Miscellaneous minerals. 3 h 



The graphite was separated and weighed as such. On igniting the " Disseminated 

 powdered mineral it leaves a light reddish-white coloured residue. 



2. — DISSEMINATED GRAPHITE. 



In their report on the geology of southern New Brunswick (Eeport 

 of Progress 1870-71, p. 230), Messrs. Bailey and Matthew state that 

 graphite or plumbago, in a finely divided state, is not unfrequently 

 disseminated through the more altered rocks of the southern counties 

 of that province, and at a few points is found in beds available for 

 economic purposes. The largest of these are in connection with the 

 rocks of the Laurentian system, in the vicinity of St. John, appearing 

 at the Narrows of St. John Eiver, Lily Lake, and other points. At 

 the old opening at the Falls, known as the " Split. Eock Plumbago 

 Mine," the facilities for mining and shipment are all that could be 

 desired. The mineral is extracted chiefly from one principal bed, with 

 laterel deposits of minor importance. The working of the mine would 

 appear to have been very irregular, having been abandoned from time 

 to time ; considerable quantities have, however, been takCn out since 

 its first opening, notwithstanding which it is stated that there is no 

 diminution of the supply, and that the quality of the mineral is better 

 now than when operations were first commenced. 



A specimen of the disseminated graphite from the aforementioned 

 "Split-Bock Plumbago Mine" was collected for me by Mr. Wallace 

 Broad for examination; it had a loose shaly structure and readily 

 parted into, although somewhat irregular, yet, more or less lenticular 

 fragments. It was greyish-black in colour, had a submetallic lustre, 

 and gave a black streak. This sample contained a rather largo amount 

 of pyrites, and although the greater part of this was confined to some 

 few of the more earthy, and what might justly have been regarded as 

 extraneous fragments, there was, nevertheless, a by no means inappre- 

 ciable amount pretty evenly diffused thi*ough the graphitic rock 

 proper. Specimens of this latter which had undergone lengthened 

 exposure, were much weathered, had a greenish-grey colour and 

 exhibited but a very feeble lustre. In preparing the material for 

 analysis, the earthy fragments above alluded to, and which amounted 

 to about six per cent, of the sample, were excluded. 



It was found to contain : NUsse^nated 



graphite " from 

 Graphitic carbon 48.775 New Brunswick 



Eock matter 50.058 



Hygroscopic water 1.167 



100. 



