No. 50.] 
313 
understood, especially those which are connected purely with the cal 
careo-serpentine rock. At the surface, they are quite promising in 
many instances, but exploration soon reveals the fact that they, (fre- 
quently at least,) are but superficial collections of ore. They are found 
to be wedge-form masses, or masses which thin out entirely in the 
downward direction. The quantity varies exceedingly. In one instance 
120 tons were raised, in another, between 500 and 600 lbs. In the last 
instance, the whole mass was moveable with a bar ; it was in place, 
but decomposition had entirely separated its connexions with the parent 
rock. There are instances, however, in which a true vein apparently 
exists, or in which those masses extend into the rock without decreas- 
ing in width. The nature of these collections of ore, I consider to be 
attributed to the origin of the rock which embraces them. As it re- 
gards my views of the origin of limestone and serpentine, I refer the 
reader to the report for 1838. 
Perhaps I ought not to consider that every collection of the specular 
oxide, is as limited as in the instances cited, or that even there is an ex- 
haustion in those instances ; there is, however, so much derangement, if 
more exists, it is quite difficult to discover it. In raising this variety 
of ore it is no uncommon thing to meet with an insulated mass of it in 
the rock, as if an excavation in the rock had been made of the size of a 
pail, and subsequently filled with ore. 
The most abundant variety of the specular ore, is that which occurs 
of a deep red colour, and frequently in red powder or bright shining 
scales, which by a slight pressure becomes a red powder. Instances 
of these are furnished by the Kearney and Parish beds, the new bed 
discovered in Theresa and the Tate bed in Hermon. The two former 
beds belong really to one, as has been proved this last season, and which 
is agreeable to an opinion I have often expressed. It is quite difficult 
to form an opinion in regard to the nature of the collections of the va- 
riety of ore. No side walls have as yet been discovered, though they 
appear to pursue a determinate direction. There is too, a great differ- 
ence in the quantity of ore which they contain ; some, as in the in- 
stances cited are apparently inexhaustible, while others are merely a 
mass of red earth in which there are a few lumps of hard ore. There 
are many of those smaller collections between the sandstone and the 
primary rocks beneath. These are so frequent and common that I have 
no hesitation in considering the position as geological, and as having 
depended on a cause which operated generally at this particular period. 
[Assembly, No, 50 ] 40 
