The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 47
Geological, Survey 1876-77
Geological, Survey 1876-77.
British Columbia.
Work was resumed in 1876 as early as the weather permitted, by Mr. G. M. Dawson, in the neighbourhood of Leech River, Vancouver Island. This river joins the Sooke from the west, about 7 miles from its mouth, and 21 miles from Victoria. Large patches of snow remained in the woods, and in the Leech Valley snow several feet in depth lay on the ground. Gold has been found in paying quantities for about five miles on this river. Some rich spots, Mr. Dawson thinks, yet exist in its neighbourhood, but limited in extent and difficult to find. It is also probable that an auriferous horizon exists on the surface of the true bed rock, and that by hydraulic work, a great part of the cement and benches near the river might be made remunerative. Auriferous veins rich enough to pay for working may occur, but as yet none have been discovered. The total product so for obtained has been estimated at $100,000.
On the 19th May, Mr. Dawson resumed his explorations in the interior of British Columbia At Quesnel, and northward from it, the climate is moister than further south, and grain may be grown without irrigation The general level of the plateau between Quesnel and the Black-water River, is 850 feet above the Fraser, or 2,660 feet above the sea. Terrace flats cease to appear, and are replaced by low rolling hills and hillocks. Half way between Quesnel and Blackwater Bridge is Goose Lake, 1,950 feet above the Fraser. An irregular hilly and rolling country stretches westward from this lake, and beyond the lake is a gently undulating terrace plateau, with an average elevation of 2,700 feet above the sea. Fires have, parsed extensively and often over this country. Small alders, aspens and scrub pine have come upon the burnt areas, with grass often of good quality and mixed with wild pea and vetch. The vegetation was appreciably behind that of Quesnel, and the land fit for cultivation, very limited in area. From Black-water Bridge, crossing the Telegraph Range, the Eucheniko valley was reached This has a general course of N. 65, W., is wide and flat bottomed, and its southern side thickly timbered, except where lives have run. The northern side is generally open, covered with bunch grass, patches of wild onions, and occasional tufts of sage. There is little arable land, but a considerable area suitable for stock ranges The young grass on the 5th June was well up. Groves of scrub pine were formed in sandy beaches, and the river fringed with dark groves of tall symmetrical black spruces. The valley is a type of many which intersect the northern part of the interior plateau, which must in the aggregate represent a great area of stock growing land the higher plateaus are covered with a thick growth of scrub pine, or where the timber has been burned. grass, with pea, vetch, &c in many places comes up in great abundance. The valley of the Blackwater, north of the Cluscus Lakes, much resembles that of the Eucheniko, but on a larger scale the north slope is covered with bunch grass, vetch, strawberries, &c., and the south pretty thickly timbered. There is abundance of good grazing, and the Indians of Cluscus Lake own a number of horses which live out at all seasons. The river flows somewhat rapidly between long lake-like expansions. It is remarkable that the Black water receives no important tributaries from the north, the plateau seeming to slope north from the brink of its valley. On the upper part of the river the country changes for the worse Broken fragments of basalt strew the surface, and sandy stony soil alternates with swamps, continuing westward the valley of the Uhlghako, a tributary of the Blackwater, was followed 10½ miles to Uhlghako Lake Sixteen miles W.S.W. the Salmon River was reached, the head of the Nechacco, Gatcho Lake being crossed Between this lake and the Salmon, where the general dense forest of scrub pine has been burned, a rank growth of fine grass was found, and some of the swamps were grassy. The Salmon river has only a moderately rapid current, and is not much depressed below the level of the plateau which slopes gently towards it. There were signs of good soil and more congenial climate, and evidence of greater rain fall. South-westward after crossing the Salmon River, the country is stony and barren, woods mostly destroyed by fire and occasional broad swampy meadows affording good feed for animals. At Salmon House the Douglas fir is again seen as a large tree. Lignite of good quality was found on the Kohasganko, a stream flowing from the Tsitsutl range. From a rocky knoll separated from the main slope of this mountain, a magnificent view was obtained. Eleven miles from Mils the Tahyesco River was reached, through valleys which were green with well grown grass, giving very nutritious pasture. Ascending to a height of over 1,000 feet above the sea level, beyond the limit of thick forest growth, the northern brink of the great gorge of the Bella Coola Valley was reached. The country south was broken with rocky hills and one remarkable snowy range. North the surface rises in steps to the summits of the Tsitsuti range. The country is lightly timbered with some grass on the slopes and occasional fine meadows. The immense snow-fall on and immediately east of the coast range reverses the effect which the vicinity of the sea might be expected to produce. It is probable the mountains about Dean Inlet receiving the W. and S.W. winds without intervening high Islands, have a greater rain and snow-fall than usual, even in this range. From the Nacootloon lakes t he country descends gradually to the Salmon River, with dry, sandy, gravelly soil, and frequent swampy meadows with good grass. S. and s. E the whole country appears low and flat, but probably at too great an elevation for agriculture. The river is here at an elevation of 3,419 feet Going N. E., the long southern slope of the Ilgachuz Range was ascended to the height of 5,200 feet. There was good feed for the animals, large snow banks all around, and mosquitoes very troublesome. Going 13 miles to the north, the main stream of the Blackwater was reached, flowing west, and 4½ miles N E from this, th ough a densely wooded country, the Tset-si Lake Thence the course was west again to Gatcho Lake and 7 miles N.W to Qual-Cho Lake, the whole country thickly wooded. The general elevation is about. 3,300 feet, the soil poor, with occasional hay meadows. The Gatcho Lake stream is the N. E. source of the Nechacco. Following this 12 miles Euteakwetachlck Lake was reached. In the river valleys, and along the lakes and ponds, very be beautiful meadows were found, and in the sheltered valleys spruce was found of fair size. The river runs N E. from this lake by the Tooti-a-i or Fawnie's Mountain to Na-tal-kuz Lake, from which the main Nechacco River flows out. The greater part of the south bank is densely timbered. The river is a noble stream 200 feet wide, deep, with strong, steady current and deep blue water. The Ched-a-kuz ko enters it from the south. 4 miles from the lake, with a wide, flat bottomed valley, with pretty meadows East of this the ridges blend into broad sandy flats cover- ed sparsely with pine trees. The Nechacco flows N.E. & N., the soil improving and timber more heavy to the second great bend, when, for about 5 miles, it flows through a broken, hilly region, and thence in a low level, thickly timbered region to Fraser Lake. The country about Ta-cluck Lake west to Frazer Lake and east down the Nechacco, is level, or gently undulating, and more fertile in appearance than any other on the route. Francois and Fraser Lakes occupy the W. portion of a depression nearly coinciding with the 56th parallel of latitude. The upper part of the Nechacco reaches this from the south, and receiving the stream from the two Lakes flows eastward to the Fraser at Fort George. Fraser Lake is 12 miles long, 2,225 feet above sea level. The Douglas fir again appears in some abundance on the hills about, it. Francois Lake is 57¾ miles long, about 1½ wide, at an elevation of 2,375 feet, lying nearly E. and W Its depth must be great, and the Indians say in mild winters it does not freeze across, The north shore is generally low, and the soil appears to be fertile. The south shore is rougher and pretty heavily timbered, but beyond, the country is less thickly wooded, and presents a fertile and attractive appearance. Judging from the flora it would be suited to the growth of barley, oats and roots, and to the support of stock. Between Fort Fraser and Stewart Lake, little land suited to agriculture occurs on the trail, but the low country to the east is very extensive and appears fertile At Stuart's Lake fine cabbages and other vegetables were growing in Mr. Hamilton's garden, and barley and potatoes for the use of the Fort. At Fort George, at the confluence of the Nechacco with the Fraser, wheat and grain of all kinds can be grown.
The Chilacco Valley forms a great trough in the generally level surface of; the country, about a mile wide, margined by abrupt slopes, and with a very fertile soil The plants indicate a greater rain fall than usual in the interior. The region examined lies between 520 30 and 540 10 N. Lat., and 1220 50 and 1260 40, W. Long., covering some 15,000 square miles of surface.
There is scarcely a stream of any importance in British Columbia that does not yield gold. The probability is, that as the country is opened up, and the cost of labour and supplies reduced, the whole of the Province will be found gold-bearing to some extent, and it will take the first place as the "ining Province of the Dominion." Silver, copper and galena are also found. Coal is also found over a large portion of the Province. Iron, copper and mercury have been found in various places. [ unclear: building] stone is in unlimited supply, and marble of good quality has been found in various place-; but as yet the knowledge of the resources of British Columbia is in its infancy.
Mr Robert Bell during the season of 6, was examining the country north of Lake Huron, and ast of Lake Superior The north-east shore of the Georgian Bay was examined in detail The general outline of the coast represents a comparatively abrupt descent from a plateau in the country behind, to the bottom of the Bay in front. The rocks along the coast belong to the Laurentian series, and consist principally of varieties of gneiss. There is a wide broken margin of land and water of very rocky character, and not much good land found near the snore. But the country improves constantly from the Bay towards Lake Nipissing, and there is much good land around Muskoka Lakes and Parry Sound. Five bands of crystalline limestone were traced between the Bay and Lake Nipissing
Going west, the Huronian rocks were first met at Shibapaoning. About three miles north-west of tills place was found a promising deposit of magnetic iron ore. Copper, magnetic iron, antimony and galena were found in the neighbourhood of Echo Lake. The Victoria mine, 8 miles from the mouth of Garden River was visited. Assays of galena ore from this mine gave one, 168½ oz. of silver to the ton, one, twelve two fifths oz., and one, two-sixth oz. The east shore of Lake Superior was followed in detail by boat from Batchawana Bay to Michipicoten. Three or four miles west of this river two exposures of hematite occur.
The God Erich Salt Region.
was explored in 1876 more fully than before, by boring with a diamond drill, by Henry Attrill, New York. The boring was carried to a depth of 1,517 feet. The salt bearing strata were found to be nearly horizontal. Examination of the sec ions was made by Prof. T. S. Hunt, and six beds of rock salt were found in the depth bored, from 6 to 31 feet thick. The total thickness of the layers of salt is 126 feet, without counting the thin layers and veins in the intervening rocks. The second and third beds are only 7 feet apart, are remarkably pure, and may be regarded as one great workable mass of rock salt. The analysis only showed foreign matter one portion of it of less than one-fourth of one per cent. A layer of rock-salt one foot thick, is estimated to yield for each acre 2,873 tons of 2,000 lbs. In place of the comparatively costly process of the manufacture from brines, a deposit is here offered almost inexhaustible in extent, and much of it of exceptional purity. No rock salt has as yet been discovered in the saline formation in New York, but on Saginaw Bay in Michigan it has been found at the depth of 2,085 feet.
Mr. Vennor spent the season of 1876 in the counties of Pontiac and Ottawa, Que., in 1875 in Renfrew Co. in Ontario. The crystalline limestones of that country were found to go up the Ottawa from Arnprior to Fitzroy Harbour and then across that river to Bristol A synclinal of the limestones extends westward up the Madawaska The trough or depression is found to be continuous from Madoc to Arnprior, and joins the Hastings series Another great basin or synclinal of crystalline limestone runs inland from the Ottawa valley in Horton along the Bonnechere Kiver for 52 miles. The thickness of the limestone was found the same as in Lanark Co., from 8 to 6,000 feet. But three great divisions or groups of rocks are found to exist in Eastern Ontario: 1. A great gneissic and syenitic series without limestones 2. A thinner gneis- sic series, with labradorites and limestones. 3. Lower Silnrian, Potsdam to Trenton. On the opposite side of the Ottawa, in Quebec, the rocks were found to be of precisely the same general character. It is probable another limestone trough exists up the Ottawa valley as far as the Upper Allumette Lake. The great Ramsay, Lanark and Dalhousie band crossing at Bristol, and along that township and Clarendon, runs inland northward for more than 100 miles, and after a number of zig-zags, again approaches the Ottawa and joins the Petite Nation and Grenville series Iron ore was found from Hull to Post Creek, in Cameron township, between the Gatineau and Thirty-one-mile Lake, 54 miles in a direct line north from the Ottawa River Apatite is found in the townships of Buckingham and Templeton in a belt of rocks averaging 1¾ miles in width, running N.E. from near the centre of Templeton. The belt is very productive and the apatite of very tine quality. It has also been found in Hull and Wakefield, and probably exists some distance north along the Gatineau, S E. of the apatite belt. The plumbago-bearing rocks occupy a very large area in Buckingham and Lochaber
Mr. G F. Mathew was engaged in 1875 and 1876 in Charlotte Co., New Brunswick. In 1875 the summer was spent in the examination of the "dark argillites," or Upper Silurian slates of the north-west part of the county, and that of 1876, in the south-east part of the same county, in order to ascertain the age of some groups of strata in that quarter, described as "Coastal" and "Kingston" series. The former are described to be probably Laurentian. Between Lepreau Basin and Dipper Harbour there is an abundance of dark grey and pale grey limestone, apparently inexhaustible in quantity, with two good harbours close at hand and a heavy growth of wood on the ridge. The "Kingston series" has the same characteristics as the "Upper Silurian" of the north-west part of the county. Two important metalliferous zones occur in the "Kingston," containing copper, lead, bismuth and iron. In the vicinity of Lepreau Basin, a shaft 90 feet deep had been sunk to test the beds of anthracite coal found there. The mineral is agranular anthracite. Slaty layers are irregularly distributed through the upper part of the seam, but improve in quality on the south side, and at the bottom four feet of pure coal had been penetrated without reaching the foot wall of the seam. At St. George three companies have been formed for the purpose of working the beautiful dark red granite quarries The rock is red, of various degrees of intensity, with occasional large patches 20 to 49 feet across, of indefinite length, of pale cream colour and grey. Blocks 20 or 30 feet long are taken out by blast, and can be readily split The whole surface is capable of very high polish
Professor Bailey and Mr. Ells made an examination of portions of Albert and Westmoreland counties, New Brunswick, in order to obtain a more accurate knowledge of the belt of the lower carboniferous rocks traversing those counties, and especially of the belt of "Albert Shale," holding the deposit of Albertite. This Lower Carboniferous belt lies along the northern flank and eastern end of a chain of high lands, which extends from St. John eastwardly to a little beyond the centre of Albert County. The "Albert Shales," the most important member of this series, traverses the County of Albert in two distinct and well defined bands. The shales are, In general, thinly bedded, splitting easily into thin and flexible sheets, alternating with thicker and harder beds, very tough, and breaking only with a conchoidal fracture. All are highly bituminous, with frequent occurrences of streaks and layers of oily matter and from the more sandy beds fluid petroleum may be seen to flow. In certain bands of the shale, vast numbers of fossil fishes occur. These bituminous shales occupy an area of about 250 acres The "Albert" mine is now being worked at a depth of 1,260 feet, and a trial hole shows its continuance 100 feet further. The albertite is not a true coal, but an oxidised hydrocarbon, at one time existing, like petroleum, in a condition of fluidity. Besides the veins of "Albertite," the Albert shales also contain themselves a sufficient quantity of bituminous matter to make them available sources of supply both of on and gas. It is also probable they may be available for the manufacture of paving mater all or cements. The plaster beds found in this Lower Carboniferous series, are the most extensive and valuable in New Brunswick Much of the rocks a pure white snowy alabaster, easily cut or ground, other portions pale cream colour, light grey, light blue, and translucent. The analysis of the albertite shows that out contains 86 parts of carbon.
Mr. Fletcher was engaged during the summer of 1876, in the counties of Victoria, Cape Breton, and Richmond, Nova Scotia, being that part of the island of Capo Breton lying between Loch Lomond, Salmon and Mira Rivers on the east, and the Groat Bras D'Or and St Patrick Channel on the west. The Bras d'Or Lakes occupy deep basins, excavated in soft, carboniferous strata, encompassed by hills of lignite and other pre-silurian rocks They are connected with each other by Barra Strait, with the Gulf of St. Lawrence by the Great and Little Bras d Or, and with the Atlantic Ocean by the St Peter's Canal Plaster, iron, and building stone are found on their shores, and their scenery is of surpassing beauty. Fish of all sorts abound in the bays and streams, and ducks, loons, cranes, sea pigeons, plover, partridges, fox, rabbit, mink and wild cat offer attractions to the sportsman. At East Bay there is a mineral spring similar to that of St. Catharines. Ont Feldspathic and gneissoid rocks form the surface over a large area, constituting hill ranges, seldom exceeding 600 feet in height The prevailing scarcity of superficial deposits, other than those produced from the disintegration of the underlying rocks, is worthy of notice. The banks are sometimes composed of stratified sand, clay and gravel, the gravel at the bottom, and at some places black magnetic iron sand is strewn along the beach. Sometimes the shores are low with ponds nearly dry and capable of being reclaimed as excellent hay land. Interval lands of great fertility are found in the valleys of the larger brooks, but the country is generally sterile. The best farms have a rich marl or calcareous lower carboniferous bottom. Hematite and calcspar are of universal occurrence, the former very pure. Clay, iron, stone, bog iron ore, pyrolusite, copper ore, galena containing gold and silver, molybdenite and gold have been discovered. Coal has been found in three ocalities in the sandstone, and in two in the carboniferous conglomerate, and gypsum, marbles, syenite, porphyry and granite, fireclay and sandstone can all be obtained on the shores of these lakes.
The results of assays of a number of minerals by Mr. Harrington are given. Those of coal and lignite were from B Columbia, the coal from the Nicola River giving less than three per cent, of ash and yielding a bright and tolerably firm coke, from the North Thompson, 13 of ash, a bright firm coke and nearly approaching a true bituminous coal; from the Upper Nechacco, lignite giving 4.89 of ash, and the volatile and fixed combustible matter nearly equal; Baynes Sound, Vancouver's Island, a fierce bright coal; Little Lepreau, N.B, an impure anthracite coal, giving 37 parts of ash and 57 fixed carbon; fort Hood, N. S, a bright coal, but with so much sulphur as greatly to detract from its value; and from McAdam Lake, N.S., a coaly shale having 53 per cent, of ash, but yet coking. The average percentage of ash in 16 samples of Vancouver Island coal was 9.58, and of fixed carbon 59.37. The coal east of the 112th meridian is of inferior quality to that west, the average of fixed carbon for them being only 39.89.
Iron Ores.—The hematite from Cape Breton yielded 59½ parts of metallic iron, that from Flamborough, Ont., 28½. The titaniferous iron ore from shawenagan, Q., gave 34.64 of iron; and from Ste. Julienne, 38 27. The magnetic iron ore from Texada Island, B.C, gave 68.40 of metallic iron, and spathic iron ore from Cape Breton 32.58.
A specimen of Manganese from Cleveland, Quebec, gave only 15 15 per cent, of peroxide of manganese. Copper from Poison's Lake, N.S., yielded 1170 copper, and 35.57 metallic iron.
Of 12 specimens of quartz from British Columbia the best gave 0.385 oz. gold to the ton, and 1.312 silver. From the Eureka Mine at Fort Hope, a specimen gave 221 66 oz. to the ton. A specimen from Batehewana Bay, Lake Superior, gave 15.67 oz. to the ton of silver, and one from Jackfield Bay 0.198 gold and 5.40 silver. One specimen from the Victoria Mine gave 168.477 oz. of silver to the ton, but this was a very much larger yield than obtained from any other specimens from that mine. Two specimens from Hatly and Sherbrooke. Q., gave 219 oz. and 10.28 oz. silver to the ton.
A specimen from the calcareous band reached in the boring on swan River, near Fort Pelly, was found to contain no less than 90½ per cent, of carbonate of lime.
A comparison of Canadian graphite with that of Ceylon, having been instituted by Mr. Christian Hoffman, it was found that in respect to incombustibility the Canadian graphite is fully equal to that of Ceylon, and is therefore equally suited for the manufacture of crucibles.