4 II GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OP CANADA. 



".Disseminated The graphitic carbon was separated and "weighed as such ; it had a 

 greyish-black colour, was devoid of lustre and apparently amorphous ; 

 when pressed in a mould the surface of the resulting form had a bright 

 metallic lustre. 



This compressed graphite gave a fairty black and shining streak. 

 The powdered rock leaves on ignition a light brownish-grey coloured 

 residue. Considering the high percentage of graphite contained in 

 this rock, it appeared to me very desirable to ascertain if the dressed 

 graphite prepared from this latter could be used in electrotyping or 

 for the manufacture of black-lead-pencils. It would doubtless be 

 adapted for some of the other purposes for which graphite is employed ', 

 it has however, to be borne in mind that, in this instance, the cost of 

 extraction would in all likelihood preclude its advantageous employ- 

 ment for other purposes than those for which a suitable graphite com- 

 mands a high price. Having extracted a quantity of the graphite and 

 assured myself of its comparative freedom from foreign matter, samples 

 of the same were foi*warded to England for the purpose of having it 

 practically tested. The gentlemen to whom it was sent— and who, 

 from their long experience in the employment of graphite, for the 

 purposes above specified, may justly bo considered competent authorities 

 — have favoured me with their opinions upon the same, and these may 

 be briefly stated as follows : 

 Adaptability In the one case — that examination has shown the graphite to be of 

 for the raanu- fair quality and adapted for the manufacture of the commoner kinds 

 pencils and for of lead pencils ; although its "quality and nature" does not equal, as 

 "' far as suitability for pencil making is concerned, the graphite obtain- 

 able in Bohemia and some other places. 



In the other — and as regards its employment in electrotyping — the 

 trial did not give a very good result ; it was not considered so good as 

 that which they were in the habit of using for this purpose. 



The graphite forwarded was under the most favourable conditions, 

 that is to say, it contained only 0.16 per cent, of a light grey-coloured 

 ash, and therefore, as far as purity was concerned, left nothing to be 

 desired. That it should not have proved better adapted for the purposes 

 for which it was specially tried, may be reasonably ascribed to its state 

 of aggregation, and it is, in all probability, this physical character which 

 was intended to be implied by the use of the above quoted words, 

 "quality and nature." 



INFUSORIAL EARTH OR EARTHY TRIPOLITE. 



The occurrence of this material in southern New Brunswick has been 

 alluded to under the heading of " Economic Minerals," by the Messrs. 



