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 .