IOI 



GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ASBESTOS 

 PRODUCING REGION. 



Physical Features. — The portion of the Province 

 of Quebec which lies south of the St. Lawrence river con- 

 sists of two distinct parts: the St. Lawrence plain, and 

 the Appalachian highlands. The St. Lawrence plain, 

 so-called, is really a broad, flat valley, which, since its 

 average gradient is scarcely 10 feet (3 m.) in a mile (1 «6 km.) 

 appears to be a level plain. Near the International Bound- 

 ary line it extends southeast of the St. Lawrence river for 

 a distance of 50 miles (80 km.), but grows narrower farther 

 down the river, and terminates where the Notre Dame 

 highlands reach the river about 100 miles (160 km.) below 

 Quebec city. The St. Lawrence plain is part of the 

 greater lowland which extends from the lower part of the 

 St. Lawrence river to Georgian bay. 



The highlands, which form the rest of the Province 

 south of the St. Lawrence, are known in the Gaspe penin- 

 sula as the Shickshock mountains; while in the southern 

 part of the Province, or Eastern Townships, they are 

 sometimes called the Notre Dame hills. They are a north- 

 ward extension of the Green and White mountains of New 

 England, and form the most westerly member of the Appal- 

 achian mountain system in Canada. 



The topography of the region is in an early stage of 

 maturity. The altitude varies from 400 feet (122 -m). 

 to 2,000 feet (609 m.) above sea-level. The relief is 

 characterized by numerous northeast and southwest ridges 

 and valleys, and a smaller number of larger, transverse 

 valleys. 



The transverse valleys are those of the Chaudiere, 

 Becancour, Nicolet, and St. Francis rivers. These rivers 

 all follow northwesterly courses, and are tributary to the 

 St. Lawrence. It is not yet known whether they are older 

 than the present hills and have cut through them as they 

 were elevated or have been superimposed upon them by 

 the removal of later formations, remnants of which are 

 found in the district. 



The tributary streams often run in structural valleys, 

 and are probably younger than the main rivers. They 

 generally have narrow valleys with steep sides, and fre- 

 quently enter the main rivers by distinct falls. 



