A preliminary Report on the Geology of New Brunswick, together with a special report on the distribution of the 'Quebec group' in the Province

Front matter

A PRELIMINARY REPORT ON THE GEOLOGY OF NEW BRUNSWICK, TOGETHER with A SPECIAL REPORT ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE "QUEBEC GROUP" IN THE PROVINCE. BY HENRY YOULE Hip, M.A., F.R.G.S. (LATE PROFESSOE OF CHEMISTEY AND GEOLOGY IN THE UNIVEESITY OF TEINITY COLLEGE, TORONTO.) Author of " Narrative ofthe Canadian Exploring Expeditions in Rupert's Land,*' " Explorations in the Interior of the Labrador Peninsula," Sec. (fee. &C. FREDERICTON. G. E. FENETY, PRINTER TO THE QUEEN'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY. 180.5. Fredericton, January \Glh, 18G5. Sir, I have the honor to present " A preliminary Report on the Geology of New Brunswick," including a Special Report (Chapters VIII. & IX.) ou the probable distribution ofthe " Quebec Group" within its limits, according to instructions which I had the honor to receive from His Excellency the Administrator of the Government on the 9th July 1864.

"With a view to avoid unnecessary recapitulation, I have so arranged tbe Reports, that the description ofthe ' Quebec Group' occupy their proper places in a general outline ofthe Geology ofthe Province. In the Introductory Chapter I have given a brief and concise summary of the results of the season's work. The following Maps accompany the written descriptions : — I. — A General Geological Map of the Province, showing the probable limits of Formations. _._ II. — A Plan of the exposed Antimonyveins iu Prince "William Parish, ■'■' m on the property of the Brunswick Antinlotty JCompany. III. — A Plan ofthe Letite Coppjj'-Mig^fWheal Louisiana,) showing the structure of the Rocks in the Mascaben Peninsula. IV. — A Plan of the Vernon Copper Mines, showing the structure of the Rocks on that part of the Coast of the Bay of Fundy.

V. — Section ofthe Carboniferous Outlier in the Valley ofthe Tobique. I have the honor to be, Your obedient servant, HENRY Y. HIND. Tho Hon. S. L. Tilley, Provincial Secretary I CONTENTS. Introductory Chapter, -. - - Page ix.

Chapter I

Leading} Geographical Features of the Province. Early Political importance ofthe " Highlands" of New Brunswick — Political importance of a Name — Origin of the name 'Acadia'— The Height of Land, or Highlands of New Brunswick- Elevation of the Highlands — Blue Mountain, view from — A night on Blue Mountain — Section from Miramichi Lake to the Restigouche — Mr. Sandford Fleming's Section — Section on the Royal Road, one hundred miles — Subordinate Mountain Ranges— Section from the Mouth of Goose Creek to Sussex Vale — Coast Section across the Basin occupied by the Carboniferous Rocks — Major Robinson's Survey — The Rivers of New Brunswick — The Saint John* — Origin of name — Rise of — The Grand Falls — Height and descent of — General character of — The Restigouche — Early notice of — Mr. Richardson's Description of, to the Mouth ofthe Patapedia — The Coast Line — Bay of Chaleurs — Miscou Island* — The White Whale— The Walrus — Bay of Fundy — The Tides — Depth of the Bay— The Cumberland Basin and Bay Verte Peninsula — Change of Coast Line. - , - - - 19

Chapter II

Geological Sketch of the Province. Nomenclature — Necessity for a uniform nomenclature — Nomenclature adopted by Sir W. E. Logan — The Sedimentary Rocks of New Brunswick— Economic materials they contain— The Central Granite Belt — The age of the Granite — Its character — Localities where it is seen — On the Nipisiguit — At Gulquac Lake — Long Lake Portage — On the South West Mirainichi — Does not occur in the form of a continuous broad belt ; but in several narrow belts — The Granite on the Saint John, occurs also in narrow belts — On the Frontier — Length and breadth of the Granite axis — Its importance — Geographical and Geological features compared — The Southern Granite Belt — Its mode of occurrence in the Southern Range — On the Magaguadavic — Breadth of the Granite in the Northern Belt — Occurs in Elgin Parish — Origin of the Granite — It is probably an altered Sedimentary Rock — Professor Hunt's views — Upper and Middle Silurian Series — Devonian Rocks— The Carboniferous Series. ----- 39

Chapter III

The Carboniferous Series. Area occupied by this Series — Possible extent of the true Coal Measures — Distribution of the Series in New Brunswick — The Central Area — The Tobique Outlier — The Bay of Fundy — On the Restigouche and Bay of Chaleurs — Details of the Eastern Coal Field — The Lower Carboniferous — The Bonaventure Formation — Its Distribution . 0NTKN1S. — The Copper Ores of Bathurst — Origin of — Dependence of their existence on the vegetable matter in the Sandstones — Section near Bathurst — Paucity of life in the Bonaventure formation — Absence of Coal — Improbability of finding extensive deposit!*! of Copper in this Rock — The presence of the Metal depends upon the presence of organic matter — General origin of similar deposits — The Tobique Outlier — Des cription of the Rocks on the Tobique — The Plaster Cliffs — Succession of Rocks in the Tobique Valley — Economic Materials in — The Limestones of the Tobique com pared with others in the Province — Comparison between the Tobique Rocks and those of Albert County — Woodstock Conglomerate — Analysis of. 54

Chapter IV

The Carboniferous Series — (Continued.) The Central Triangular Area — Dr. Gesner's views — Dr. Robb's views — Mr. Henwood's opinions — Personal examinations — Dana and Dawson's subdivision of Carboniferous Rocks — Section in New Brandon — Lower and Middle Formation — Synopsis of the Flora of the Carboniferous Rocks of New Brunswick — The Flora of the Upper, Middle and Lower Rocks of the Series — Productive Coal Measures on Grand Lake — Probability of Coal being found in New Brunswick — Grand Lake Coal — Quantity raised — Section of Rocks from Oromocto Creek toward the Douglas Hills — True Coal Measures in the Valley of Salmon River — On the Richibucto — True Coal Measures probably extend from Grand Lake to the Gulf — The Valleys of the Kennebeccasis and Petitcodiac — Section in Albert County and Westmorland — Section north of Norton Station — Review of what is known respecting the Carboniferous Rocks of New Brunswick — Value of Gypsum and Limestone — Bituminous Shales — Life and Climate during the Carboniferous Period, i - 69

Chapter V

The origin of Albertite. — The Albert Shales. Geological age of the Albert Shales — They lie at the base of the Carboniferous Series — • Disturbances in Albert County — Anticlinal and Synclinal axes — Faults — Section from Albert Mine to Cape Demoiselle — At Taylor's Mill Site — At the Big Cape — On the Tramway — At Hillsborough Village — Bituminous Shales — Albert Shales — Area over which they are found — Anticlinal axes in Albert and King's Counties — The Albert Mine — Character of the Mine — Observations in the Mine — Faults and Disturbances — An Overlap — Dr. Robb's and Professor Taylor's views — Dr. C. T. Jackson's views in 1850 and in 1851 — Reasons why opinions were discordant-*-Professor Taylor's comparisons — Professor Bailey's views in 1864 — Origin of Albertite Albertite formerly a liquid — Crushed Albertite — Two periods of injection — Professor Hunt's views with regard to Bitumens — Albertite an inspissated Petroleum — Localities where Albertite is found — It comes originally from underlying Devonian Rocks — United States Commmigsioner of Agriculture on Albertite — Albert Shales A source of coal oil — Importance of the Albert Shales — Gas regenerating furnaces Petroleum Springs in Albert and Westmorland — Conclusions with reference to Albertite — Composition of this substance. '--'-------. CONTENTS, V

Chapter VI

The Devonian Series. The Valley of the Restigouche — Upper Silurian and Devonian Rocks — Area occupied by the Devonian Rocks in this Valley — Devonian Rocks on the Bay of Fundy — Age of the Rocks — Extent of the Basin — The Devonian Rocks of Saint John — The Flora of the Devonian Rocks — The richness of this Series in Mineral Wealth— Iron Ores — Copper Ores — Origin of Petroleum — Source of the Albertite — Source of the Bituminous or Albert Shales — The Vernon Copper Mines — Origin of Metalliferous Veins — -Segregated Veins — Gash Veins — True Veins — Origin of True Veins — Lead Ores Argentiferous Galena — Erroneous impressions which prevail with respect to the percentage of Silver in Argentiferous Galena — Description of the Vernon Mines near the Mouth of Goose Creek — Description of the Rocks on the Coast — Red Conglomerates, Epidotic Traps and Plumbaginous Slates — Green Conglomerate Slates — General arrangement of the Rocks — Intrusive Traps-— Copper-bearing Traps— Newer Traps — The Sedimentary Rocks — Conglomerates and Porphyries — Steatitic Rocks — The Copper Lodes — The Peacock Vein — Fissure occupied by — Width of the Vein — Veinstone, Bitter Spar and Quartz — The Levels — The Green Vein — Occurs in a line of fault — Extension eastward of the Copper-bearing Traps. Ill

Chapter VII

The Upper and Middle Silurian Series. Their Boundaries in the Northern part of the Province — The upper part of the Series occurs at Cape Bon Ami — On the Upsalquitch River — On the Tobique — On the Saint John — The Middle, on the Bay of Fundy — Section at Cape Bon Ami — Honestones — Fossiliferous Limestones — Upsalquitch Lake — The Grand Falls — The Upsalquitch and Restigouche Rivers — Mountainous character of the Country — Swallow-tailed Butterflies — Wall of Trap — The Drift — Indian Superstition — Upper Silurian Rocks on the Restigouche — On the Upsalquitch — Argillites on the Tobique — Honestones — Uniformity in the Rocks on the Lower Tobique and Upper Upsalquitch — The Saint John — Hydraulic Limestones — The Grand Falls — Description of — The Gorge — Terraces — The Saint John above the Grand Falls to the Province Line — Upper and Middle Silurian Rocks on the Bay of Fundy — The Arisaig Series — Lead Ores on Campo Bello — Frye's Island — The Saint George Peninsula — Wheal Louisiana — Letite — Description of the Mascaben Peninsula — Section on the Peninsula — Trap and Slate Series — Hornblendic Slate* — Fractures and Dislocations — The Main Fissure — The Mine — The Windlass Shaft — Subordinate Lode3 — Frye's Island — Probably Middle Silurian — Barytes — Uses of — L'Etang — Limestone of. ------- - 127

Chapter VIII

The Lower Silurian Series. — The " Quebec Group." The Metalliferous Rocks in Canada and the United States — Sir W. E. Logan's discoveries — The Quebec Group — Importance of the Quebec Group — Economic Minerals of the Group — Age of the Group— How brought to the surface — Origin of the Metals it contains — The Quebec Group in New Brunswick — Its Northern Boundary — Its prolongation into Maine — Probable breadth of the Quebec Group in New Brunswick— contents. VI Influence of the Granitic Belts on these Rocks — Its development on the Nipisiguit — Black Slates on the Nipisiguit and near Dumbarton Station — Copper Ore at the Grand Falls — Golden-hued Micaceous Schists — Feebly Auriferous Copper Oros nn the Nipisiguit — Red Shales, with Iron and Manganese and Copper Ores, on the Nipisiguit — On the Campbell Biver — The Beccaguimic — The Shiktehawk — At Jack sontown, west of the Saint John — Near Boiestown — On the Tattagouche — Folds of the Strata on Campbell River — Probable limit of the Group about the Nictor — 1'ppcr Silurian Slates on the Nictor or Little Tobique — Jaspery Rocks on Campbell Biver — Red and Green Porphyries on the Serpentine — Ores of Metals on Campbell River — Iron, Manganese, Nickel.

Copper, &e. — Diorites — Epidote — Geographical Descrip tion of the Country south ofTobique Lake — Milpagos Lake — Gulquac Lake — Granite Ridges — Beaver Dams — Long Lake — Milnagec Lake — Portage to the Little South West Miramichi Lake — Miramichi Lake, (Little South West) — Granite Boulders — 'The Magaguadavic to Roix Station — Upper Falls of the Magaguadavic to the Lower Falls — Characteristic Strata belonging to the Quebec Group — Gneiss ; Anortiiosites; Diorites; Epidosites; Mica Rock; Mica Schists; Argillites; Dial lage Rock; Hornblende Rock, with Garnets; Magnetic Iron in Dolorite ; Copper Pyrites ; Ophiolites, (Serpentines); Steatites; Chlorites ; Maonesites ; Dolomites; Limestones; Deposits of Silica. 143

Chapter IX

The Quebec Group — (Continued.) Metalliferous Deposits in the Quebec Group of New Brunswick — Iron, Manganese, Copper, Antimony, Nickel, Lead, Zinc, Gold, Silver — Origin of the metallic deposits in this Group— Professor Sterry Hunt's Views — The Woodstock Iron Ores — Description of the Ores — Chemical Composition — Properties of the Iron — The Woodstock Iron Works — Opening for capital and enterprise in the working of these Iron Ores — Their extensive distribution — Their development on the east side of the Saint John — ■ On the Beccaguimic — Their associations with limestones for fluxing, fuel for smelting, labour, and their occurrence in a fine agricultural country — Their occurrence on the Shiktehawk — Three undulations on the east side of the Saint John have brought the ores to the surface — Vast importance of these ores — Native silver in a jasper boulder on the Shiktehawk — Manganese and Copper Ores — On the Nipisiguit, Tattagouche, Campbell Rivers, Bull's Creek — Saint .lohn — Professor Hunt's views respecting the origin of Copper in the deposits of the Quebec Group — Antimony Ores The ores of Prince William Parish — Characters of the Dislocations — The Pits Probable extent and richness of the ore — Nickel — Copper — Production and uses of Antimony — Lead Ores — Zinc Ores — Sequence of the strata in Canada — Island of Orleans Series— Phillipsburg Series. 160

Chapter X

Surface Geology. General absence of thick deposits of Boulder Drift in the Province — Local origin of the Boulders — Absence of Laurentian Boulders — In Gaspe — Innumerable multitude of Boulders south of the Granitic Belt — General absence on the northern side Boulders near Fredericton — Origin and course of these Boulders — The country of Boulders The Labrador Peninsula — Agents in the distribution of the Boulders — Glacial Ice contents.

VII Striations — General direction in this Province — Common over the entire Province — Glacial work — Lake George — Bear Lake — West of Oromocto Lake ; down the Maga guadavic — Remarkable formation of the western extremity of the Coal Measures — Oromocto Lake Escarpment — Table of Glacial Striæ in New Brunswick — Progres.s of a Glacier — Thickness of the glacial mass once covering the Province — Agassiz on the thickness of the ice during the Glacial Period — Dr. Dawson's views — Probable elevation of the Continent during the Glacial Period — Glacial Lakes — Escarpments — Dr. Rink's experience in Greenland — Conditions under which Glaciers are formed — Zones of Moistures— Glacial Zones — Notice of Agassiz's theory of an Ice Cap — Glacial phenomena may be common to all geologic ages — Difference between Sea Coast escarpments and Glacial escarpments — Action of Glacial Rivers — Phenomena of Glacial Bivers in Greenland — Glacial Rivers excavate rocks and form escarpments — Escarpments may be formed at any level — A glacial mass cuts its way into a slope, forming an escarpment continually increasing in elevation- — The valley of Lake Ontario excavated by Glaciers — Glacial Striæ show only the last record of the moving mass — Lake Bas}ns and many escarpments show the work they have done — ■ Remodelling of Glacial work — Lake Basins — Origin of certain Lakes in New Bruns wick — Valley of the Saint John near Fredericton — Beaches and Terraces — Marine Terraces — On the Bay of Fundy — Post Pliocene Marine deposits — Modern elevations and depressions on the coast — Extensive upthrow west of the Saint John — Glacial Lake Terraces — Contour Lines at the Mouth of the Nerepis — Terraces opposite Gagetown— Contour Lines and Terraces near Fredericton — Alluvial Terraces — Boulder Clay in the bed of the Saint John— Sections of the alluvium on the Banks of the Saint John near Fredericton — Table of Drift Islands which have escaped denudation — Terraces of Lake Superior, &c. — Origin of — The Grand Falls of Saint John — Origin of — A Valley of erosion — The Tidal Falls at the mouth of the Saint John — Probably Sj valley of erosion — Early account of the " Falls" — " Horsebacks" — Action of Rivers on their banks — Influence of the motion of the Earth. 182

CHAPTER XL

Economic Materials in the Drift. Bog Iron Ore or Limonite — Its formation — Its distribution — Importance of the Ore in Canada — The St. Maurice Forges — Wad or Bog Manganese — Principal Ores of — Its use in the Arts— Its use as a material for separating Gold from Quartz Sand, or Clays— Its use in the separation of Silver — Shell Marl — Kaolin for Pottery — Clays for Bricks and Pottery — Moulding Sand — Blue Phosphate of Iron — Gold— Its distribution in Auriferous Drift in Canada — In Glacial Drift — Mode of washing the Drift — The Hydraulic process — The Hydraulic process in California — Experiments on the River du Loup in Canada — Distribution of Gold in the Drift of New Brunswick — I. On the Upper Upsalquitch — II. The Nipisiguit — III. Campbell River and Long Lake — IV. The Serpentine — V. Blue Mountain Brook — VI.

The Little South West Miramichi — VII. Springfield— VIII. Between Hopewell and Golden Mountain — IX. Dutch Valley Road — Conclusions — Miscellaneous Materials not in the Drift — Plumbago or Graphite — Dolomites — Origin of — Hydraulic Limestones — Composition of — Properties of — Grindstones — Probable Indian Relics on the Atlantic Coast — Professor Chadbourne's Account — Account in Sewall's Ancient Dominions — Mr. C. H. Hitchcock',? Description — Mr. Morse's Acoount. - -- CONTENTS. VIII

Chapter XII. The Agricultural Capabilities Of Certain Districts

KOTES ON THE CLIMATE. Importance of Limestone — Limestone Rocks produce good Soils — Progress of Settlement in the Laurentian Region of Canada is on the Crystalline Limestones — In New Brunswick the presence of a fine Hardwood Forest indicates the proximity of Limestone — Area of first class Land in the Province — Aids to Agriculture — Manures — Lime — Quantity manufactured in New Brunswick — In Maine — Gypsum — Some Localities where Limestone is found in the Province — Some Localities where Gypsum is found in the Province — Trap debris — Phosphate of Lime — Fish Manures — Its manufacture in France — In Newfoundland — Professor Hunt's descriptions — Manufacture at Gaspe — Value of the Fish Manure manufactured at Gaspe — Importance of the manufacture of Fish Manure on the Gulf Coast. Notes on the Climate of New Brunswick. — The character of the Winter Season — Comparative Table, showing the mean opening of Rivers, Canals, and Harbours, from St. John to the Straits of Mackinaw — Duration of Navigation on the St. Lawrence, compared with the St. John — Table showing the mean Winter temperature of St. John, Quebec, and Montreal — Table of Annual means of Temperature, &c, at St. John, by G. Murdock — Table of Monthly and Seasonal means of Temperature at St. John, by G. Murdock — Table of mean results at Toronto — Table of minimum and maximum temperatures at Fredericton, by the Rev. Dr. Brooke— Comparative Table, showing the difference between some points in the Climates of St. John and Fredericton, by the late Dr. Robb — Table showing the mean annual temperature of St. John, Fredericton, Quebec, Montreal, and Toronto. Conclusions'. — The advantages of a systematic Geological Survey.

Appendix

. I. — Origin of the Na.mes of certain Rivers and Places in New Brunswick, together with Miciviac and Milicete names for some common things. II. — Names of Places and Rivers derived from the Abenaquis Language. III. — Enumeration of the Mammiferous Animals ascertained to exist in or on the Coasts of New Brunswick. IV. — Enumeration of the Birds of New Brunswick, with a notice of those which winter in the Province. V. — Enumeration ofthe Fishes of New Brunswick. VI. — Fossiliferous Marine Clays of Maine and the St. Lawrence compared. VII. — Table showing the Value of the Imports and Exports, being the Produce and Manufacture of the Colony, of Minerals, Ores, and Metals manufactured and unmanufactured, during the years 1861, 1862, and 1863. VIII. — Mining Licences — Rules and Regulations. INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER.

The Geology of New Brunswick has formed the subject of four Reports by the late Dr. Abraham Gesner, written during the years 1839 to 1842 in clusive, twenty three years having elapsed since the date of Dr. Gesner's last official contribution to our knowledge respecting the Mineral resources of the Province. In 1849 the late Dr. Robb contributed an admirable resume of known facts connected with the Geology of New Brunswick to Professor Johnston, who was engaged by the Government during the same year to report on the Soils of the Province, and their capabilities for agricultural purposes. Dr. Robb's communication was accompanied by an excellent Geological Map, compiled, as he himself states, from the Reports of Dr. Gesner, Dr. Jackson's Reports on the Geology of Maine, Sir Charles Lyell's Travels in North America, and his own personal observations and enquiries.

In 1851 Dr. Robb, in conjunction with Professor Taylor, prepared a Report on the "Asphaltum Mine at Hillsborough," which all subsequent experience during the past thirteen years has shown to be a correct exposition, as far as it goes, of the Geology of the Albert Mine. Dr. Dawson, of M'Gill College, Montreal, in conjunction with Sir Charles Lyell, has established the true age of the Albert Shales, and in his 'Acadian Geology' a portion of Albert County is especially noticed, and some ofthe rock formations on the coast ofthe Bay of Fund}'. Dr. Dawson has subsequently written some very valuable papers on " The Flora ofthe Carboniferous Period in Nova Scotia," and " The Flora ofthe Devonian Period in North Eastern America," iu which important references are made to New Brunswick rocks. In August 1863, Mr. G. F. Matthew of Saint John, published in the Cana dian Naturalist aud Geologist, a most creditable and able Paper, entitled " Observations on the Geology of Saint John County, N. B." ; and in 1864, Professor Bailey, of the University of New Brunswick, communicated to His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor, a very interesting and well written " Report on the Mines and Minerals of New Brunswick."

The same gen tleman has also published in the Canadian Naturalist and Geologist for April 1864, a Paper entitled " Notes on the Geology and Botany of New Bruns wick,"* with a Map of the country on the course of the rivers between the mouth of the Tobique and the mouth of the Nepisiguit. These contributions to the Geological bibliography of New Brunswick, have been frequently referred to in the following pages, together with others which are enumerated either in notes of reference or in a list of works con sulted, given at the close of the introductory Chapter. * Read before the Natural History Society of New Brunswick I*2th Ftebruary 1864. X INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. In May 1864, after an interview with Sir W. E. Logan, the Director of the Geological Survey of Canada, I addressed a letter to that eminent Geologist, soliciting his co-operation and that of Professor Hunt and Mr. Billings, in relation to the rocks and fossils of New Brunswick, partly with reference to my contemplated preliminary explorations, and partly in antici pation of any future action that the Government of New Brunswick might be disposed to take with regard to a complete Geological Survey of the Province.

The answer of Sir W. E. Logan, together with my communication to him, are appended,* and no words from my pen are necessary to show the vast advantage which must result to New Brunswick, from having the opinion of Sir William Logan and his associates on the rocks of the Province ; but I should not do justice to my own feelings if I were to permit this public opportunity to escape me of expressing a grateful sense, as far as I am con cerned, ofthe disinterested kindness of Sir William Logan, and the gentle men of the Canadian Geological Survey, or to record my admiration of a zeal for Science alone which induces those gentlemen to undertake a laborious task, for which they ask no other recompense than that which Science herself can give. In the preparation of my preliminary Report, I have frequently had occasion to scrutinize the labours of the late Dr. Robb ; and here I venture to express, not only a very high opinion of the value of the work he has left behind him, but a strong appreciation of his trustworthy observations, and of his scrupulously conscientious record of facts.

Through the kindness of his brother, Mr. Charles Robb, of Montreal, I have been permitted to peruse his manuscript notes on the geology of certain portions of the Province. Although many of these were made thirteen to sixteen years ago, and long prior to the important discoveries of the past decade, yet they manifest views, especially in relation to the once vexed question of the nature of Albertite, which he would probably long since have successfully developed, had the Almighty been pleased to have prolonged his life. It now remains for me to state in general terms the results ofthe season's operations. DISTRICTS VISITED. I commenced my explorations on the 15th June, at Dalhousie ; proceeding thence to Campbelltown on the Restigouche, and having engaged Indians there, ascended that river to the mouth of the Upsalquitch, which was tra versed to its source, then crossed over to the Nepisiguit, and continued on down stream to Bathurst.

After spending a few days in the vicinity of Bathurst, I travelled across the country to Chatham, and thence to Fredericton. In a letter addressed to the Provincial Secretary, I communicated some of the results of the exploration up the Upsalquitch and down the Nepisiguit, * Vide Letters I. and II. at the close of this Chapter. INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. suggesting at the same time a further exploration of the Quebec Group of rocks which I had ascertained to have a breadth in the district examined of from thirty six to forty miles.* His Excellency the Administrator of the Government in Council, was pleased to give instructions that the suggested sections across the Quebec Group should be made without delay. From Fredericton I proceeded to Prince William, thence to Woodstock, and via the Shiktehawk and South West Miramichi, to Boiestown.

I then started via Woodstock for the Tobique, and having procured Indians and canoes, ascended that river as far as the mouth of the Gulquac, made a portage of twenty miles to Tobique Lake, explored the undescribed aud unmapped Gulquac and Millpagos Lakes, and then portaged to Long Lake. Leaving the canoe at the head of that fine sheet of water, I took two Indians and made a portage of eight miles through forests innocent of lum bermen or indeed of "white men" of any description, to the Little South West Miramichi Lake, and descended the river issuing from that lake until I came to sedimentary rocks in place. Returning to Tobique Lake, I went with " shoed " canoes down Campbell River, ascended the Serpentine as far as practicable, the water being un usually low, and returned to the Nictor or Forks of the Tobique via the right hand branch of the river.

An ascent was then made up the Little Tobique for a few miles, and subsequently the main river was descended as far as Blue Mountain. Again, taking two Indians, and leaving the canoes in charge of a third, I made a traverse to the summit of Blue Mountain 1650 feet above the sea. The object of this traverse was to ascertain the southern limits here of the Carboniferous Outlier, which has converted the valley of the Tobique into a fertile and beautiful region, capable of sustaining an agricultural population of one hundred thousand souls. Slowly descending the Tobique to its mouth, I then leisurely ascended the Saint John, in canoe, as far as Little Falls, or within ten miles ofthe Canadian boundary line. From Little Falls I proceeded to Quebec, thence to Montreal, where an opportunity of again examining the rocks of the Quebec Group in the Geological Museum was embraced.

After remaining a week in Canada, I took the steamer from Quebec to Shediac, and from Shediac proceeded to Fredericton. / In October I visited King's County, making a section across Norton and Springfield, also, subsequently across Albert County, and from Hopewell Corners returned via Golden Mountain to Sussex Vale, and then proceeded to the Vernon Copper Mines, near the mouth of Goose Creek, on the Bay of Fundy. Returning thence to Fredericton, I spent two days in making up my notes, and then started a second time for the Prince William Anti mony deposits, where I made a careful examination of the rocks and mapped the courses of the exposed veins, determining their relation and origin. I then crossed the country through the Harvey Settlement to Dumbarton * Vide Letters III. and TV. at the close of this Chapter.

INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. Station, on the New Brunswick and Canada Railway, and from this place proceeded to Roix Station, and made a section across the country to Saiut George. After visiting the Upper Falls of the Magaguadavic, and making a section to the Lower Falls, I proceeded to the Letite Copper Mines, to which special attention was paid, and the probable origin of the Copper deposits in the Mascabin peninsula discovered, and the probable age of the rocks on Frye's Island ; returning to Fredericton via Saint John. My last exploration, except in the immediate neighbourhood of Fredericton, was made in November, when the Vernon Mines on the Bay of Fundy were visited a second time, and four days spent on the coast, in an endeavour to trace the origin of the*Copper deposits in that promising belt of rocks.