214 Mineralogy and Geology of a part of Nova Scotia, 



character, is equally applicable to these. They are proba- 

 bly, of posterior origin to the clay slate, and now occupy 

 the immense fissures left by the contraction or solidification 

 of the adjoining transition rock, including the great ore bed, 

 and have proceeded from, or are coeval with the formation 

 of the trap rocks of the neighboring North Mountains. 

 iShould the dike at this place extend for any considerable dis- 

 tance into the highland, it will also, be found most probably, to 

 intersect the great ore bed ; which, from the direction of the 

 latter near Bear River, must take place nearly two miles south 

 of the valley. Whether the intersection does actually take 

 place we are however unable to say ; as from the very im- 

 perfect examination, which has been made below Bear River, 

 the ore has not yet been observed in place : but from the 

 magnetic needle being affected in this quarter as sensibly as 

 between Clement's and Nictau, this supposition is rendered 

 extremely probable, if indeed, it is not confirmed by the dis- 

 covery of masses of this ore, in different parts of the high- 

 land, near the shore of St. Mary's Bay, where the west- 

 ern extremity of the clay slate formation terminates. 



The only rock which remains to be described belonging 

 to the South Mountain range, is the quartz rock, represent- 

 ed on the geological map, accompanying this essay, alterna- 

 ting with the clay slate. This rock occupies but a small 

 proportion of the country, and occurs principally in the 

 township of Halifax, where it constitutes those dreary and 

 barren hills surrounding that city, and which have been false- 

 ly considered fair specimens, of the soil of Nova Scotia. 

 From the nature of this rock, this part of the country must 

 for ages remain sterile, as this flinty aggregate obdurately re- 

 sists the action of the elements, and will require a long pe- 

 riod for the decomposition and disintegration of sufficient 

 soil to reward the labors of the agriculturist, and from its 

 nature, it never will advantageously compare with the rich 

 loam of the valley of Annapolis, or the garden of Acadie, 

 Cornwallis, which are more favored by nature in this res- 

 pect. Hahfax, fortunately, is not dependant upon her soil 

 to " yield her bread," but, situated at the head of one of the 

 most beautiful, and safe harbors in the world, with the ro- 

 mantic Bedford Basin in the rear, she possesses commercial 

 advantages, to which those of no other place in the country 

 can be compared, and is fully compensated for the imperfec- 

 tion of her soil, which, collected in the valleys, suffices to 

 produce the garden vegetables for the city. 



