a. Brecciated serpentine, dark green with grey markings.

8. Orford, Q., lot 12, range 8..

Geological Survey.

a. Brecciated serpentine, dark green with light green and white spots.

9. Orford, Q.......

Geological Survey.

a. A square column of dark green serpentine veined with white calcite, 15 X 15 X 60 inches.

a. A square column of dark green serpentine with white veins, 15 X 15 X 48 inches.

14. Shipton, Q., lot 8, range 5

......

a. Dark green serpentine with yellowish spots.

...Geological Survey.

The band of serpentine from which specimens 2 to 14 have been obtained has been traced on the south side of the St. Lawrence, from Potton to Cranbourne

a distance of 140 miles; in forty miles of which it is repeated twice by undulations, giving an additional eighty miles to its outcrop. It is again recognized 250 miles farther to the N.E., in Mount Albert, in the Shickshock Mountains; and about seventy miles beyond this, in Mount Serpentine, approaching Gaspé Bay. All the specimens of these rocks, which have been analyzed, contain small quantities of chromium and nickel, and the band is associated in its distribution with soapstone, potstone, dolomite and magnesite. The whole of these occur in large quantities, and in them, as well as in the serpentine, chromic iron occurs, sometimes in workable quantities. These rocks, or others immediately near them, contain the metals, iron, lead, zinc, copper, nickel, silver and gold; with the drift gold, derived from these strata, are found platinum, iridosmine, and traces of mercury. In 1847, these serpentines, from their distribution, were described in the reports of the Geological Survey as altered sedimentary rocks. All subsequent observations confirmed this, and beautifully stratified masses of it were afterwards discovered in Mount Albert. In some of the brecciated serpentines from Melbourne numerous fragments of organic remains have been discovered, leaving no doubt as to their stratified origin and Palæozoic age. None of the serpentines, and, with the few trifling exceptions that have been mentioned, none of the marbles of Canada, have yet been quarried for economic purposes. All of the specimens of them exhibited by the Geological Survey are consequently from parts of the strata that have long been exposed to the influence of the weather, and are of course inferior to the unweathered portions beneath. There appears little doubt that, in time, both the limestones and serpentines will afford a great amount of beautiful material for architectural purposes.-Quebec Group, Lower Silurian.

Slates.

SLATES, FLAGSTONES, LIME, BRICKS, AND DRAIN TILES.

1. New Rockland Slate Quarry, Q..................

a. Specimens of roofing slate, eight sizes.

C. Drummond, Montreal.

b. Planed slabs (14 feet 6 inches by 3 feet. 3 inches), for billiard tables.

c. Hearthstones (4 feet by 1 foot 6 inches).

d. Pastry slabs, two sizes (2 feet and 1 foot 6 inches square).

e. Library shelves (3 feet long and 7 inches wide).

This quarry is situated at a distance of about five miles south-westward from the Richmond station on the Grand Trunk Railway; but the line of a projected railroad passes within a few hundred yards of the quarry. It was first opened in 1868, and has been worked ever since. The quarry is at the top of a steep hill which is nearly 500 feet over the level of the St. Francis River at Richmond. Its depth is now upwards of 100 feet, and it presents natural facilities for working to a depth of 300. In 1874 the company commenced the manufacture of slab-slate, and erected a mill with superior machinery, for sawing, planing and rubbing such materials as flooring, hearths, billiard-beds, blackboards, &c. The company have about eighty men constantly employed, and produce between 7,000 and 8,000 squares of roofing slates a year. The following list shows the number of pieces to the square (100 square feet) of the various sizes of first class slate made by the company. All these are sold at a uniform price of $5 per square delivered on the cars at Richmond. Other sizes are made to order. Slate of second quality is sold at a lower price.-Quebec Group.

This quarry is situated on elevated ground on lot twenty-two, range six, township of Melbourne, at a distance of one mile and a half west of the St. Francis River. A tunnel has been driven through a bank of serpentine which lies between the face of the hill and the slate band. The quarry is opened on the summit of the hill, and is now more than 100 feet deep and several hundred feet long. The present bottom of the quarry is upwards of 300 feet over the St. Francis River, so that a great body of slate remains to be quarried above the natural drainage level. The quarry has been in operation almost continually since 1860, when it was first opened, but the production has varied greatly according to the demand. At present about forty men are employed, and about 3,000 squares are said to have been made in 1875. A variety of sizes are made to suit the market, and the slates are sold at an average price of $3.80 a square delivered on the cars at Richmond Station. Mr. Benjamin Walton, of Melbourne, Q. is the proprietor and manager.Quebec Group.

The above quarries are about two miles apart, and are situated upon the same band of slate, which has a vertical attitude with a breadth of about a quarter of a mile, and runs S.W. and N. E. In the latter direction, it crosses the St. Francis River and runs through Cleveland and Shipton, in both of which townships quarries have also been opened upon it. The slates are of a bluish-black colour, smooth surfaced, thin, light and strong. Experience has proved them to be unsurpassed, if equalled, by slates from any other part of the world. Their chemical composition is almost identical with that of the slates of Anger in France, which have withstood the climate of Montreal for upwards of one hundred years.

3. Rankin Hill Slate Quarry, Q.....

a. Specimens of red slates.

b.

"green

Geological Survey.

This quarry is situated on lot twenty-five, range five, township of Acton, about four miles east of Actonvale station on the Grand Trunk Railway. The quarry which was opened in June, 1875, is now about 150 feet long and sixty feet wide, with a depth which increases from ten feet at the west end to thirty feet at the other. The greater Iart of the slate is red, the green occurring in large patches having no reference to the bedding or the cleavage, both of which dip N. 80° E. (mag.) at an angle of about 12 to the horizon. The quarry has the advantage of being near the Grand Trunk Railway, and the rock is easily quarried. A small quantity of slate has been already sold at about $5.50 a square. It is used for ornamental work in slate roofing. About eighty men have been employed for some months in opening the quarry. Mr. John Rankin, of Montreal, is the principal owner. He is also proprietor of a quarry of green slate situated about a mile west of Actonvale.Quebec Group.

The works of this Company are situated at Gansonville, near Danville. The following is their price list:

There is at the quarry from which this specimen was obtained an exposed thickness of seven feet, made up of beds of light grey sandstone from one to six inches thick, and splitting with great ease into large slabs which can be delivered on the cars at Limehouse station for from twenty to forty cents per square foot, according to size and thickness. Similar flagstones are obtained from the same band at Hamilton and elsewhere.-Grey band, Medina formation.

2. McBride's Corners, O.

a. Specimens of flagstone, red and white.

James Howley, Montreal.

The quarry from which these stones were obtained is about twelve miles from Kingston, and near the Rideau Canal. The thickness of the beds ranges from two inches to two feet.—Potsdam formation.

3. Nepean, O., lot 6, range 2.

Henry Bishop, Bell's Corners, O.

a. Flagstone (sandstone.)

Good stones could be got at this place, but the expense of taking them out would be too great, unless the quarry were extensively wrought.-Potsdam for

This paving stone has been used in St. Peter and St. Paul streets South Quebec -Quebec Group.

6. Cap a L'Aigle, Murray Bay, Q..

a. Flagstone for sidewalks.

b. Paving stone.

c. Curbstone.

Pitton & Co., South Quebec.

These different kinds of stone can all be obtained of a y desired size at this quarry. There is a good wharf at Murray Bay, so that barges and schooners can load direct for Quebec or Motrea'.