O. C. Marsh on the Gold of Nova Scotia, 395, 
Ant. XLIV.—The Gold of Nova Scotia; by O. C. Mars, A.B., 
of the Sheffield Scientific School, Yale College. 
On the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia isa belt of metamor- 
phic rocks extending the whole length of the Province and va- 
tying in width from ten to fifty miles. It is mainly composed 
of clay slate and quartzite, but in some parts of the district 
these are replaced by mica slate, gneiss and granite. These strata 
have a general N.K. and S.W. course and are highly inclined. 
They have received but little attention from geologists and as 
no fossils have yet been found in them their exact age has been 
4 matter of considerable uncertainty. - J. W. Dawson, who 
from his study of this region is best qualified to express an opin- 
100 on this point, states that they are probably Lower Silurian, 
and possibly of the same age as the Potsdam sandstone.* ; 
The general resemblance of these strata to the gold-bearing 
rocks in other parts of tlie world had occasionally been noticed, 
and various explorations for the precious metals had from time 
to time been made in their vicinity, but I cannot ascertain that 
gold was actually discovered in this Province earlier than March, 
, although reports to that effect have been circulated. It 
Was then accidentally found in Halifax county, about fifteen 
miles from the coast, in the bed of a small stream which empties 
into the Tangier river. Gold was soon after observed in the 
adjacent quartz veins also, and in a short time several hundre 
Persons were attracted thither by the reports of the discovery 
and commenced explorations. he quantity of the gold ob- 
tained, however, was so small, that the excitement soon dimin- 
—— and but one company continued work for any length of 
me, inci 
* Supplement to Acadian Geology, page 53. 
. 
