GILPIN — IRON ORES IN PICTOL' COUNTY. 139 



locality contains large numbers of rounded pebbles of a hard jaspe- 

 deous red haematite of a very pure quality. As yet, however, the 

 parent bed has not been found, but probably exists in the underly- 

 ing Upper Silurian strata, at this point almost immediately beneath 

 the Conglomerate. 



Passing to Sutherland's Brook, at a point about three mile3 

 distant from Merigomish harbour, we have to notice a valuable 

 deposit of spathose ore, found as a bed among strata considered of 

 the Millstone Grit age. The ore has been opened only on the 

 property of the Pictou Coal and Iron Company. Spathose ore is 

 considered valuable when met in quantity, and is chiefly valued for 

 the production of spiegeleisen. The chief foreign localities are, in 

 England, Perran and Marazion in Cornwall, and TVeardale in 

 Durham. The Rhenish provinces have furnished the greatest sup- 

 ply, but the ores there are controlled by Bessemer steel manufac- 

 tures, which reduces the quantity offered in the open market. In 

 the United States I am aware of only two furnaces, in Xew Jersey, 

 using it. The limited occurrence therefore of this ore makes the 

 fact of its discovery in strata so wide spread in Nova Scotia, of 

 much importance. The ore opened at Sutherland's Brook varies in 

 thickness from six to fourteen feet. The following is an analysis 

 by Dr. S. Hunt : 



Sesquioxide of Iron. 20.52 



Carbonate of Iron 57.40 



" " Manganese 8.29 » 



" " Magnesia 4.02 



Silica 2.38 



Sulphur undetected 



Phosphorus " 



Moisture - 1.43 



99.70 



Metallic Iron 42.00 



Passing to the Upper Silurian district lying between Sutherland's 

 and East Rivers, we come to an enormous development of haematite 

 ore — the variety being that known as red haematite or anhydrous 

 peroxide of iron. 



