The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-06 00:00:00

' GEOLOGICAL SURVEY of CANADA
(From the Montreal Courier.)
Subjoined we give Mr. Logan's narrative of the ope-
rations in Gaspe and the neighbourhood. The whole
report is too lengthy for us to republish, and we must
content ourselves with giving the results arrived at.
After a patient and thorough examination of the strata
of this district, the provincial geologist found no beds of
coal, although a seam of half an inch thickness was dis-
covered. It is the opinion of Mr. Logan that the narrow
margin of the north shore of the Bay of Chaleurs is the
limit in that direction of the great eastern coal field of
North America.
Bituminous shales, some of which yield a bright flame
on being burned are abundant, and these have led to the
erroneous belief that coal was in the vicinity. Bitumi-
nous limestones were also found.
Blood red and .other coloured jaspers in masses of
some pounds weight were found in considerable quanti-
ties, and also a variety of beautiful agates.
Two petroleum or naphtha springs were exa-
mined ; one is situated on the south side of the St.
John's River, one mile and a half above Douglass
Town, and issues through a sub-stratum of clay, and
a super stratum of vegetable remains, and becomes
apparent among the mud and shingle of the beach,
and appears to be connected with a bituminous deposit of
a solid nature found in small nodules embedded in the
rock, at the distance of 20 miles. Pits being dug in the
beach, the naphtha collects upon the surface of the
water. The quantity, however, is not considerable, from
12 pits only half a pint was obtained with difficulty, in
four hours. It is not said whether any means might not
be taken, such as the sinking of the pits to a greater
depth, to increase the product to such a degree as to
make it of commercial advantage.
The second spring is situated about 200 yards up a
small fork of the Silver Brook, a tributary of the South
West Arm falling into it six or seven miles above
Gaspe Basin. Two sulphur springs of the same charac-
ter as those which exist in many parts of the province
were also noticed.
Many fossils were discovered, and among them, one
supposed to be new, of the order Brontes, to which it is
proposed to apply the term Canadensis.
Two veins of galena were discovered ; the one is
situated in Little Gaspe Cove, and measures in the thick-
est part one inch width, but gradually terminates both
ways in a few yards, from a fault; the other is in the
Indian Cove, close to the fishing stage of Messrs. Pierre
and Antoine Simon, consisting of a lode 12 yards wide,
in which the principal vein measures two inches in
width. Upon assay the galena crystals were found to
consist of more antimony than lead, existing in combina-
tion with sulphur. It is not probable that either of these
veins are worth the working.
Argillaceous iron ore distributed through a rock of
very hard structure exists in a greater or less degree,
over the whole district, but in no locality was it found
in sufficiently large quantities for mining purposes. Upon
assay the ore yielded 26 per cent. of pure iron.
There was also found, upon lot 37, in New Carlisle,
belonging to a Mr. Thompson, a small vein of micaceous
iron ore, coming up to the surface, so that the plough
turned up lumps of it. The extent of capability of this
vein was not investigated.
This is the sum of the discoveries made, and it must
be admitted that they are of a negative character. The
question of the immense mineral resources of Gaspe is,
however, set at rest for ever, by the establishment of the
fact that such do not exist; and the Legislature will he
saved the trouble of incorporating any more mining com-
panies in that direction.
We trust that Mr. Logan's next tour will be through
the copper region of Lake Superior; his observations on
that locality will be of great service to the country.