330 ASSINNIBOINE AND SASKATCHEWAN EXPEDITION. 



the river was flowing in a S. W. by S. direction ; this 

 course it maintained for about thirteen miles, and then 

 suddenly turning at right angles, the valley pursues a 

 N. W. by W. course for twenty-six miles, it then turns to 

 the S.W. again. For thirteen miles along the south- 

 westerly course, and twenty-three miles along the north- 

 westerly, course the iron-stone bands were seen whenever 

 the river w 7 as approached, and throughout the greater 

 portion of the distance the opposite bank and the rocks 

 composing it were clearly visible, always preserving the 

 same aspect, and showing numerous clay iron-stone bands. 

 Hence we may infer that over this part of the country 

 drained by the Souris, the clay iron-stone is an integral 

 and important part of Formation JSTo. 4, occurring in the 

 form of a series of bands of nodules or as thin sheets 

 of the ore, sometimes possessing thickness sufficient to 

 give them great economic value, at other times thinning 

 out altogether. 



On the flanks of the Eiding Mountain, about ninety 

 miles 1ST. from the great bend of the Little Souris, For- 

 mation No. 4 was recognized, and although in the valley 

 of Ochre Eiver nodular masses of clay iron-stone were 

 seen, yet the layers were not observed forming a pro- 

 minent feature in the exposure on the flanks of the 

 precipitous and elevated N.E. escarpment of the Eiding 

 Mountain. But no search was made for them during the 

 ascent, and snow covered the ground when we returned. 

 From the circumstance that the nodular masses of ore 

 were seen in the bed of Ochre Eiver, it is not improb- 

 able that the iron bearing layers extend as far N. as 

 the Eiding Mountain. Associated with the clay iron- 

 stone beds on the Souris is a very persistent band of the 

 steatitic mineral already noticed (p. 328). pale greenish- 

 yellow in colour, very unctuous and soft, and easily 



