winkle Hydraulic Mining Company, on the west bank 

 ot the .braser Eiver, about two miles above Lytton. The workin.*- 

 of auriferous gravels in the higher terraces or " benches " of the 

 h raser, rising from the river in successive steps, is here being carried 

 out by the hydraulic method. All the gravels here exposed are 

 believed to be later Glacial or post-Glacial in age. No Boulder-clay 

 IS seen, nor is any true bed-rock reached. It is comparatively poor 

 in gold. Hydraulic mining for gold is also carried on in the Cariboo 

 district with apparently encouraging prospects. The importance of 

 glacial action m relation to this alluvial gold-mining is insisted 

 on, the superficial filling up of the valleys in which the gold is 

 worked having resulted chiefly from the deposits and effects of the 

 ice of the Glacial period. Dr. Dawson observes that " a much more 

 general interest is being awakened in mining throughout the 

 province, and it may be safely affirmed that British Columbia has 

 now fairly entered on a period of rapid and thorough development 

 of its mineral resources." 



Under the heading of " General Geology" an outline of the main 

 features of the formations met with in the area of the Kamloops 

 sheet IS given. These rocks consist of the following :— 



DECADE IV. — VOL. IV. — NO. II. 



