P R OV I NC E OF QU E B EQ CA NA DA

O F C L % S A S S D E PARTM E NT O O N I ATI O N , MI N E ND F I H E RI E

M I N ES B R A N C H

MI N STE R . F H ON O U RA B L C . . V L I N I S U A U L P U Y MI N I S R E R DE , % D T , DE T TE %

- E E I I . . N S P R NT NDE N F T E o C DE I , SU I T O MI N E S

G EO L O GY. A ND NATURA L RESOURCES

OF TH E BASI N S OF

Harric anaw and Nottaway Riv ers

NO R THnm sT E RN' Q U EB EC

A U T E N B A N C R O F T P h . D . % . S ,

V . L U BY L . F P RI NTE D I TEA ,

PR I NTE R To H I S MO ST E % CE L L E NT MA% E ST Y TH E KI NG Q U E B E C

TAB L E OF C ONTE NT S

I ntroduction I tinerary Topography

Drainage an d Water powers

Soil an d Climate Flora Fauna General G eology G eological Formations Mineral Possibilities Prospecting for Diamonds E TTE L R OF TRA N SMI TTA L .

E To THE . C . D I O N S ,

U PER I NTENDE N T OF M I NE S S ,

B P . QUE EC , Q

I beg to subm i t a short preli m i n a ry rep ort on the geology and n atura l resources of p orti on s of the d rai na ge b a si ns of the rri c n n d o st rn u H a a a w a N ottaway ri vers i n N rthwe e Q ebec .

These n otes are the resu lt of two m on ths explor ati on wor k i n

r the egi on . % A U S TEN B A NCROF T

M c Gi ll ni versi t U y ,

Men tre l ovem ber nd a 2 1 1 2 . , N , 9 ‘ ' ' NOTES ON THE GEOLOGY AND NATURAL RESO RC , U ES

OF PORTION S OF T HE D RAI NAG E BA SI N S

OF TH E H A R R I C A N A W A N D N O T T A WA Y R I V E R S

O R H W S R N B N T E TE Q UE E C .

I N TROD UCTI ON

. T . . D Under instructions from Mr C enis , the Superin tendent of Mines , about two months were spent in making a rapid trip of geological reconnaissance to the north of the Transcontinental

R ailway i n northwestern Quebec . The chief aim of the expedition was to collect data bearing upon the possibilities of the occurrence of valuable minerals in that portion of the region traversed but in addition , certain observations with reference to other natural resources may prove to be of interest . This report is of a very preliminary nature . h n T e was a . A writer fortu ate in having the ssistance of Mr . O . D E P t ufresne , a graduate of the cole oly echnique , Montreal .

The railroad crosses t he Harricanaw river at Amos I ti nerar % , y 1 4 1 miles eastward from Cochrane and 62 miles due P east from the western boundary of the rovince of Quebec . Leav A 8t h H ing mos on July , the expedition followed the arricanaw 72 northward for about miles , where a portage extends to the head f A waters o the llard river , which flows into the western end of

Matagami lake . Upon reaching this lake the party was divided , D G Mr . ufresne passing eastward to explore ull and Olg a lakes , while the writer descended the Not t a way river for 1 00 miles to a point 1 0 miles below Kelvin lake and about 34 miles from the tidal water R of Rupert Bay . eturning to Matagami lake , the party united in a careful examination of its shores , and after ascending the Bell 50 i t s Nat a a an river for about miles , came up large tributary , the g g 4 h. A w S . t as river , arriving at the railway on ept track survey made of the N a t a g ag an river from it s mouth to a point about 1 7 w miles from the railway do nstream , to which point a survey of the G S a river was made by W . J . Wilson of the eological urvey of C nada

i n 1 906 .

a wa a The No t t y v , , P revi ous Work % Bell and ri ers Matag mi Olga and G ull lakes had been pre v iously

D r . R . examined from a geological point of view by Bell , formerl y % - Acting Director of the G eological Sur v ey of Canada .

- um m e o G e o Su e o f C d 1 895 . 74 84A . S R p rt , l r v y ana a , , pp

- 1 0 . 6 4 74A . 8 6 , pp

% u e o f d G e o l o g y o f t he B a sin o f t he No t t a wa y Ri v e r G e o l . S r v y C an a a ,

- 1 K . 90 . 1 1 v o l . % . 1 2 I I I , , pp

m a f B s o f N o t t a wa e 1 0 m i e s t o 1 m c h 1 000 . G e o l o g i c al p o a i n y R i v r , l , 6 H ARRICANAW AND N OTTAW A Y RI V ERS

CHA RA CTER OF THE DI S TRI CT This area lies within what is frequentl y and To o ra h % p g p y appropriately called the clay belt of the 0 I t North . is a portion of a vast plain sloping gradually from the

- height of land to sea level at James Bay . I n crossing the Harri c n aw Nat a a an T R a , g g and Bell rivers , the ranscontinental ailway traverses the southern portion of this plain at an elevation of approximately feet above the sea , and at a distance of from 1 80 to 1 90 miles in a straight line from the nearest portions of W 1 20 James Bay . ithin miles northward from this railway , the c c 400 surfa e of the plain des ends about feet , while in the remaining 60 or 70 miles the slope becomes m ore read ily perceptible with a k m ik 00 . Sos u a descent of 6 feet Below lake , which occupies an 0 elevation of 60 feet above the sea , the rapids and chutes become heavier and more numerous on the Not t away river .

I t is an extremely level or slightly undulating region , under a lain by heavy blanket of stratified clays , from beneath which a few l ow rocky hills and ridges protrude to elevations which v ery 2 00 . I n seldom exceed feet above the surrounding country fact , elevations of much less than 1 00 feet above the average level form very prominent landmarks . The highest points in the whole region are situated in the range of mountains about five miles long

h . to the south of Matagami lake , w ere Mt Laurier , the highest 670 i point , attains an elevation of feet above th s lake , or feet

- I n D G . above sea level , and the alhousie mountains south of ull lake

From the summit of Mt . Laurier one gains a wide horizon within which no mountains of similar altitude can be seen % from its low southern margin land , much of which is swampy , extends to I n a great distance . general , the rocky ridges represent some of the more resistant portions of the rocky basement upon which the stratified clays rest . W w ere it not for its idely scattered , low , rocky hills , its shallow fi lakes % s ome of which are very l arg e an d the presence of numerous rapids along its rivers and streams , this country would be very I ‘ a a . n monotonous the maj or portion of the area , the l nd st nds but a few feet above the waterways , but locally , as along certain A Not t awa portions of the llard and y rivers , banks of stratified

1 0 3 5 u a . W clays and sand , often to feet high , rise q ite bruptly ide

pread swamps or muskegs are of frequent occurrence , especially r towa d the head waters of streams , as along the upper waters of the Allard river and in the vicinity of the two unnamed lakes which discharge into the northern arm of Sosk um ik a lake on the Not t a I n . a way river general , the land is better drained th n in the vicinity of the height of land . Apart from expenses in connection with bridge construction , it should be possible to extend a railroad in almost any direction within this region at a comparatively low cost of construction .

The origin of the level character of the topography may be stated briefly . During that very recent ch a pter in the geology of the region when the northern portion of North America was covered GEOLOGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES 7

w % i ith a great thickness of glacial ice , the pre glacial rivers flow ng

. Wh o f into James Bay ceased to exist en , through amelioration

- the climate , the margin of the ice sheet had receded to a position n orth of the height of land , a lake came into existence between the

- height of land and the retreating ice front . With continued i recession of the ice this lake became progressively larger , unt l rivers could once more flow into James Bay , when the lake became

The l ev e l - drained . surface of the plain of to day corresponds to l the bottom of this O d englacial lake . The stratified clays and sands , which are present as an almost universal covering , have k n been deposited from the waters of this historical lake , mas i g all the irregularities of the rocky floor upon which they rest , with the exception of those of such prominence that they to - day rise above the blanket of lacustrine silts . Locally , the stratified clays may be seen to rest upon boulder clay .

The 4 l maps of this region , on a scale of mi es to the inch , are

a . very deficient in detail and , loc lly , are distinctly and seriously wrong I t is a region of very large Drai n a e and Water P owers % g rivers and lakes with smaller k m k he t ributaries . Southward from Sos u i a lake long stretches of t i rivers and streams possess little or no current , w nding sluggishly over this old lake bottom , while descent is chiefly accomplished by l h Harr c a rapids or chutes . Twelve miles below Lake Ob a ski t e i naw river becomes a succession of rapids and small cascades for a At distance of about three miles . certain points these rapids could be improved to form efficient water powers without flooding much ,

- l if any , of the low lying land above . Since they are on y about A twenty miles in a straight line from the railway at mos , they may The Na a a an f be of some immediate importance . t g g river a fords a superior canoe route northwards . For the first fifteen miles of u m its co rse below the railway it is comparatively narrow , beco ing rapidly wider below this until at its mouth it i s two to three chains I n in width . this distance of approximately ninety miles there are i s no lakes and but seven Short portages , of which the longest half

f - v . fifi a mile For t y e miles northeastward from the portag e to the H A arricanaw river , the waters of the llard river are very much I clearer than those of either the Harricanaw or the Na t ag ag an . n its course of 74 miles from the long portage to Matagami lake only four portages are necessary , three of which are very short , and a

- fourth of three fourths of a mile .

Sosk um ik a a Below lake , rapids and c scades are numerous on Not t awa a the y river , there being others in addition to those loc ted h s i t i s on any existing map . T e river is o rough that avoided by B a those knowing the district , unless it be desirous to reach James y A quickly . lthough very much longer , the preferable route follows G eastward from Matagami lake to Olga and ull lakes , thence north w E a ward through an excellent chain of aterways to Lake v ns , sub B roa d b a c k Nem isk a u sequently either down the ri v er , or across the The R i s w n R . portage , and do the upert river upert river preferred by the authorities of the Hudson Bay Company in transferring ’ s upplies from Rupert s House to their post on Waswanipi lake . 8 H AR R I CA NAw AND N OTTAW A Y RI V ERS

The best water power in the region traversed is that known as I roquois Chute where the Nottaway river , at a point about 35 miles k um ik a below Sos lake , makes an almost direct plunge of about 35 feet . Five miles below Kelvin lake a continuous succession of heavy rapids , within a distance of four miles , produces a drop Of about A 20 1 30 . t I feet Bull rapids , about miles above roquois Chute , at the smaller cascades about two miles below Sosk um i k a lake and those about five miles below the outlet of the northern arm of ' Ma as Not t awa tagami lake , well as at other points on the y , improve All ments could be made to produce important water powers . of these water powers are subj ect to great fluctuation in volume n m 23rd Au although much rai fell last sum er , between July and g

‘ 1 h Not awa ust 9t the t y river fell about six feet .

R ed Chute , situated at the outlet of Olga lake , is also a water power of importance .

The G Sosk um i k a waters of Matagami , Olga , ull and lakes , which are usually clear , and their long sandy beaches , form a pleasing contrast to the muddy waters and clay shores of the lakes T near the height of land . hat for the most part these lakes are very shallow is evidenced by the fact that during a storm their waters soon become muddy . Especially is this true of the western end of Matagami lake , the southern portions of Olga lake and the

Sosk um ik a . 25 i whole of lake Matagami lake ( m les in length , having a maximum width of eight miles near its western extremity%, with its long sandy beaches and a picturesque mountain range along its southern shore , must be one of the most beautiful of the

Laurentian lakes . Apart from those omparatively small S oi l and Cli m ate% c areas where rocky ri dges are closely con re at ed g g , where extensive swamps have been developed , or where the surface soil is sand and gravel , the land is very suitable for i agricultural purposes . From a very general point of v ew it may be said that the land between the Transcontinental R ailway and Matagami lake is better than most of the land further northward Sosk um i k a i s that below lake , in the vicinity of which there much excellent land , areas of arable land are of less extent , owing to the presence of more numerous rocky ridges and to areas where the stratified clays are capped by stratified sands and gravels often containing numerous boulders . On the west side of Kelvin lake , these sands have been cemented together by the deposition of iron

so % oxides from percolating waters , that locally a post glacial G sandstone has been formed . Southward from Matagami and ull lakes bare rock i s exposed over very considerable areas . I n many localities the soil is lighter and better drained than I n T . R . in the vicinity of the N . ailway such localities , the clays r ra fiw are either somewhat sandy or are i n t e st t i ed ith thin layers i s f of sand , so that the surface soil sandy loam and not of the sti f T clay type . he most continuous stretches of fertile land that were encountered during the traverse are situated along the Allard and

Nat a a an . I n g g rivers , especially along the former crossing from the muddy waters of the Harricanaw to the clear waters of the GEOLOG Y AND NATURAL RE SOURCES 9

A upper llard , the verdure becomes of a brighter green , and wild

a s n l h . m flowers , the rose , ho eysuck e , orc ids , etc grow ore pro fusely . h T e climate is an even more important factor than the soil . ° ’ ° The region exam ined lies between latitudes 48 30 and 50 l f t he a Fortunate y the decrease in elevation o fsets incre sing latitude , so that throughout the larger part Of this area the mean annual temperature must be approximately the same a s in the vicinity of the National Transcontinental R ailway . The erratic occurrence of frosts is the most dangerous feature from an agricultural point D n of 1 6 and 1 9 V . of iew uri g the nights July th th , spent on the A v os W SO Upper waters of the llard ri er , fr ts ere hea v y that in the

‘ ' ' i Was fr morning everyth ng covered by hoar ost , while films of ice

' ' ‘ A 1 r form ed . 6t h we e over water in p ails On ugust , while camped

' on the margin Of a ' very extensive Swamp about eight miles south n a rm Of SOsk um ik a v wa s ex ri of the norther lake , a hea y frost p e

en c ed . I t is remarkable that during these frosts the more delicate r forms of natural vegetation simply d oop a little , while they are sun looking as fresh as ever after the rises for an hour or two . N 0 more frosts were noticed until the first of September while ascend ing the Nat ag ag an river . Within this region frosts frequently occur in the vicinity of Widespread tracts of low lands or swamps , at a time when sli ghtly higher lands and those in the neighbour hood of the large lakes do not experience them .

Throughout this whole region settlement Should be en c ou r i n aged , first the vicinity of the largest lakes , where the range of diurnal temperature is subj ect to the least fluctuation and where even the faintest air currents have a chance to circulate more freely . Potatoes and other vegetables are successfully raised at ’ k The Hudson Bay CO . s Post on Waswanipi l a e f si t uat ed in lati ° tude 49 about 1 00 miles north of the National Tran sc ont i l I n n ent a R ailway and at an elevation of 680 feet above the sea . 1 9 1 1 was seed planted on the last da y of May , and during t he latt er S 1 80 days of eptember yielded bushels of excellent potatoes , and S i during that time frost never inj ured their gro wth . t the time P A 5t h s of my visit to this ost on ugust , potatoes gave e v er y promi e e a of another large crop , a few peas and turnips w re lso p while

flourishing . Last spring the ice began to break up on this lake on May 5t h and had almost completely disappeared on M a y 2 1 st . h D r . R t P t e obert Bell , in describing his visi to this ost on 2 1 D . t h A 1 89 6 a s . of ugust , , writes follows Mr Baxt er , t he W P t o gentleman in charge of aswanipi ost , kindly agreed make

. a o f o some experiments with wheat , oats , barley and a v riet y t her S Ex e ri seeds which I obtained from D r . aunders of the Cent ral p

. w w e. mental Farm and sent to him during t he p a st int er . T visited hi s Post the various grains lo o ked well . he y had headed w out some time before and would soon be ripe . Ne w po tat oes ere ’ six a a n d as large as hens eggs , turnips inches in di meter , carrots I o w s and some other vegetables read y for use . ndi a n c rn a sh o wing 1 0 H ARRI CANAW AND NOTTAW AY R I V ERS

i its Silk , tobacco plants were grow ng well , and almost every kind of garden crop grown in an average district of Canada was flour ’ % i shi ng under Mr . Baxter s care . D uring the past summer , at the mouth of the Bell river ,

D . H . wh . Tab ern er o Messrs and Moore , were engaged in prospect

ing for diamonds , were successful in growing both lettuce and

radishes . Frosts seriously inj ured potatoes and other crops on the Harricanaw river near the National Transcontinental R ailway at a time when no frosts were experienced in the vicinity of these

large lakes of the north . With the felling of the bush and the couse

quent draining of some of the swamps , and with the ploughing of

fields , which will deter the rapidity of nocturnal radiation , the danger of frosts even in the vici nity of low lands will be greatly I . P lessened ersonally , believe that the antiquated but more or less popular conception which considered this region to be a part % % of the Frozen North , has preserved a heritage for present or v e e future , in many parts of which potatoes , turnips and other g t

. W ables , hay , Oats , barley and rye can be raised successfully hen

its long Winters are considered , it is a country which will demand

thrift and endurance from its inhabitants , two which % qualities f never have proved to be inj urious to public welfare . I at some time in the future the G overnment decides to Open these lands

for settlement , it would be advisable , somewhat in advance , to establish a few experimental farms in suitable localities and under

competent management . V iewed from some elevation , the whole landscape has lor F a . owm i a most sombre aspect , g to the comparat vely small

t . number of deciduous rees Black spruce , white spruce , j ack pine and balsam comprise apparently much more than ninety % nine per

cent . of this forest . Of these , black spruce is by far the most numerous , while south of Matagami small areas , oc cupied chiefly

. I by j ack pine , are of frequent occurrence mmediately along the Not t awa y river north of Matagami lake no j ack pine were observed , although eastward from here its occurrence is kn own to extend far northward into Ungava . White spruce i s much less abundant than

either black spruce or j ack pine , yet this species was noticed to attain a maximum diameter of 32 inches . G narled and stunted white cedar occurs in places along the

margins of the rivers , but especially in the vicinity of lake shores . P 2 0 oplars , often up to slightly more than inches in diameter , grow chiefly along the margins of rivers and streams . Locally ,

the White birch is an important tree , occasionally having a diameter I n A 74 of two feet . descending the llard river for miles to its I n mouth not more than two dozen white birches were noticed .

some areas which have been burned some years ago , as to the south t of Matagami lake , there has been a profuse second grow h of A t small poplars and birches . widely scattered grow h of young i s tamarac appearing , but all large trees of this species were killed

- - by the ravages of the grub of the larch saw fl y from 1 893 96 . No

White or red pine were observed within the region . GEOLOG Y AND NATURAL RESOURCES 1 1

I t is impossible to mention in detail those areas where the forest is especially valuable . From experience gained in making h traverses t rough the bush in the vicinity of the height of land , it frequently happened that when poor along the streams , areas of r good timber occu at variable distances from the waterways . T of here is a tremendous wealth most excellent pulpwood , and there are large and small areas where especially the spruce and j ack pine are suitable for lumbering purposes . Such areas are very much N t wa less numerous on the o t a y river below Sosk um i k a lake . H ere a few patches of fairly good timber were noticed , but apart from areas where the trees are suitable for the manufacture of pulp there are many localities where the trees are very scattered and are as if has tufted toward the top , the struggle for existence not bee n A . t t easy the most nor herly point reached on this river , spruce 1 4 1 3 trees were noticed up to inches , balsam inches , white birch

1 2 inches in diameter .

A small collection of flowering plants was made during the summer and has been submitted to Prof . C . M . Derick in the l D M c Gil . I n epartment of Botany , University , for determination n was maki g this collection a record of dates and locations kept , and it i s hoped that these data may be useful in comparing this region with those to the south .

Forest fires have devastated large areas . Some of the areas which apparently have been burned over during the past si x or 1 22 . At 5 6 seven years may be mentioned intervals of about , and Ob alsk i H miles below lake , burned zones cross the arricanaw river , A the widest of which extends for 5 or 6 miles along the ri v er . bout 26 Nat a a an miles below the railroad on the g g river , large burned 5 e areas appear and upon descending about miles further , a brul

1 2 a lon or . begins , which extends for miles either g near the river I t seems probable that these b rulés on the Nat ag ag a n and Harri s 74 c an aw rivers are connected inland . I n it length of miles A i s northeastward from the long portage , the llard ri v er crossed l by four b ru és . Within the past three years a fire burned o v er a

. a n d wide area , eastward from Matagami lake to Olga probably t o A the northern end of Gull lake . long a stream entering t he east ern wa s 1 2 end of Matagami lake , which ascended for miles , there is H ha s so scarcely a green tree to be seen . ere , this fire been v igor ous that it would require comparati v ely little labour to make t he a t o land ready for cultivation . Mount L urier , the south of Mata D G a gami lake , and the alhousie mountains , sout h of ull l ke , ha v e e No t t a wa y been Swept by fire . An extensive brul crosses t he w river in the vicinity of Bull rapids . Ot her burned areas ithin the

. has e region might be mentioned , but sufficient be n writt en t o D emphasize the serious dama ge that. has bee n done . uring t he T pas t summer the region ha s been pract icall y free from fires . hree very small bush fires had been st a rted from aba nd o ned lunch fires w a along the Nottaway ri v er , two of hich were ext inguished by r in and the third by members of our pa rt y . H ARRI CANAW A N D N OTTAV VAY RI V ERS

From a few miles to a distance of Six ty or seventy miles Faun a % north of the National Transcontinental R ailway e b ut moose are num rous , farther northward they are not very frequently seen . Signs of the presence of a few caribou were Th noticed northward from Matagami lake . e black bear I s very G abundant in the vicinity of Matagami , Olga and ull . lakes although never hunting for them , members of the party saw eleven

- bears . Fur bearing animals are not as plentiful as might be ex E t c t ed . p e ither specimens or races of the presence of marten , mink , otter , beaver , fox , Wolf , ermine and muskrat were observed

. t by those connected with the party Mar en are fairly numerous , and the quality of their fur in the northern portions of this region D is especially prized . uring the past winter , only a few red foxes I W P were trapped by the ndians of aswanipi ost , while in the Th previous winter five silver foxes were taken . e lyn x and a few wolves are said to be present . Ground hogs and rabbits are quite plentiful . D ucks , especially the black duck and varieties of the mer

saw- ganser or bill , are more abundant than in the vicinity of the V height of land to the south . ery large numbers of both varieties were seen along the river connecting th e t wo unn amed lakes W k k hich discharge into the western arm of northern Sos um i a lake .

P . artridges are scarce Of other large birds , gulls are numerous ,

fih- I s While a few oons , hawks , owls , three bald headed eagles and t wo heron were seen . h Fish are abundant in all the waters . T e most edible varie fih s ties are white , pike , pickerel and sturgeon , while suckers and chubs are also abundant . Sturgeon are present in large numbers along the lower course of the Allard river and in Matagami and t hat t he Waswanipi lakes , while it is probable y are also present in the other large lakes and at least some of the rivers . Matagami I S l % lake i s known by some of the ndians as turgeon ake . Pike 1 2 l frequently attain a size of from 6 to b s . Whitefish are very abundant large numbers of them were notice d playing in the foam of some of the rapids on the rivers connecting Matagami , ' A n a Olga and Gull lakes . pparently trout a d b ss do not exist within the region .

GENERA L GEOL OGY

I n common with many other extensive a reas of the Laurenti an

% plateau , the bed rock of this area carries us back to the very A Al earliest chapter in the geological history of North merica . most the whole area is underlain by the Keewatin and Laurentian A formations . band of partially metamorphosed sedimentary rocks , about half a mile in width , which may possibly belong to the H Lower uronian formation , outcrops upon certain prominent points on the northern shore and on some of the small islands on

G . T Matagami lake , and extends eastward to ull lake hese sedi mentary rocks have been intruded by granite , while included within this band are layers of conglomerate containing numerous GEOLOG Y AND NATURAL R E soUR CE s 1 3

The n pebb les Of granite. you gest rocks Within the area are

- % , olivine diabase quartz diabase , and syenite porphyry , which in

- the form of dykes intersect all other rock types .

Although Subj ect to local variation in the vicinity of the a intrusive batholiths of granite and granitoid gneiss , the region l strike of the schistose and gneissoid rocks is nearly east to west .

I t is somewhat diffic ult to explain the origin of the boulders of yellowish % gray or buff - coloured limestone which are strewn in A abundance along the lower course of the llard river , along the Sosk um ik a G shores of the Matagami , , Olga and ull lakes , and less frequently along the lower course of the Bell and on the Not t a wa y 3 1 river . Fragments of this limestone up to feet across and % feet in thickness are washed out from the banks of stratified clays . T hey contain fossils which Show them to be of Silurian age , prob E ably from the Niagara formation . ither they have been carried here from a northwesterly direction by ice floating in the lake from whose waters the stratified clays were deposited , or beneath the blanket of clay there may be inliers of this limestone in some of

- the more basin like depressions within this area .

CHA RA CTER A ND DI STRI B U TI ON OF THE GEOLOGI CA L FORMA TI ON S

The oldest rocks within this region belong to thi s K eewa ti n T formation . hey comprise a complex of igneous a rocks , both extrusive and intrusive , together with b nds of hig hly A altered sedimentary rocks . ncient lava flows , chiefly quart z por h ri es p y , porphyrites and andesites , have been metamorphosed to dif

feren t . W a s varieties of schist here massi v e , along the lower course of the Allard river and especially in the vicinity of the mouth of the t Bell river on Ma agami lake , they display a most wonderful development Of pillow structure . T his structure is often preserved The n more or less after the rocks have become schistose . i trusi v e ho rnb l en d it es a rocks include diorites , , gabbros , diabase , qu rt z porphyry and other types . Some of these intrusive rocks ha v e also been rendered schistose . They appear usuall y in the form of s large dykes and small stock , but in certain localit ies the int rusions I n a of gabbro have attained the dimensions of batholiths . scend ing the Bell river , from a point about two miles abo v e the first I 20 t he rapids to the sland rapids , a distance of about miles , ex osures y p are of a gabbroid rock , the most common t p e being coarsely crystallized and quite light in colour . A somewha t similar rock apparently forms at least the greater part of t he I n a D G . alhousie mountains to the south of ull lake m pping , ' these large areas of gabbro may be separated from the rest o f t he

Keewatin into which they are intrusi v e .

T . R a The maj or portion of that area lying bet ween the N . il way and Matagami lake is underlain by Keewatin rocks . 1 4 H ARRICANAW AND NOTTAW AY R I V ERS

This formation includes g ran ites and granitoid L aurenti an % gneisses together with other rocks of plutonic f character , which have been evolved by processes of di ferentiation .

The - - most common types are biotite granite and biotite gneiss , A the one passing gradually into the other . S in other areas of the s Laurentian plateau , these plutonic rock are in igneous contact

wi th the Keewatin formation . Northward from a line passing in a direction slightly north of east through the northern arm of Matagami lake , about two miles north of its entrance , there is a wide expanse of these Laur en t i an rocks extending to the mouth of the Not t away river . Here a n d there , they are traversed by very narrow and unimportant A bands of hornblende and biotite schists . long its southern f margin , by di ferentiation and undoubtedly also by absorption of the rocks with which it is in igneous contact , there have been developed a great variety of dioritic types which have been broken across by dykes of granite , aplite and pegmatite . Other areas of granite lie toward the eastern end of Matagami lake and the southern half of Olga lake , and surround the maj or Th G . e portion of ull lake Bell river , from the mouth of its tri b ut ar Nat a a a n T y , the g g river , to a point two miles below Lake aibi , 1 1 traverses gneissoid granite . From a point about miles below Ob alsk i H 1 3 Lake , the arricanaw river flows over granite for miles

‘

- farther northward . For five miles northward from the portage ,

- A three fourths of a mile long , on the llard river the country is Of underlain by granite . Numerous exposures granite were seen while ascending the Na t a ga g an river . This includes the narrow band of sedi L ower Huroni an mentary rocks which occupies some of the prominent points on the northern side of Matagami lake and n l m strikes eastward to the northern portion of G ull lake . Co g o erat es at the base of this series are followed by dark gray arkose Th . e and greywacke , with some slaty bands conglomerate con

% f tains pebbles of granite , biotite and hornblende schist and di ferent dioritic types of rock similar to those occurring along the southern Th margin of the great area of granite and gneiss to the north . e I n pebbles are very irregularly distributed . certain localities they I n are very abundant in others they are widely separated . some places the series displays very little evidence of metamorphism , and in others the pebbles of the conglomerate have been compressed into elongated lenticular forms , while the arkose and greywacke

% have been converted into quartz biotite schists . From the fact that these sedimentary rocks have been inj ected by granite , it is to be anticipated that when the area is more thoroughly studied , batholiths or intrusive bodies of granite of different ages may be distinguished . Large dykes of the newer diabases P ost Mi ddle- Huroni n a were frequently noticed within this (Keeween awan T - area . hose of quartz diabase are similar in general character and subj ect to the same petrographical

G . variations as the diabase of Cobalt , owganda , etc Large dykes GEOLOGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES 1 5

- of olivine diabase are also present . I t would be inadvisable to occupy space with a detailed discussion of the distribution of these T H . A dykes hey were noticed on the arricanaw , llard , Bell and Not t awa y rivers and on Matagami , Olga and Gull lakes . A very large dyke of newer diabase intersects the Lower Huronian rocks on the point marking the eastern entrance of the great

northern bay towards the western end of Matagami lake . This

dyke extends across a number of the islands to the western shore . A small intrusive body of syenite porphyry on the east side of the A llard river , eight miles from its mouth , should be correlated with

this period of ig neous intrusion .

PO S SI B I LI TI E S OF THE DI SCO V ER Y OF V A L UA B LE MI E A N R L S . L ong experience accumulated by those engaged in geology , mining and prospecting in other portions of the Laurentian plateau

has proved that , in general , those areas underlain by Keewatin , H uronian and the newer diabase are worthy of careful prospecting . AS may be learned from the above description of its geology , there

are extensive areas of these rocks within this region .

I n the vast area of gneiss and granite lying between Matagami i lake and James Bay , a mere possib lity remains that valuable minerals may be discovered in the neighbourhood of some of the T narrow schistose bands . hese ribbons and bands of schist were l m frequent y noticed to be somewhat i pregnated with pyrite , but

not to such an extent as to attract too much attention . While % i s a d large areas of promising country remain untouched , it visable for the prospector to avoid large areas which are underlain

by Laurentian granite and gneiss . Systematic afind intelligent prospecting of the areas of other rocks should be nally attended by the discovery of minerals of value but , unfortunately , over by far the maj or portion of this region efficient prospecting will always be a very arduous task . Owing to the heavy and almost universal overburden of stratified I n clays , outcrops of rock are very widely separated . land from the waterways the country is covered by a heavy blanket of moss , and rock exposures are confined chiefly to the very sparsely distributed l Of low hi ls and ridges but frequently , in making a traverse the bush , one will find outcrops of rock when least expect ing their A presence . long the rivers and streams , the occurrence of large exposures of rock i s restricted almost entirely to the rapids and cascades . Usually rock outcrops are more numerous and continu ous along the southern than the northern Shores of lakes while on proj ecting points and the maj ority of the islands , rock is exposed

best upon the northern side .

The following two statements are extreme examples of the A A scarcity of rock outcrops . long the llard ri v er for sixt y miles % northward from the Harricanaw port a ge onl y twel v e small h v v . e a outcrops of rock peep out from beneath the co v er of cla y , 1 6 H ARRICANAW A ND N OTTAW A Y RI V ERS

r For and three of these a e of granite . twel v e miles up a stream

' en no entering the eastern d of Matagami lake from the rtheast , only one exposure of rock occurs .

' I V Ob al sk i H n the icinity of lake on the arricanaw river , and ' m ‘ in the neighbourhood of portions of Mataga i , Olga and G ull ‘ ’ e s lakes , consid rable areas of Keewatin rock are quite easil y access

. W n ible ith this descriptio in hand , the energetic prospector

‘ shou ld not shun other areas where similar rocks out crop l ess fre quently , but he will enter upon his task with a knowledge of the difficulties attending his work .

D in n uring the summer , con ection with our work in mapping , was search made for minerals of economic value . Quartz veins , sOm e often containing pyrite , frequently traverse the exposures of I t i Keewatin rocks in all parts of the area . s to be hoped that a continued search of these veins will lead to the discovery of some

. I n which carry gold some localities , especially on the western Of and southern Shores Matagami lake , bands of the Keewatin schists were found to be very heavily impregnated with pyrite and A pyrrhotite . t a point about four miles eastward from the mouth or of the Bell river , at the contact between intrusive quartz p p t y and chlorite schists , the latter have been heavily impregnated with ' h An l p ja r ot it e . assay of a sample from this locality yielded on y l a trace of gold . Assays of numerous samples from other loca ities A T it es w have not yet been made . few specks of copper p y ere s occasionally noticed in the Keewatin schist , and also at the contacts of some of t he dykes of newer diabase .

t he ' uid Last summer Six or seven men , under g Di am ond s% T b rner ance of Mr . a e , were prospecting for diamonds in the blue clays and sandy gravels of the vicinity of th e ' T mouth of t he Bell river on Matagami lake . hey performed much work , and their methods are to be commended but it is plain

' that diamonds will n ot be discovered in this locality . I n the vicin ity of Matagami lake , no rocks occur which are related closely to D those bearing diamonds in other parts of the world . uring the summer , other parties were engaged in searching for diamonds in s not similar clays in more remote parts . I t i to be anticipated t hat diamonds will be discovered in these stratified blue clays of % % The the Clay Belt of the North . celebrated blue clays of A Kimberly , South frica , have been derived from the decomposition of very basic igneous rocks within the pipes or necks of old vol

Th . of c canoes . e blue clays this northwestern portion of Quebe have been deposited - from the muddy waters of the historical lake which has previously been described in this report .