BORDERING ON RUSH RIVER. 



531 



versed by fissures, and contained cherty masses, with cavities occasionally lined 

 with drusy crystals of ferruginous quartz, and had also veins or nodules of calcareous 

 spar disseminated, there was a prospect of finding this mineral. In the examina- 

 tion of the above townships, Mr. Meek searched with a great deal of care for the 

 beds possessing these characters, and noted the sections in which they were observed 

 to occur. 



In the following sections, these appearances were well marked, viz. : in Sections 

 26, 27, and 34, of Township 26 north, Range 16 west, of the 4th Meridian, and 

 they may be designated as being more likely to yield lead than any which were 

 examined in the subdivided townships. In the townships which were not at that 

 time subdivided, in the Rush River district of country, the rocks were observed to 

 present these lithological characters at a number of points. In Townships 24 and 

 25 north, Range 16 west, we may mention that the appearances of the rocks in 

 some portions were considered quite favourable for the occurrence of lead ore. In 

 fact, in descending Rush River, from near the southern boundary of Township 26 

 north, Range 16 west, and especially on the east side of the river, the lead-bearing 

 appearance of the strata becomes more and more manifest. But in the ascent of 

 the stream above this point, the indications are less strongly marked, and at length 

 disappear altogether. 



No deposits of sand and gravel were observed anywhere in these townships, 

 and only occasionally a few small boulders of greenstone trap, granite, &c. The 

 growth consists chiefly of sugar maple, linden, several species of oak, white walnut, 

 black ash, red ash, red elm, yellow birch, cherry or black birch, paper birch, and 

 red birch. 



In Section 18, Township 27 north, Range 16 west, some white pine was observed; 

 also along the rocky bluffs throughout nearly the whole course of Rush River. In 

 Section 34, Township 26 north, Range 16 west, this species occurs quite abundantly, 

 and of good quality for lumber ; also on the east side of Rush River, in the north 

 part of Township 25 north, Range 16 west. On the L'eau Gallee River, it occurs in 

 Township 26 north, Range 14 west ; but the principal part, which is of any value 

 for lumber, has been cut down. In Township 27 north, Range 15 west, it is also 

 abundant and of good quality. 



The southern portion of the Rush River country possesses many valuable sites 

 for farms, especially where the calcareous rocks of F. 2, underlie the soil and sub- 

 soil, and the country is better supplied with timber than most parts of the prairie 

 regions of these latitudes. 



