Report on the building and ornamental stones of Canada

Front matter

THE GIFT OF

"V^jLrtoOLnJtAAMvflAiA.. -^^^ vs

£t^GiNEERING LIBRARY

Author's Preface

Under instructions received from the Director of the Mines Branch (Dr. Eugene Haanel) I spent about four weeks of the field season of 1911, and six weeks of the season of 1912 in making an examination of the quarries of the Province of Quebec. Later it was found advisable to carry on further investigations, in consequence of which the Director authorized three weeks additional work in 1913.

As in the case of the two previous volumes of this report, I was instructed to confine my attention as much as possible to the economic and technical aspects of the subject, and to introduce geological references only when they would be of assistance to a proper understanding of the problem presented. In accordance with these instructions I have avoided all geological detail, and in the case of the igneous rocks I have not introduced the petrographic descriptions which a geologist might expect, but footnotes have been inserted containing references to literature with which the professional geologist is familiar.

In a large and varied area such as that presented by the Province of Quebec, there are numerous small prospects and little quarries which have been opened for local consumption : it was not considered advisable to ^'isit all of these as the time required would be out of all proportion to the value of the information gained. Many of the reported occurrences of serpentine and other decorative stones have been described by officers of the Geological Survey of Canada. As no work has been done on these prospects since the original description appeared, it was felt that a second visit would not yield results commensurate with the time and expense involved. Further, these reported occurrences are frequently in very inaccessible places, and cannot be located without spending days on the ground. My experience in attempts to locate occurrences of this kind leads me to express the hope that geologists and others will be careful to more definitely specify their locahties of occurrence. A mere reference to a 200 acre lot in a wild and uninhabited district will not suffice for the investigators of 50 years hence to re-locate the finds of to-day. In order to provide the reader with a summary of these little known occurrences I have inserted tables containing the more important references, which have been taken almost entirely from the reports of the Geological Survey.

In the case of the slate industry it was found very difficult to obtain information of value with regard to abandoned workings or undeveloped prospects, as samples taken from the surface or from old dumps are worthless as test material. Even the formational features, which one might expect to find revealed in old workings, are obscured by the action of frost or by the presence of water in the pits.

The introductory chapter is devoted to a brief account of the different kinds of stone which come within the province of this report and to a resume of the methods of testing employed. In this connexion it is to be noted that the shearing test is introduced for the first time, and that additional experiments have been made bearing on the important subjects of porosity and absorption. The appearance of Professor Hirschwald's classic work "Handbuch der bautechnischen Gesteinpriifung" marks a signal advance in the technology of stone testing, and is responsible for the improvements mentioned above.

The systematic portion of the report is divided into chapters according to the kind of stone, i.e. limestones, sandstones, granites, etc. Within the chapters the various quarries are arranged according to the geological formations, and are then considered in geographic groups which are termed "areas." In some cases the areas are divided into "districts" and further into "groups." The individual properties are described as far as possible under the name of the owner, which is conspicuously printed in italics. The subject matter of each description is arranged in the following order, if the information is available: —

Location,

Quarry description.

General description of the stone,

Physical tests.

Chemical analysis.

Quarrying methods.

Prices, statistics, and economic remarks.

Buildings constructed of the stone in question.

At the end of the description of an area a short summary is introduced for the benefit of readers who are not interested in individual properties. Taken with the introductory remarks at the beginning of the chapters, these summaries should serve as a guide to those readers who desire to gain a general knowledge of the stone industry of the province.

In presenting this report I beg to acknowledge my indebtedness to Dr, Haanel, Director ot the Mines Branch, for his valuable advice and assistance throughout and for his kind permission to extend the field work over three seasons. I desire also to express my appreciation of the excellent work done by the Editor of the Department of Mines, Mr. S. Groves, in issuing the first volume of this report. During the field season I met with uniform kindness from quarry owners and operators, throughout the province and desire to extend to them my sense of appreciation.

A large amount of laboratory work was entailed in connexion with the physical tests. This work could not have been brought to a successful conclusion without the co-operation and assistance of the gentlemen named below, to whom I desire to express my sincere thanks: — Dr. Frank D. Adams, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Science, and Professor H. M. McKay of McGill University, for permission to use the large Wicksteed machine for the crushing tests; Mr. Alexander McLean, University of Toroiito, for valuable assistance in preparing material and in conducting tests; Mr. R. Marshall, University of Toronto, for making transverse and shearing tests in the engineering laboratory of the University; Professor J. C. McLennan, University of Toronto, for the use of the physical laboratory for experiments involving the use of compressed air; Dr. W. H. Ellis, University of Toronto, for the loan of apparatus.

In several instances I had difficulty in obtaining the correct spelling of French proper names: in most cases I have entered these names as they were given to me although I am aware that they are not always in accord with general practice. I desire to be relieved of responsibility in this matter and ask the indulgence of French readers and of the persons concerned.

Chapter I. Introductory

PAGE

General account of the classes of stone occurring in the Province of Quebec 3

Methods of testing with a summary of results 4

Weight per cubic foot 6

Porosity 7

Ratio of absorption ... 7

Crushing strength tests 11

Transverse strength 15

Shearing strength IS

Corrosion test 16

Drilling test 17

Chiselling test 17

CHAPTER III. Limestones of the Province of Quebec 25

Limestones of the Chazy and Trenton formations 26

Montreal area 26

Montreal district 29

Villeray group 29

Mile End group 32

De Lorimier group 37

Iberville group 39

Nicolet group 42

Maisonneuve group . . 42

Cote St. Michel group ... 44

Lachine group 48

Caughnawaga district 48

Pointe Claire district 49

St. Laurent district 50

S. Laurent group 50

Cartierville group 51

Bordeaux district 53

St. Martin district 55

Cap St. Martin group 55

Village Belanger group 59

Village St. Martin group 60

St. Vincent de Paul district 62

St. Francois de Salles district 66

St. Johns-Grande Eigne area '0

St. Johns district 70

PAGE Grande Ligne district '2

St. Dominique area .

Joliette area

St. Cuthbert area . .

76 80 85

St. Marc des Carrieres area ' "'

Beauport-Chateau Richer area • ^^

Chateau Richer group 94

Beauport group "^

Grenville area ^ '

Hull area 98

Malbaie area 106

Limestones of the Beekmantown formation 106

Beauharnois area 107

St. Jerome area 107

Limestones of the Silurian system 109

Dudswell area 109

Millstream area Ill

Port Daniel area ■ 113

Limestone of the Niagara formation 114

Lake Timiskaming area 114

Impure limestones of different formations 115

Sherbrooke 115

Riviere du Loup 115

CHAPTER IV. Sandstones of the Province of Quebec 117

Sandstones of the Potsdam-Beekmantown formation 117

List of occurrences 118

Beauharnois area 119

Ottawa River area 121

Sandstones of the Sillery formation . 12.?

Quebec-Levis area 1 23

L'Islet area 126

Stone at Fraserville 127

Sandstone of the Trenton formation 128

Malbaie area 128

Sandstone of the Niagara formation 132

Lake Timiskaming area 132

Sandstone of the Devonian system 134

Causapscal area 134

Sandstone of the Carboniferous system ... 136

Pointe a Bourdeau area 137

CHAPTER V. Granites and gneis-ses of the Province of Quebec 139

Granites and gneisses of the northern Pre-Cambrian region 139

Riviere a Pierre area 139

Ottawa area 145

Argenteuil area 147

XI

PAGE

St. Jerome area 151

Granites of the Eastern Townships of Quebec 153

Stanstead area 153

Magoons Point area 164

Megantic area 164

Stanhope area 1 68

CHAPTER VI. The so-called black granites and related rocks 171

Monteregian hills 171

Mount Royal and the Montreal quarries 172

Yamaska mountain 180

Brome mountain 183

Shefford mountain 183

St. Bruno, Beloeil and Rougeraont mountains 185

Other igneous rocks of the Eastern Townships 186

Orford mountain 188

Northern Quebec area 18Q

List of occurrences 190

Morin anorthosite 191

CHAPTER VH.

Marbles of the Province of Quebec 193

Marbles of Pre-Cambrian age 194

Northern Quebec area 194

Portage du Fort district 194

Ste. Thecle district 199

List of localities of occurrence 200

Eastern Townships area 203

South Stukely district 203

Orford Mountain district 210

Metamorphic marbles of Palaeozoic age 211

St. Lin area 212

Missisquoi area 212

Dudswell area 219

St. Joseph area 222

Port Daniel area 223

Other occurrences 224

CHAPTER VHL

Serpentines and serpentine marbles of the Province of Quebec 227

List of occurrences 228

Melbourne area 230

Orford mountain area 231

Grenville area / 232

CHAPTER IX.

Slates of the Province of Quebec 235

List of occurrences 235

PAGE

Melbourne-Cleveland area 236

Danville area '^'^■^

Kingsey area ... . ■ ^i-^

Acton area -"^^

Garthby area ■^^^

Granby area ^'^'^

Orford-Bromplon area 24/

Temiscouata area 24")

Minor occurrences 251

CHAPTER X.

Glacial drift 253

CHAPTER XI.

Rarer decorative materials 255

APPENDIX I.

Table I. — Specific gravity, weight per cubic foot, pore space, ratio of absorption,

and coefficient of saturation of Quebec building stones 261

Table H. — Ratio of absorption and coefficient of saturation under different conditions — one hour soaking, two hours soaking, slow immersion, in vacuo, and under pressure 264

Table HI. — Crushing strength of Quebec building stones 268

Table I\'. — Comparative crushing strength of Quebec building stones, dry, wet,

and wet after being frozen forty times 273

Table \'. — Transverse strength of Quebec building stones 277

Table \'I. — Shearing strength of Quebec building stones 281

Table MI — Chiselling and drilling factors of Quebec building stones 284

Table \TII. — Changes in weight per square inch of surface exposed and the colour changes produced by soaking specimens of Quebec building stones in water saturated with oxygen and carbonic acid gas for four weeks 287

APPENDIX II.

Production of building and ornamental stone in the Province of Quebec in 1911 291

APPENDIX III.

Production of building and ornamental stone in the Province of Quebec in 1912. . . . 291

APPENDIX IV.

Production of stone in the Province of Quebec in 1910 and 1911 and the purpose to

which it was applied 291

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Photographs.

PAGE

Plate I. Sillery sandstone and St. Marc limestone. Chateau Frontenac, Quebec.

Frontispiece.

II. Trenton limestone. Martineau's quarry, Mile End group, Montreal. ... 32

III. Trenton limestone, Martineau's quarry. St. Edouard church, St. Denis

St., Montreal 32

IV. Trenton Hmestone. Buildings in Montreal showing contrast between

rock-face and bush-hammered work 34

V. Trenton limestone. Building in Montreal, showing the effect of weather 34 VI. Trenton limestone. Aberdeen school, Montreal, showing the uniformity

of colour produced by weathering on rock-face and bushed work. ... 36

VII. Anderson diamond saw cutting Montreal limestone 36

\'III. St Dominique limestone. Quarry showing jointing and weathering. ... 78 IX. St. Dominique limestone. Municipal buildings and post-office, St.

Hyacinthe, Que 78

X. St. Marc limestone. Quarry of Georges Chateauvert et Cie 88

XI. St. Marc limestone. Post-ofifice, Quebec 90

XII. Sillery sandstone and St. Marc limestone. St. Louis gate, Quebec 92

XIII. Trenton sandstone. Cliffs at Murray Bay 106

XIV. Niagara sandstone. Wall of Presbyterian church, Haileybury, Ont 114

XV. Carboniferous sandstone. Quarry at Pointe a Bourdeau, Que 136

XVI. Riviere ^ Pierre granite. Perron's quarry. Riviere a Pierre 140

XVII. Riviere a Pierre granite. Church at Ste. Thecle, Que 142

XVIII. Roberval granite. Bernier's quarry, Roberval, Que 144

XIX. Roberval blue granite, Bernier's quarry, Roberval, Que 144

XX. Ottawa county granite. Brodie's quarry, Campeau, Que 146

XXI. Ottawa county red granite from Brodie's quarry, Campeau, Que 146

XXII. Argenteuil granite. Pillars of Banque Hochelaga, Three Rivers, Que. . ISO

XXIII. Argenteuil granite from Laurentian Granite Co's quarry, near Stayner-

ville, Que 150

XXIV. Stanstead granite. Norton's quarry, Graniteville, Que 156

XXV. Stanstead granite. Post-office, Sherbrooke 158

XXVI. Stanstead granite. Interior of Stanstead Granite Co's mill, Beebe Plain,

Que 160

XXVII. Stanstead granite. Norton's quarry, Graniteville, Que 162

XXVIII. Megantic granite. Quarry of Lacombe and D'Allaire, St. Sebastien, Que. 164 XXIX. Mount Johnson black granite. Quarry of Mount Johnson Quarry Co. . 176

XXX. Mount Johnson black granite, Canadian Quincy 178

XXXI. Brome Mountain nordmarkose. Church at West Shefford, Que 184

XXXII. Portage du Fort marble. Quarry of the Pontiac Marble and Lime Co. . . 196

XXXIII. Portage du Fort marble. Mr. G. E. Reid's residence, Portage du Fort. . 198

XXXIV. Ste. Thecle marble. Quarry near Ste. Thecle, Que 200

XXXV. South Stukely marble. Cutting marble blocks from surface at quarry of

Dominion Marble Co., South Stukely, Que 204

XXXVI. South Stukely marble. Polishing machines in mill of the Dominion

Marble Co., C6te St. Paul, Montreal, Que ; 204

XXXVII. South Stukely marble, jaune royal 206

XXXVIII. South Stukely marble, violetta 206

XXXIX. Missisquoi marble. Channelling machines in the quarry of the Missis-

quoi-Lautz Corporation, Phillipsburg, Que... 212

PAGE

XL. Missisquoi marble, vert rose. 214

XLI. Missisquoi marble, vert gris 214

XLII. Port Daniel marble. Cliffs at Port Daniel, Que 224

XLIII. Serpentine, Orford mountain 232

XLIV. Melbourne slate. New Rockland slate quarry, New Rockland, Que 236

XL\'. Melbourne slate. Jointing in New Rockland quarry 238

XL\'I. Danville slate. The old Danville school slate quarry 242

XL\"II. Kingsey slate. Old quarry on St. Francis river near Trenholm 244

XL\'III. Temiscouata slate. Quarry of Frazer and Davis, Long lake, Temiscouata

county, Que 250

XLIX. Pre-Cambrian drift. Church at Riviere du Loup , 254

L. Coloured plate of limestones 260

LI. Coloured plate of various stones . . 260

LIL Coloured plate of various stones . 260

Drawings.

Fig. 1. Apparatus used in making shearing strength tests 16

2. Sketch map of Montreal and vicinity showing the chief quarry districts. . 27

3. Sketch map of part of Montreal showing the groups of quarries 29

4. Sketch map showing the distribution of the Potsdam-Beekmantown sandstone and the Beekmantown formation with the chief quarries -. , 106

5. Sketch showing the folding of the Trenton strata at Murray Bay 129

6. Sketch map of the quarry district at Stanstead 153

7. Slcetch map of the Monteregian hills 172

8. Plan of the property of the Dominion Marble Co. at South Stukely 203

9. Showing the arrangement of gad holes for raising blocks in the South Stukely quarries 206

10. Plan of the property of the Missisquoi-Lautz Corporation at Phillipsburg. . 212

11. Sketch map showing the more important slate belts of the Province of Quebec 235

12. Sketch map of the Province of Quebec showing the location of the chief quarries 259

REPORT

BUILDING AND ORNAMENTAL STONES

VOL. III.

Province of Quebec.

REPORT

BUILDING AND^ ORNAMENTAL STONES

BY

Wm. A. Parks, B.A., Ph.D.

VOL. III.

Province of Quebec.