THE METALS IN CANADA. 249 
recent observations, that the gold producing regions will have the same 
geographical limits as those assigned to the Quebec group of rocks * 
The gold has nowhere been found in place, with the exception of a mere 
trace discovered in a quartz vein near Sherbrooke. The size of the 
largest nuggets varies from two to four ounces. 
The result of the washings on the Du Loup and Chaudierein 1851-52, 
when the process was vigorously and systematically pursued during 
a whole season, was about 1,900 dwts. ; and the proceeds showed a yield 
of about double wages. The quantity obtained was not so great, nor 
the results, as far as regards profitable working, so satisfactory as to give 
much encouragement to the gold seeker in Canada ; but it is fair to infer 
that since the rocks of the country are now ascertained to be identi- 
cal with those which, in the neighbouring States, have yielded a con- 
siderable amount of the precious metal, explorations will be undertaken 
and prosecuted with greater vigour and greater prospects of success. On 
the whole, however, it may not be considered out of place to repeat tl e 
caution given by Sir William Logan, that in all probability, " the deposit 
will not in general remunerate unskilled labour, and that agriculturalists 
and others engaged in the ordinary occupations of the country, would 
lose their labour, by turning gold hunters." 
Silver. — With reference to the occurrence of this metal in Canada 
we are not aware of the existence of any silver ores proper ; and the lead 
ores which have been hitherto discovered are for the most part exceed- 
ingly poor in silver. Mr. Hunt however, in the Report for 1853, page 
370, gives details of assays made by him upon samples of galena from 
Meredith's location (Maimanse) on Lake Superior, and from the Rapids 
of the Chaudiere in Lower Canada, the former yielding thirty ounces, and 
the latter twenty-five ounces per ton of metallic lead. This result affords 
the strongest encouragement to the prosecution of the search for argen- 
tiferous lead ores in these districts, which although widely separated 
geographically, have been lately ascertained to belong to the same geolo- 
gical epoch. 
On the north shore of Lake Superior, and in Michipicoten Island, 
considerable amounts of native silver have been obtained associated with 
copper veins and native copper. 
At Prince's location, towards the western extremity of the Lake, fifteen 
miles west of Sturgeon bay, a bunch of four cwt. of ore containing about 
* The Quebec group consisting of altered and highly dislocated and disturbed 
limestone and sandstone strata, belonging to the Lower Silurian system ; and 
extends in a belt varying from twenty to sixty miles wide, from the borders of 
Lake Champlaine eastward to nearly the extreme point of Gaspe. This band of 
rock is pronounced by Sir Wm. Logan, J. D. Whitney and other eminent geolo- 
gists, to be a portion of the great metalliferous formation of North America ; to 
which belongs not only the rich ores of Lake Superior, but the gold, silver, lead, 
zinc, copper, cobalt, nickel, chrome and titanium, found along the Appalachian, 
chain from Canada to Georgia, as also in Missouri and Tennesee. 
