76 
MUSEUM BULLETIN NO. 27. 
words, the material removed would have been replaced by material of 
exactly the same chemical composition, which is altogether improbable 
if not impossible. 
“It is, therefore, concluded that the veins are crystallized portions 
of the serpentine walls, and that the crystals (fibres) have grown outwards 
from the original crevices which are now represented by partings of iron 
ore found near the centre of the veins. In cases where there is no such 
parting, the growth of the crystals has taken place on one side of the 
fracture only. In most cases, however, there has been crystallization 
on both sides of the fracture, thus leaving a parting in the vein.” 
It is probably safe to say that the weight of modern opinion is in 
favour of the above hypothesis, that the chrysotile has been formed in 
situ, by direct replacement of the massive serpentine. 
Common Massive Serpentine . 
The serpentine of the area is for the most part massive, and this 
variety has already been described on page 7, The fresh material 
displays a very uniform green colour, and weathers to a creamy brown. 
The specific gravity ranges from 2*55 to 2 *58 and the hardness is usually 
about 3J. The composition of an average specimen is given in column 
1 of the following table, the analysis, by M. F. Connor, being reproduced 
from Dresser's report. 
The massive serpentine has not been found to possess any economic 
value as an ornamental stone, owing partly to its very fractured con- 
dition. 
Analyses of Serpentine, 
Massive serpentine, 
near Black Lake 
station 
Precious serpentine, 
Megantic mine 
Chrysotile, near Black 
Lake station 
SiO,... ...... 
40-08 
43*31 
39-62 
AhOi. 
2*11 
0*38 
081 
FetO* 
1*13 
0*27 
4-52f 
FeO. ........... 
MnO . 
1-70 
None 
Trace 
0*12 
1-90 
CaO 
0*20 
Trace 
MgO 
37*90* 
40*03 
39*73 
(K,Na) 2 0 
0-10 
0*28 
Not det'd 
HiO-llOV ...... . 
1*35 
| 15*77 
0-43 
HjO+tlO 0 . . . . . 
13 89 
13-32 
98*46 
100-16 
100*33 
Probably low. f Probably admixed magnetite. 
