COLONIAL ORES. 
91 
for conversion into superphosphate, to be used as a fertilising 
agent. Other examples of Canadian apatite are placed with 
the phosphates, and elsewhere in the Museum (pp. 43, 110, 138). 
Interest naturally attaches to the Canadian iron ores, of which 
large samples will be found on the floor of this case and that of 
the next. The bog ore has a very wide superficial distribution, 
and the richer magnetic ore occurs in beds of prodigious extent, 
while the titaniferous iron ore , from its occurrence in large 
quantity, promises to become of importance. From Eastern 
Canada are obtained the chrome iron ores, which, as usual, are 
associated with serpentine rocks. 
Case 41 . — On the top shelves of this Case are samples of 
Canadian plumbago, or graphite, and some plates of mica, 
exceptional in size and thickness. These are followed by 
specimens of various ores, including those of copper, cobalt,, 
nickel, antimony, silver, &c. The nickeliferous pyrrhotite, or 
magnetic pyrites, of Sudbury, Ontario, has been extensively 
worked as a source of nickel. 
A prominent position in the Case before us is given to the 
collection illustrating the gold districts of British America. It 
appears that as early as 1852 small quantities of gold were 
found in Queen Charlotte Island, and the metal was afterwards 
discovered on the mainland, in the Frazer River valley, and in 
various parts of the Cascade range. The first official report of 
these discoveries, which was received in 1856 from the Governor 
of Vancouver Island, failed to excite any considerable attention ; 
but the extent of the deposits and the success of the operations 
which were in progress being confirmed by subsequent reports,, 
public attention was at length aroused, and in 1 858 vast numbers 
of emigrants flocked to the new colony. The great centre of 
the most successful workings was the rich auriferous district 
situated some distance inland, and known (from being a favourite 
haunt of the reindeer or cariboeuf) as the Cariboo country. 
The beds of the Frazer River and its numerous tributaries were 
also highly productive, and the alluvial terraces which border 
many of the streams yielded much gold to the “ bench diggers.^ 
A nugget of gold weighing 7 ozs. 13 dwts,, from the Thompson 
River, British Columbia, is here exhibited. 
Before leaving this Case attention should be drawn to the 
specimens of gold, and models of nuggets, from the Gilbert 
River in Lower Canada. From Nova Scotia are exhibited some 
samples of the so-called “ barrel-quartz ” of Laidlaw. Occurring 
beneath only a few feet of quartzose rock, it forms an extensive 
horizontal bed, presenting a remarkable succession of folds or 
contortions, and the undulating surface of the deposit has, 
suggested the local name. 
South Africa, 
Case 42 . — It has been found convenient to group together 
in this Case all the minerals from South Africa, whether from 
g 2 
