'C S3 



1853. 



THE MINERAL WEALTH OF NOVA SCOTIA. 



241 



€\)t Cniiniiim SniiriuiL 



TORONTO, JUNE, 1853 



Curnspoiiilei ceUcIatiiig to the mineral Weal:h olMova Scotia. 



We wamily commend to tbe attention of the readers of tliis 

 Journal, the following impoitant communication from Mr.Millett, 

 of Penzance, Cornwall, England, on the Mineral Wealth of Nova 

 Scotia. We are aware that for some time past the reported exis- 

 tence of extensive beds of very pui'e copper ore, has attracted 

 the notice of a wealthy Engiieh Mining Conipan}', and that 

 several gentlemen have been sent out at ditferent periods to Nova 

 Si'Otia for the purpose of acquiring, if possible, correct informa- 

 tion in relation to the distribution and abundance of a variety 

 of copper oi-e, called " purple copper." Hie exertions of the 

 gentlemen heretofore engaged in the search do not appear to 

 have been rewarded with the success they anticipated; but, ns 

 the letter of Mr. MiUett shows, that gentleman has succeeded in 

 discovering a large variety of minerals possessing gi'cat economic 

 value, and destined to be of the utmost importance to the sister 

 Province. 



Steamship " Niagara," at Sea, 



21st April, 1853. 

 To the Editor of the Canadian Journal. 



Sir, — The existence of your very valuable Journal has just 

 come to my knowledge, through the instrumentality of one of 

 your earliest supporters and contributors; and associated as 1 am 

 in my native County (Cornwall) with institutions, kindred in 

 feeling and object, you will, I feel assured, pardon my troubling 

 you with a few hasty notes, of an equally hasty visit to the 

 Province of Nova Scotia, from which I am now I'eturning (having 

 departed from England only on the 19th ult.,) but which, I feai-, 

 will scarcely be worthy your notice. 



Although an ardent admirer of, and, to some extent, a rather 

 active promoter of the science of Natural History, the present 

 inclement stason of the year precludes the possibility of my 

 contributing anything in this department. I would mention, 

 however, one fact which came under my notice (on the 2nd 

 instant) and much surprised me. 



Being detained by an accident which happened to our carriage, 

 at Schultz's Hotel, on the Grand Lake, I availed mj'self of the 

 opportunity of looking into the neighbouring Forest, more 

 particularly in quest of Ferns and Birds. The day was bright 

 and the sun warm, and on a bank, in a sheltered dell, I surprised 

 two beautiful Butteiflies, sporting with all the life and activity of 

 a Summer's day. I endeavoured, in vain, to catch them, their 

 alertness baffling every attempt I made to do so. 



Such an early appearance of this delicate insect, would occasion 

 surprise in the .southern parts of England; the greater, thei-efore, 

 was it to myself in Nova Scotia, where Winter still existed, and 

 the frost held entire dominion of the country. 



I know not whether this occui'rence is rare, or otherwise, in the 

 locality in question; but I mention it with the idea that it may 

 prove interesting to some of your I'eadei-s, who may be pursuing 

 the very delightful study of Entomology. 



The occasion of my late visit to the Province being confined 

 Vol. 1, No. 11, June, 1853. 



exclusively to the c'xamination of ceitahi of its Mineral Districts, 

 a cursory glance at these, from the new and intense interest 

 excited, both in England aud there, on the subject, may prove 

 acceptable to you at this moment; but, in doing so, I must speak 

 generally, rather than in detail, of such Mineral Deposits as came 

 under my observation. 



My examinations have been confined to parts of the country 

 lying North of the Basin of Minas, following the courses of several 

 of the principal Rix'ers discharging themselves into its waters, and 

 to the tributaries flowing into those Rivers. 



From the vast extent of primitive Forest with which the whole 

 district, forming the Mountain Range, is here covered, no other 

 means are available for accurately examining the Mineral pn perty 

 it embraces. Nature, in most iiistan>;es, having so arranged tlia 

 courses of the Rivers as to operate as cross-cuts for the varioua 

 deposits ; which are thus exhibited on their banks or beds. 



The existence of Coal and Iron in various parts of the Pioviiice, 

 and in quantity and quality most bountiful and rare, is a fact 

 patent in itself. Every day, however (from the recent explorations), 

 adds to, and strengthens these two great elements of Human 

 Industry and Wealth ; and no limit can possibly be assigned ta 

 their extent. 



The presence also of the more valuable Metallic Minerals, such 

 as Coppei', Lead, Zinc, Manganese, Sulphate of Barytes, &c., are 

 now ])ioved to be coexistent with them. From the very limited 

 operations, however, yet pursued, no data can, at present, be given 

 to their respective extent. Metalliferous Rocks and Matrixes of 

 the most kindly and suitable nature for their production, on a 

 large scale, abound. Marbles of the purest and most compact 

 nature, both of the White (Statuary) and Variegated, of the 

 most beautiful and varied charactere, appear to be bountifully 

 supplied to this particular District ; whilst Lime, Gypsum, 

 Freestone, and other equally valuable products, appear scattered 

 over various parts of it, in quantities inexhaustible, aud qualities 

 not to be surpassed. 



The Barytes, Maible, Copper, Iron, and many other Mineral 

 Deposits, I visited in the Five Islands District of the Province, 

 far exceeded my most sanguine anticipations ; and, notwithstanding 

 the extreme difficulties I had to contend with, in consequence of 

 the swollen state of the Rivers, the accumulation of Ice on their 

 banks, and the Quantity of Snow remaining in the Forest, I 

 found abundant evidence that Nature had here scattered her 

 Mineral bounties with a most prolific hand, and that Capital and 

 Energy combined, were alone wanting to develope the resource-s 

 and add immensely to the wealth of this highly favoured, but 

 long neglected Country. 



From the very numerous veins of Barytes already exposed ta 

 view in the banks, and their continuance through the beds of the 

 Rivers and Tributaries, there is abundant proof that this valuable 

 Mineral exists, in this locality, to a very considerable extent. 



The greater portion of what I saw was of the purest nature, 

 and might be rendered Merchantable at a veiy moderate expense ; 

 whilst other portions were slightly stained with Red Ox3-de of 

 Iron, which may be easily and economically removed before 

 disposed of in the Market. 



The various purposes for which it is applicable, in a commercial 

 point of view, cannot fail to make it an article of considerable 

 demand; and Markets for its disjiosal, when its purity and 

 abundance of supply become generally known, will most readily, 

 be found. 



The quantities hitherto exported from henc«, have been: sQ 



