206 Mineralogy and Geology of a part of Nova Scotia. 



may wish to learn the early history of this branch of manu- 

 factures in Nova Scotia. 



Leaving Nictau and the dyke of porphyry, the great bed 

 of ore of the South Mountain, does not appear again, so 

 far as the forest has been examined, until we reach the vicini- 

 ty of Clement's, a distance of thirty miles. The evidence 

 of its intermediate continuity is, however, such as to leave 

 but little doubt on this point. For, in the bed of almost 

 every brook or rivulet descending from the mountains, are 

 to be found, to a greater or less extent, fragments of this ore, 

 containing the usual marine impressions, and which at some 

 time or another, must have been detached from the main bo- 

 dy. Should the spirit of competition among iron manufac- 

 turers in this country, ever equal that which characterises 

 some quarters of our own, we think that no part of this 

 range would long remain unexplored, or fail to produce 

 abundantly that article, on the working and application of 

 which, every other art and manufacture essentially depends. 



Before alluding, particularly, to the iron mine at Clement's, 

 the description of which will comprise our concluding re- 

 marks on this valuable bed, we would advert to the patch of 

 granite with black mica before mentioned, and which is rep- 

 resented on the map. This is the only rock in Nova Scotia 

 having any claim to the title of primitive. It first appears 

 along the South Mountains, a few miles east from Bridge- 

 town, generally in large detached masses, which are piled in 

 confined heaps on their sides, or have been precipitated into 

 the valley beneath. Between Bridgetown and the village of 

 Annapolis, it occurs in place, and forms for nearly the whole 

 extent, the abrupt and barren mountains, which, having a 

 rude outline, are contrasted with those composed entirely of 

 slate, which present rounded and gently sloping sides. It 

 also appears on the road from Annapolis to Clement's, in im- 

 mense cubical blocks, which contain disseminated masses of 

 chlorite and manganesian garnet. The latter is not distinct- 

 ly crystallized, and being of a fragile nature, no interesting 

 specimens can be obtained. These are the only imbedded 

 minerals known to exist in it, as it does not contain metal- 

 liferous compounds of any kind. 



The component ingredients of this rock are not united in 

 very uniform proportions ; the mica, of a brilliant jet black, 

 enters largely into its composition. The felspar is some- 

 times of a flesh color, and the quartzy concretions are trans- 



