Miscellaneous Notices. 113 
southward of this metropolis ; it was met with, inasmall stream run- 
ning into the Chaudiere, and over a region, as I suspect, (for I have 
not visited the precise locality,) of talcose slate. A similar specimen 
was found in the same neighborhood several years ago. ‘That in 
question is of a flat ovate form, weighs 10.63 grains, and has a sp. 
gr. of 15.7. The geological associations of this ore appear to 
be analogous to those of the Russian and American localities, and 
when we consider them all, additional probability is given to the con- 
jecture, expressed by Professor Eaton, at page 52, No. 1, Vol. 18 
of the American Journal of Science.* 
Water Cement.—The second fact | have to communicate is, 
that our “ Black Rock” which you have so well described in your 
tour, affords by the usual process, an excellent water cement. I 
have long suspected from its mineralogical characters, that this might 
be the case, and indeed several years ago, some experiments were 
made to ascertain the fact, but owing, I think, to not having reduced 
the rock when burnt, to a sufficiently fine powder, they failed. 
Meeting subsequently with a work on water cements, by Col. Pas- 
ley, R. E. in which the precaution is pointed out particularly, 1 was 
induced to repeat the experiments, (observing this precaution,) and 
the success was complete. 
I have therefore, now, the pleasure of announcing, that with the 
exception of certam non-calcareous strata, readily recognized by 
their ferro-aluminous aspect, together with a few which are too cal- 
careous, the whole of the “ Black Rock” of Quebec affords, by 
burning, and grinding to an impalpable powder, a water setting ce- 
ment, of an excellent quality, the adhesion of which, between the 
surfaces of two bricks has been found sufficient, after twenty days, 
to support upwards of four hundred and fifty pounds, while its hard- 
* It is worthy of notice, that in the neighborhood of the place where the gold 
was found, two or three Canadian peasants have been mining for several years 
past. About the year 1825,I visited the scene of their operations, and found a 
shaft, ten feet cube, sunk in talcose slate, the predominating rocks at hand being 
of serpentine. I have lately been informed that the depth of this shaft, is now up- 
wards of fifty feet. At the period of my visit, silver was said to be the object of 
search, and presuming that they had mistaken the deceptive lustre of the silvery 
tale, for that of this metal, ! endeavored to dissuade them from soruinous a pur- 
suit. Nothing has yet transpired as to their success, which is generally considered 
not to have been encouraging, and yet it is scarcely conceivable that they would 
persevere through so many years, without being stimulated to do so by some sub- 
stantial return, a consideration, which joined to what is stated above, renders it 
not improbable that they have met with some small deposits of gold. 
Vou. XXVIII.—No. 1. 15 
