1850.] DAWSON METAMORPHIC ROCKS OF NOVA SCOTIA. 357 



and a shaft, sunk on the course of the vein, has penetrated more than 

 forty feet through yellow ochre containing a few rounded masses and 

 irregular layers of ankerite. At this point the decomposition of the 

 ankerite and spathic iron has extended to a much greater depth than 

 usual, and is so perfect that a specimen of the yellow ochre was found 

 to contain only '4 per cent, of the carbonates of lime and magnesia ; 

 the remainder being hydrous peroxide of iron, alumina, and siHceous 

 matter. 



Still further west, in Martin Brook, I have observed indications of 

 the continuation of the vein. Beyond this place I have not traced it ; 

 but I have received specimens of specular iron ore and ankerite from 

 the continuation of the same metamorphic district, as far west as the 

 Five Islands, twenty miles distant from Acadia Mine. 



On the east side of the west branch of the Great Village River, the 

 ground does not rise so rapidly as on the western bank, and the vein 

 is not so well exposed. On this side, however, a small quantity of 

 copper pyrites has been found in or near the vein, but it does not 

 seem to be of any importance. Indications of the vein can be seen 

 on the surface as far as the east branch of the river. In the east 

 branch, red and grey conglomerates, dipping to the south, and forming 

 the base of the carboniferous system, are seen to rest unconformably 

 on olive, black and brown slates, whose strike is S. 75° W. The con- 

 tinuation of the iron vein has not yet been observed in the bed of this 

 stream. 



Further eastward, on the high ground between the Great Village 

 and Folly rivers, indications of the ores of iron have been observed ; 

 especially near the latter river, where in two places small excavations 

 have exposed specular and red ores, and where numerous fragments 

 of brown haematite are found scattered on the surface. On the ele- 

 vated ground a short distance westward of the Folly River, on Mr. 

 Fleming's farm, the lower carboniferous conglomerate rises higher on 

 the slope of the hills than at any other place in this vicinity, and ap- 

 proaches within 300 yards of the iron vein. In the banks of a small 

 brook near this place, the conglomerate is well seen, and a good section 

 of the underlying slate and quartzite is exposed ; but we could find 

 no other indications of the continuation of the vein, than slender 

 strings of ankerite, with disseminated crystals of specular iron ore. 



The ravine of the Folly River affords a good natural section of the 

 quartzite and slate of the hills, as well as of the carboniferous beds of 

 the lower ground. A sketch of this section, as far as the base of the 

 hills, is given in my paper on the New Red Sandstone of Nova 

 Scotia*. The lowest carboniferous bed is a thick, coarse, grey and 

 brownish conglomerate, dipping S. 20° W. It rests unconformably 

 on a bed of slate very similar to that seen in a similar position at the 

 Great Village River, and which differs considerably in appearance from 

 most of the slates of these hills. The strike of the slate is S. 70° W. ; 

 and that of the bedding and slaty structure appear to correspond. In 

 a layer of greywacke included in this slate, I observed small and well- 



* Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. vol. iv, pi. 5. sect. 1. 



