,,geological ,,report ,,on ,,asbestos1 ,,and ,,its ,,indications1 ,,in ,,the ,,province ,,of ,,quebec1 ,,canada4 ,,london3 ,e4 ,,forster ,,groom1 #ae1 ,,charing ,,cross1 ,s4,w4 #ahhi4 ,all rights reserved4 ,,geological ,,report ,,on ,,asbestos1 ,,and ,,its ,,indications ,,in ,,the ,,province ,,of ,,quebec1 ,,canada4 ,having been called upon to make a close and careful examination of the geological formations in the eastern townships of ,garthby1 ,wolf'stown1 and ,coleraine1 situated in the province of ,quebec1 ,canada1 ,i gave special attention to the distribution of the ,asbestos-bearing rocks 7serpentine71 which have been1 in my opinion1 heretofore only partially traced4 ,perhaps this was owing to the difficulties which had to be encountered from the thick undergrowth which in many places rendered it almost impossible to penetrate sufficiently in order to make a true report as regards the existence1 location1 and association of these rocks4 ,admirable reports have been written by ,r4 ,e4 ,ellis1 ,,ll4,d41 ,dr4 ,hunt1 and others1 on the origin and distribution of the serpentines1 and have been fully discussed and ventilated4 ,still1 though various opinions have been expressed upon the subject1 they appear to differ in many respects4 ,i mention these facts as possibly one inexperienced or unacquainted with the country might consider it strange that a thorough examination of the ,asbestos properties had not been followed4 ,yet the causes ,i have mentioned above1 as well as the difficulties ,i had to contend with during the months of heavy snowfall1 lead me to believe that my confreres 7geologists7 were disinclined to follow up a correct and actual prospectus of these valuable serpentinous localities4 ,before locating1 or going into details of these classes of rock as a mineral repository1 ,i intend to treat on the subject as regards their mode of existence and origin4 ,serpentine is diffused under the head of metamorphic rocks1 while1 in the widest sense1 according to ,studor and others1 mineral metamorphism means every change of aggregation1 structure1 or chemical condition1 which rocks have undergone subsequently to their deposition and stratification1 or the effects which have been produced by forces other than gravity and cohesion4 ,there fall under this definition the discolouration of the surface of1 for instance1 black limestone1 by the loss of its carbon1 the formation of brownish red crusts in rocks of limestone1 sandstone1 many slatestones1 shales1 granite1 c41 by the decomposition of compounds of iron1 finely disseminated in the mass of the rock1 the change in rocks consequent in the absorption of water1 and the crumbling of many granites and porphyries into gravel1 occasioned by the decomposition of the mica and felspar4 ,in its more limited sense the term metamorphic is confined to those changes of rock which are produced directly or indirectly by agencies seated in the interior of the earth4 ,in many cases the mode of change may be explained by our physical or chemical theories1 and may be viewed as the effects of temperature or of electro-chemical actions adjoining rocks or connecting communications with the interior of the earth1 also distinctly point out the seat from which this change proceeds4 ,in many other cases the metamorphic process itself remains a mystery1 and from the nature of the products alone do we conclude that such a metamorphic action has taken place4 ,serpentine is generally believed to have been originally deposited as a sediment1 and to have acquired its present compact crystalline character through the subsequent action of various chemical1 or mechanical1 agencies4 ,it is known to be a hydrated silicate of magnesia with about equal parts of silica and magnesia1 and contains #ab per cent4 of water with varying proportions of iron1 chromium manganese1 alumina and lime1 has a specific gravity of #b4g1 and weighs about #afi lbs4 to the cubic foot4 ,it is found both in a soft and very compact state1 of a waxy lustre1 with many different shades of beautiful green which give it a mottled appearance like a serpent1 hence the origin of its name serpentine1 or ophite4 ,it is called ranocchia by the ,italians1 from the appearance it bears to the frog1 and1 on account of its susceptibility to a high polish1 is greatly valued as a marble for interior ornamental purposes1 more than exterior1 as it weathers rapidly4 ,in ,galway1 ,ireland1 it is found in large quantities1 and called serpentinous marble1 or ophi-calcite4 ,it is also to be found in other parts of the world1 as in the ,pyrenees1 ,alps of ,dauphing1 ,mount ,st4 ,gothard1 ,italy1 ,sweden1 ,ural ,mountains1 ,silesia1 ,new ,south ,wales1 ,savoy1 ,corsica1 ,cornwall1 ,scotland1 and other places too numerous to mention2 but in ,canada the finest and most crystalline serpentine is to be found forming great belts of over #ajj miles long and several thousand feet in breadth4 ,there it associates with the dioretic1 or volcanic1 rocks1 and is1 according to ,dr4 ,ells1 without any doubt1 ,an alteration product of a dioretic rock rich in olivine4 ,it is sometimes very difficult to distinguish the mineral constituents in many of the metamorphic rocks1 but diorite is always considered to be composed chiefly of felspar and hornblende1 which composition enters largely into the serpentines4 ,actinolite1 tremolite1 c41 and many other minerals1 are sometimes found associating with it4 ,there are many valuable properties attributed to serpentine1 and ,i am of opinion that the time is not far distant when it will be commercially considered an invaluable substance1 and this on account of its refractory properties4 ,i may also mention that it can be extensively used in the manufacture of crucibles1 c4 ,its soft and unctuous qualities 7especially where it is found associated with steatite1 or soapstone1 which is often to be seen in large quantities7 renders it easy to be worked1 and1 if reduced to a powder1 could be moulded in bricks which the most intense heat will not affect4 ,one of the chief properties it contains1 and one which the serpentine of ,lower ,canada is so famous for1 is the ,asbestos1 crysotile1 or fibrous serpentine4 ,this valuable and important mineral product is found in paying quantities only at certain points in the extensive serpentine reefs1 and was first mined as an article of commerce in ,canada in #ahgh1 and has now become a regular and rapidly-developing industry4 ,on account of its incombustible and indestructible qualities1 is extensively used in steam1 hydraulic1 and electrical machinery4 ,it has been adopted by the ,admiralty for engine packing1 in ,her ,majesty's war-ships4 ,it is spun into six-fold yarn1 with a tensile strength of #dj lbs4 and upwards1 is manufactured into cloth1 as clothing for firemen1 and covering hose-pipes1 in fire brigades1 and also engine purposes1 as well as drop-curtains1 and general stage scenery1 and is employed by the principal railway and steamship companies1 collieries1 ironworks and all classes of factories1 and1 in the manufacture of the new ,asbestos grates and stoves1 is finding for itself a large market4 ,messrs4 ,bell ,company of ,london1 who are the largest ,asbestos users in the world1 have adopted it in the manufacture of over #ej special purposes in connection with steam engines and general machinery1 and1 as a lubricant1 ,asbestoline ranks in the first degree4 ,there have been many mines started in ,canada by people of the farming class1 as well as by companies1 and cotton1 as ,asbestos is locally termed1 has been found in large quantities within a few feet from the surface1 in veins from #a_/d to #f inches and more in length of fibre4 ,in ,italy1 ,asbestos is found1 measuring up to #f feet1 in fibre1 and chemically speaking1 there is no difference between it and ,canadian1 except that the latter1 though shorter in fibre1 is much more compact and crystalline1 and purer in every sense of the word than can be obtained in ,italy1 so much so1 as ,i understand1 that users of ,italian material have virtually abandoned it for ,canadian4 ,although ,i have no doubt but that ,italian ,asbestos has its own special purposes4 ,the greatest depth reached in ,canada is #acj feet in open workings4 ,no timbering or extensive machinery is used in the manipulation of the mines1 as the cuts--being usually in the mountain side--afford a natural drainage1 and dumpage4 ,having blasted the rock1 the first process of extraction is termed cobbing1 which means breaking off the adhering serpentine from the ,asbestos vein1 this being manual work done by boys4 ,the fibre is packed in sacks1 each weighing #ajj lbs41 and in some cases #bjj lbs4 are shipped by the local railroad company to ,montreal or ,new ,york at something about #aj cents and #bj cents per sack4 ,asbestos is sorted into three qualities1 and priced thus3-- #ast quality1 selling at mine #hj to #bjj1 per ton of #b1jjj lbs4 #bnd #fj #gj1 #crd #be #ej1 ,some inferior quality1 at a very low price1 is used by the ,asbestos ,mining and ,manufacturing ,company of ,quebec4 ,the workmen are principally ,french ,canadians belonging to the neighbouring villages1 and the wages paid them are-- ,miners 7without board71 #j4ij 7#c_/i7 to #a4be 7#e_/b71 per day4 ,pickers and cobbers1 #j4dj 7#a_/h7 #j4gj 7#b_/aa71 ,the cost of extraction is taken from #bj to #be per ton2 this includes local administrations and all other expenses connected with the mine1 and with the adoption of machinery and the use of air-compressed drills the cost of actual mining will be reduced to at least #cj per cent42 so taking an average price of about #gj per ton1 a net profit of from #h pound to #i pound1 or #de pound1 is obtainable per ton of raw material4 ,in #ahhf the total amount of ,asbestos1 taken from all the mines1 may be estimated at #a1ejj tons1 and of the amount returned last year 7#ahhh71 all but #djj tons were from the ,quebec province mines1 and of these ,thetford turned out #b1efj tons1 and ,black ,lake #iej1 or together three-fourths of the whole out-put4 ,the #djj tons were from ,bridgewater1 in the province of ,ontario1 a somewhat different class of mineral1 which is generally used in the manufacture of fire-proof roofing4 ,as regards the indications of ,asbestos1 it is a general recognised fact1 and one that may be depended on1 that not alone in ,canada1 but indeed all other places where ,asbestos-bearing serpentine is found1 the existence of ,asbestos1 or ,amianthus1 is noticed when the serpentine is exposed1 and presents a rusted1 sometimes greyish and broken appearance1 due to decomposition or weathering1 or covered with a thin layer of soil4 ,small veins of ,asbestos are to be seen forming a network on the surface of the rock4 ,if closely examined there may be noticed the indications of a fault which1 in the eastern townships of ,quebec1 has generally a direction of ,n4 #dj degrees ,e41 this fault appearing in all openings where a good show of mineral is to be seen1 presenting a wall either in a vertical position or at an angle1 which is preferred to be not greater than #cj degrees4 ,from this wall1 at a varying distance of from #e to #bj feet1 will be found another1 sometimes parallel to1 or at an opposite angle2 in this latter case1 if these walls be worked down1 they will be found to either meet1 forming a trough-like appearance1 or to change their course in a downward direction1 leaving only a few feet from each other at the narrowest point1 and then diverge to an unlimited depth4 ,in this case their faces will have a slicken appearance1 smeared over with thin layers of imperfect ,asbestos1 or crysotile1 now and then compact1 fibrous hornblende1 up to #bd inches in length1 of various colours1 and rich deposits of olivine1 in rare cases small quantities of ground ivory with many other admixtures4 ,the condition of the serpentine within these walls is greatly distorted1 containing many small veins of ,asbestos varying from mere threads to #b and #c inches in thickness1 and sometimes deposits of grains of magnetic iron or magnetite with traces of chromic iron1 which in some localities break the continuity of the fibre1 veins of rich white crystalline matter 7perhaps calcareous7 with large deposits of soapstone1 or steatite1 associated with serpentite4 ,such contorted out-crops are indications of rich veins of ,asbestos1 which will be found to both increase in quantity and quality the deeper they are worked4 ,and in the case where the walls are parallel and the filling matter in the same contorted condition1 it is inevitable1 in order to obtain a good fibre1 considerable depth should be reached4 ,the serpentine1 which constitute these walls1 will also be found to proportionally become more compact1 and less associated with impurities1 and contain the finest quality and lustre of fibre4 ,a very interesting phenomenon may be noticed at some of the mines in connection with this contorted matter4 ,it is the transposition of the serpentine into ,asbestos fibre1 by the action of the atmosphere4 ,this is to be seen on the dumps where the filling matter and cobbed rock is exposed4 ,in one or two cases ,i have seen large quantities of broken rock changed into fibre after a few years1 by atmospherical chemical agencies4 ,in so many cases ,i find people are prejudiced from going deeper than a few feet from the surface1 as not finding a copious supply of ,asbestos there1 when good indications are shown they become disheartened4 ,therefore1 from these practical facts it will be seen that in order to get the best results it is necessary to work at the lowest possible level when a favourable out-crop is shown1 as1 possibly1 working at a high elevation on the out-crop may be a mistake1 where a lower point is available4 ,there are good indications of ,asbestos where the serpentine is crossed by quartzose1 gneiss1 or traverse dykes1 and some valuable finds have been made at the junction with the dioretic rocks4 ,when the serpentine is found dark in colour1 to have a granular appearance1 containing many dark grains of1 perhaps1 felspathic crystals1 the ,asbestos will be of a dark1 dull1 translucent lustre1 very compact1 and easily fluffed to a fine silken fibre4 ,the admixtures of hard and soft serpentine1 where not effected by a fault1 may sometimes be regarded as a doubtful indication of an immediate find1 but if its hardness increases on descending1 and colour becomes more uniform1 from a light emerald green with a whitish admixture1 to a dark olive1 and containing numerous small veins of fibre1 the conclusions may be considered as favourable to rich deposits of ,asbestos4 ,in conclusion ,i may add that the foregoing remarks1 as regards the indications of this valuable mineral1 are based on my personal geological experience1 and the reliable information of the managers of the various ,asbestos mines in ,canada1 whose opinions have greatly aided me in my recent prospection1 and ,i trust that this pamphlet will not alone be a benefit to them1 but to the ,asbestos industry1 which ,i feel assured will be one of the most prominent in the province of ,quebec4 ,,lucius ,j4 ,,boyd1 ,c4,e41 ,f4,r4,g4,s4,i4