Report on the origin, geological relations and composition of the nickel and copper deposits of the Sudbury mining district, Ontario, Canada [microform]

Barlow, Alfred E. (Alfred Ernest) · 1904 · Historical

Sir, —I beg to transmit, herewith, my report onthe Origin, Geological Relations and Composition of the Nickel and Copper Deposits of Sudbury, Ontario.

Public-domain full text preserved in the Mountain Man Mining Library. Original source: archive.org.

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA ROBERT BELL, M.D., D.Sc. (Cayran.), LL.D. F.R.S,, LS.O.

Report

Origin, Geological Relations And Composition

Of The

Nickel And Copper Deposits

Of The

Sudbury Mining District Ontario, Canada

By

ALFRED ERNEST BARLOW, M.A., D Se.

PRINTED BY S&S. E. DAWSON, PRINTER TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY

ny

iE ong aA HE att

To Roper Beut, M.D., LL.D., D.Sc. (Caxras), F.R.S., LS.0. Acting Director, Geological Survey of Canada.

Sir, —I beg to transmit, herewith, my report onthe Origin, Geological Relations and Composition of the Nickel and Copper Deposits of Sudbury, Ontario. The report also includes brief references to the ch: :acter and extent of all the more important nickel deposits of the world, with a general statement of their production and methods of smelting and refining. Details of the mining, smelting and refining operations of the Sudbury ores are furnished, as well as complete statistical tables of production, prices, uses and composition of the nickel of commerce, It is believed that the report will serve to bring together in one volume, all of the more valuable and critical original investigations in regard to these immense and apparently inexhaustible deposits.

Canada Las at last realized the true importance and value of these mines and has, within the last year, taken her position, from which she will not recede, of being the largest producer of nickel in the world. Hoping the present report will satisfy the demand which has existed for some time, for detailed and accurate information in regard to these ore bodies,

I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient -rvant,

Alfred Ernest Barlow.

GEOLOGICVL SURVEY OFEICE, Orrawa, JuLY 4th 1904.

The Nickel And Copper Deposits Of Sudbury, Ontario.

hy

Atrrep Ernest Bartow, M.A., D. Se INTRODUCTION

Ten years having elapsed since the appearance of the first official and detailed account of these famous ore bodies, (1) coupled with the fact of a renewed and even increased interest and activity in the mining of nickel, marked the time as most opportune, when anotherattempt should be made to arrive at a more accurate and complete understanding of the true nature and extent of these deposits which hve proved such a valuable asset to Canada. Besides, the first edition of the map of the Sudbury Mining District, published in 1891, to accompany a report by Dr. Robert Bell on the geology of this area (?) had nearly all been distributed, and this in spite of the fact that the Bureau of Mines of Ontario had on several occasions issued special editions of practically t 'e same geological map, to accompany the Annual Reports of their department, as, for instance, in the years 1892 and 1900. In addition, it was felt that although the genera! accuracy and usefulness of this map had never been questioned, it was lacking in certain details which are now knowm to & the first importance and which are most essentia! or a proper ins . pretation and judgment of these depo-

sits. Thus. on the first uap, ee aty@sive mass with which the Chicago and ictoria Mines occut atirely separated from a band of similar rock along the southern bx sers of which the Gertrude, Creighton and North Star deposits are 'uated, whereas, it has now been ascertained that all of these pr: are developed along the southern boundary of one large aad and, constituting the southern or principal belt of the ni g eruptive. Again, on this first map, no distinction is draw the masses or belts of nickel bearing norite, ard certain older tende porphyrites, diorites and

gzeen schists, which, although close!, related to, and often resembling (1) Ann. Rep. Geol. Sur. Can., Vol. V, Inthe pp. 122-138, (2) Ann, Rep. Geol, Sur. Can., Vol. V, part 290-91, bp. 1-95,

Reasona for undertaking present work,

Continuity of main mass of horite.

Ia SRR 11

The norite a distinct geolo-

gical unit.

6 Geologica.. Survey Of Canada

the norite, are altogether barren of deposits of the valuable sulphide material, This resemblance is particularly striking when, as is fre quently the case, both have undergone more or jess pronounced meta morphism. It is, therefore, not surprising that in the first instance they were confounded and mapped together, Moreover, the presence of the norite as a distinct geological unit was not suspected until long after this first work was completed, the associated greenstones being considered as portions of the norite, which hac 'een metamorphosed by the intrusion of the younger granite masses, Piven the Bureau of Mines' map of 1902, which should have furnished the latest informa. tion in regard to this area, made no attempt whatever, either to correct the more glaring inaccuracies in the geological boundaries, or to trace out the important line of separation between the nickel bearing eruptive proper and the closely related, though barren greenstones.

Limitotnew 12 undertaking this new work, it was felt that by confining opera-

work,

Victoria Mines and Sudbury maps,

Minor band of norite.

tions as closely as possible vo the area characterized by the presence of the sulphide bearing norite and other kindred eruptives, a more accurate knowledge would be obtained of the mineralogical composition, structure and age relations of the various cock masses, while at the same time the boundaries between the eoveral formations could be drawn with a much greater degree of precision.

Two map sheets have been prepared to accompany this report, called respectively the " Victoria Mines" and "Sudbury" maps, each on a scale of one mile to an inch. The former covers an area of 220 and the latter 210 square miles, making a total of 430 square miles, The prin. cipal new work on the Victoria mines map has been the' : 'iniug of the two smaller bands of norite south of the Canadian F ..c Railway. One of these, crossing the southeast corne: of Dru ,, extends completely across the southern part of the township of Denison. This band, which comes to an end east of the Vermilior river, contains the Worthington, Mitchener and Totten mines. The first mentioned of these mines is famous a onving produced the richest nickel ore in the district. On the other band, which forms the prominent ridge to the south of McCharles and Simon lakes on the Whitefish Indian Reserve, no deposit of any economic importance has been found. The boundaries of the intrusive mass of younger granite which extends across the northern and central parts of Gra.am township, and thence into Snider and Waters townships, have also been outlined with considerable care. It is to be regretted that time did not permit the separation of the norite and the older greenstones and schists, but the geological work done in 1901 was intended to cover the

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Introduction '

whole of the southern belt in one season, and at the thr it was considered more important to ascertain definitely the continuity or otherwise of the southern or main nickel range. The tiain ma f the norite, therefore, which runs northeast from the Victoria mines, was followed '' agin the northe n part of the township of Denison, an thence across the © viiliow river into the southern part of the township of Creighto., thus 'taking connection with the other mass of similar basic intrusive rocks, which had)been shown on geological raps previously issued. Wich the exception of a somewhat critical examination of some of the outcrops of the peculiar differentiation product, or "micropegmatite " phase of the norite, exposed on the shores of Skill and Fairbank lakes, no new work has been done in the northwestern and western parts of this area, and the outlines of the formations are reproduced from the old geological map.

The geology of the region comprised in the Sudbury map sheet, has Revision of all been revised, with cpecial attention to tracing out the boundarios of or the various masses of norite and separating this nickel bearing ruptive from the older greenstones, This map will serve to show in a very emphatic manner, theintimateassociation of this peculiar eruptive, and the various nickel deposits, and the invariable development of the latter along the line of junction between this and the neighboring rocks, In addition to these two map sheets, which exhibit on an adequate scale not only the general geological features, but also the Mining geolorelative position of all the more important mines, there are three other Sil a maps, each on a scale of 400 feet to an inch, which may be referred to as mining geological plans. These have been prepared with more care, and all details of topography, buildings, openings, ete., have been laid down as accurately as possible from surveys made by means of the transit and chain. They are expected to be of especial value to the individual companies whose properties they represent, but at the same time, they will illustrate in detail many of the characteristic features of association, which most of these deposits possess in common with one another. The two sheets showing the district in the vicinity of \reaof the International Nickel Company's mines at Copper Cliff, and extend- wae ing from Kelley lake on the south to the Lady Violet mine on the north, cover an area of about 9 square miles. The third map sheet, which shows the geology in the neighbourhood of the Murra: ° id Elsie Mines as well as the position of the various mining buildinys, covers an area of nearly two square miles. The following bulletin is based Murray and mainly on the field work carried on during the seasons of 1901 and ame are 1902. A short account of what was accomplished each year has already ap' saved in the Summary Reports of the Geological Survey

8 Geological Survey Of Canada

Department, (') In addition to this and other information which has appeared from time to time in the official publications of the Geological Survey Department and the Bureau of Mines of Ontario, certain details of original investigation, which throw much additional light on the origin and association of these deposits, have appeared in various scientific periodicals, many of which are not very easy of access to the

Other inform- ordinary reader. It has been the purpose of the writer, in the prepara-

Pe ceded, tion of the following report, to bring together and make use of much of this widely scattered information, and by thus supplementing his own, render the present publication of wider application and greater service to the public.

In carrying out the field work, the author was materially aided by Dr. Ludwig Mond of London, England, under an agreement by which he was partially relieved from his duties on the Survey, during the six months from July 1 to December 31, 1901.

Work of Mr. Much of the accuracy which the accompanying maps are believed to

i : James White. possess, is due tu the efforts of Mr. James White, Dominion Geographer, who kindly undertook the direction of the surveys necessary for a detailed mapping on a large scale of the area examined. This included in 1901, a traverse by means of transit and steel band chain, of the main line of theCanadian Pacific Railway, from Wanapitei station to the northern boundary of the township of Dowling, a short distance northwest of Onaping station. The "Sault" branch was similarly surveyed from Sudbury Junction as far west as Worthington station. Connection was made with the observatory at Rayside, occupied by Astronomer 0. J. Klotz. The position of this temporary observatory,

Work by Ast, in the township of Rayside is stated by Mr. Klotz to be 606 feet west

©, J. Klotz. o¢ the line between lots 2 and 3, in con. 1, and 441 feet north of the centre line of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Its astronomical position, as determined by Mr. Klotz is Long. 81°, 05', 38" W. and Lat. 460°, 32', 47" N. This position was accepted and the projection of the map framed in accordance therewith. In 1902, Mr. White carried on similar detailed surveying necessary for the preparation of the two large scale map sheets of the area in the vicinity of the International Nickel Company's mines at Copper Cliff.

Work by O. In the whole of this work, the author had the advantage of the zealous

E. Leroy. and able assistance of Mr. 0. E. Leroy, M. A. Sc., formerly Demonstrator in Geology at McGill University, Montreal, and this opportunity is taken to express his keen appreciation of Mr. Leroy's untiring efforts to promote in every way, the objects of the work.

(1) Sum. Rep. Geol. Sur. Can, (1901) pp. 141-145, (1902) pp. 252-267.

Mg

PREVIOUS EXAMINATIONS AND DESCRIPTIONS 9 s 4 By kind permission of Dr. J. B. Porter, and with the approval of the Work by W, . eee ° oe p : M, Ogilvie. i- 5 University authorities, the magnetic separation of these ores was carried r Tagen n on in the mining laboratories of McGill University by Mr. W. M. n Ogilvie, B.A. Se. s Most of the assays and analyses are the work of Mr. Donald Locke, Work by Do 1e

a graduate of the School of Mines, Freiberg, Germany, who for a short nald Locke. time was attached to this department as metallurgist and assayer.

The author desires to express thanks for information and assistance an to Dr. Ludwig Mond, Dr. Bernhard Mohr and other officials of the Mond Acknowledg- Nickel Company; to President A. P. Turner, Captain Lawson and other oiticers of the International Nickel Company, resident at Copper ed Cliff, Ont. ; to the representatives of the Lake Superior Power Compaby ny, Great Lakes Copper Company and H. H. Vivian and Company, ng who were stationed in the district. It would be difficult to mention by name, all those who, either with information or otherwise, have to assisted in the object of these investigations, but the author would like er, in this connection to express his deep gratitude to the residents of ra Sudbury, Copper Cliff and Victoria Mines, who showed him the greatled est kindness and consideration during his sojourn in their midst. he " Previous EXAMINATIONS AND DESCRIPTIONS. nce rly The literature in regard to the nickel and copper deposits of the }).).sits of on. Sudbury mining district, has already reached such large proportions, scientific and by that it seems advisable in passing to make brief mention of some of the Parente ry, . principal publications, which show evidence of original research, the rest results of which have added materially to our knowledge of the the : nature of the occurrences of these immense ore bodies. These deposits ion, of pyrrhotite, with their unnsually high content of nickel,'and intimat- 1G', ely associated chalcopyrite, are of importance, not only from the econonap mic standpoint, but also from the point of view of science, as having on furnished such strong presumptive evidence for regarding these, and urge similarly related deposits as of igneous origin, aud due to processes of ckel ditferentiation in the original magma, from which they and the associated eruptive rocks have solidified. lous The discovery of nickel at the Wallace mine in 1846, although yi covery of ons- creating some excitement at the time, was soon forgotten, as well as wicked at ypor- the prediction which has since been amply verified, that deposits mine. ring of both nickel and cobalt of economic importance would yet be located

eo (1) Rep. of. Progress, Geol. Sur. Can., 1848-49, pp. 61 63; Geol. of Can. 1863, p. 506.

'

Early discovery of nickel near Creighton mine,

Inaccesaible nature of country before constructon

of C. P. Ry.

First statistics.

Descriptions by J. H Collins.

10 Geological Survey Of Canada

in this region. Attention was again drawn to the subject by the finding in 1856 (1) of nickel and copper on Salter's meridian line, a little over six miles north of Whitefish lake, and less than half a mile south west of the main pit of the present celebrated Creighton mine, probably the largest deposit of nickeliferous pyrrhotite in the world. This was again lost sight of or the discovery considered of no importance, perhaps because of the meagre information in regard to its occurrence, but more likely on account of the wild and inaccessible nature of the district, in which the deposit had been found. The opening of the Canadian Pacific Railway quickly changed these conditions, and in less than ten years from the first opening of this means of access to the district, all the mines which are at present working had been located.

The first statistics concerning these deposits which were published, related to the export of copper ore in 1886, amounting to 3,307 tons, with a declared customs value of 816, 404 (#). In 1887, this quantity had decreased to 567 tons, valued at $3,416 (#). The discovery of nickel in the ore about this time, decided the Canadian Cop) 2r Company to instal the necessary plant for the production of nickel and copper matte, and in the preparation for this and other mining development work, no exports are recorded from this district in 1888.

In October, 1887, Mr. J. H. Collins visited the Sudbury region to examine into the extent and economic possibilities cf the so-called copper mines. On June 6th, 1888, he read a paper before the Geological Society of London, 'On the Sudbury Copper Deposits,' in which he embodied the results of these examinations, whica, however, seem to have been restricted mainly to the area in the immediate vicinity of the Copper Cliff and Stobie mines. An abstract of this pap2r, was after wards published,(*) accompanied by two cross sections of the mines above mentioned, showing the geological association and position of these deposits. The author considers the main ore bodies to have beenthe result of secondary action, the sulphides occupying fissures along certain line: of weakness, produced by the intrusion of igneous material.

Mr. Attwood's In the discussion that followed, Mr. Attwood stated his conviction

opinion.

that the diorites had brought up the metals, At the end of the paper, a note is added bearing the date of October 22nd 1888, that the ore of the Evans mine contains Copper 3/, Nickel 3.5%, Iron 407, Sulphur 24%, Rock 29.5 '/.

(1) Rep. of Progress, Geol. Sur. Can., 1853-56, pp. 180-181.

(2) Ann. Rep. Geo. Sur. Can, 1886, Part 8. p. S.

(4) Quart. Jour. Geol. Soc. Lon., Vol. XLIV, 1888, pp. 834-838.

ling over west the was pernce, the ' the d in ated.

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Previous Examinations And Descriptions 11

In October, 1888, Mr. Francis L. Sperry, then chemist to the Discovery of Canadian Copper Company, sent a small quantity of what seemed a sc remarkable mineral to Professor H. L. Wells, of the Sheffield Scientific School at New Haven, Conn. A few tests sufficed to show that the substance was essentially an arsenide of platinum. Several ounces of this mineral had been obtained in milling certain loose material (gossan), associated with the sulphides at the Vermilion mine in the Pacts of township of Denison. A complete statement of facts relative to its Profs, Wells composition, physical characters and crystallographic behaviour, was and Penfield. prepared by Profs. Wells and Penfield, who proposed the name ' sperrylite' for this new mineral in honour of its discoverer. (")

About the same time, Profs. Clarke and Catlett of Washington, piscovery of

obtained through two different channels, certain samples of nickel ores Sein ot taken from the Vermilion mine, belonging to the Canadian Copper and Catlett. Company. From onesource, they obtained two masses of sulphides to be examined for nickel and copper, from the other came similar sulphides, together with a series of soil and gravel-like material (gossan), seven sa'niles in all. In the latter case, an examination for platinum was requested, and in five of the samples above mentioned, it was found the gravel yielded 74°85 ozs. of metals of the platinum group to the ton of 2,000 Ibs. The sulphide ores were all of a similar character. They consisted of mixed masses, in which a gray, readily tarnishing substance was predominant, with some chalcopyrite, possibly some pyrite, and avery little quartz. An analysis of carefully selected material of the nickel mineral, showed its formula to conform in general with that of polydymite, which had previously been described by Laspeyres from Griinau, Westphalia, of which it is evidently a ferriferous variety.

At the Buffalo meeting of the American Institute of Mining Paper by W. Engineers, W. H. Merritt, Toronto, contributed a paper on 'The H, Merritt. Minerals of Ontario and their Development', in which he includes a brief description of the Sudbury deposits.

In the Summary Report of the Geological Survey for 1888, Dr. Examinations Bell (+) mentions that 'the modes of occurrence and the geological peng relations of the economic minerals of the districts examined (between Bell in 1588,

Lake Huron and Montreal river) were carefully studied. The metals

(1) Amer. Jour. Se., Vol. XX XVIT, 1889, pp. 67-73 ; also Zeit. fiir Kryst. Vol. XV, pp. 285 and 290-291,

(2) Amer. Jour. Se. Vol. XXXVII, 1889, pp. 372-374.

(3) Trans, Amer. Inst. Min. Eng., Vol. X VIT, 1888-89, pp. 293-300.

(4) Ann. Rep. Geol. Sur. Can, 1887-88, p. 79 A.

Account by br. E. D.

Peters.

Reference by Dr. Bell in

Rep wrt by Dr. Bell in 1891 on 'Sud bury Mining District.'

First geologi-

cal map.

12 Geological Survey Of Canada

which give most promise are the copper and nickel deposits which have been worked for the last three years near Sudbury'. Again, in the report for 1889, Dr. Bell, (') after a brief sketch of the geology of the area included in the Sudbury map sheet, gives a few notes on the character and mode of occurrence of these deposits, as also the progress of the mining and metallurgy which were then in vigorous operation. He viewed the pyrrhotite a sa true nickeliferous variety, in which some of the iron is replaced by nickel. The deposits are described as ' stockworks' in which the vein structure is very obscure. The ore bodies are regarded as usually occurring in some form of divrite, the concentration of the ore being perhaps connected in some way with certain diabase dykes which were in some cases seen near the deposits.

At the Ottawa meeting of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, held in October, 1889, Dr. E. D. Peters, who had charge of the operations at the Canadian Copper Company's mines near Sudbury, read a paper On the Sudbury Ore Deposits '. He opens with a short and very general statement of the geological conditions, makes a passing mention of the two principal sulphides which constitute these deposits, and devotes the rest of his paper to a description of the equipment and m-thods of mining and inetallurgy pursued by the company of which he was the manager.

In 1890, asone of the Royal Commissioners to inquire into the mineral resources of ".utario, Dr. Robert Bell of the Geological Survey cf Canada, in the treating of the "Geology of Ontario with special reference to economic minerals," devotes some attention to the nickel and copper deposits of the area in the vicinity of Sudbury. (°)

In 1891 (4), Dr. Bell described in greater detail the nature and extent of these deposits and also their geological relations, giving the results of the field work of the Geological Survey in this area during the three years 1888-90. Accompaying the same volume, the first geological map of the district appeared, showing in this graphic way, the limits of the different formations or subdivisions of these old rocks, over an area of 3456 square miles. This map, although faulty and inaccurate in places, has been the basis of all subsequent geologicai work undertaken in this district, although it is now superseded in

(1) Ann. Rep. Geol. Surv. Can, 1888-89, pp. 29-32 A.

(2) Trans. Am. Inst. Min. Eng., Vol. XVIII (1889) pp. 278-289,

(3) Min. Res. of Ont, 1890, p. 24; also pp. 433-435, also Ann. Rep. Bur. of Mines, Ont. 1891, pp. 88-99.

(4) Ann. Rep. Geol. Sur. Can., Vol. V, 1899-91, Fart F, pp. 1-05; also Bull. Geo. Soc, Am., Vol. IT, 1891, pp. 125-137.

y Enge of bury, 'ith a kes a these quipypany

o the urvey pecial nickel

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Mines,

ll. Geo,

Previous Examinations And Descriptions 13

certain areas, by the maps lately published by the Bureau of Mines of Ontario, and those issued to accompany the pre :nt bulletin. The imperfections of these latest maps will also in turn become apparent as the region is cleaved and opened up and more detailed information in regard to the distribution of the various rock masses is thus possible.

On March 6th, 1891, (') the author of the present bulletin read a alas paper before the Loan Club of Ottawa 'On the Nicke! and Copper by A. kK. Deposits of Sudbu'y,' which was published in June of the same year, #*"w: in which appears a very definite statement affirming an igneous origin for these masses of sulphide material, in the following words :

'The ores and the associated diabase, were, therefore, in al] probability simultaneously introduced in a molten condition, the particles of et ore pyritous matter aggregating themselves together in obedience to the law of mutual attraction.' [In the same paper, the author makes the following significant statement which has since been proved by means gee of the magnetic separation of the ore: 'The nickel is usually spoken iron. of as replacing an equal quantity of iron in the pyrrhotite, but the discovery of undoubted crystals of millerite or sulphide of nickel, 150 feet below the surface at Copper Cliff mine, as well as the more recent recognition of polydymite, a ferriferous sulphide of nickel at the Vermilion mine, in the township of Denison, seem to justify the assumption that in the more highly nickeliferous deposits of the region at least, the nickel is also present as asulphide, disseminated through the ore masses like the iron and copper.' In 1891, Mr. T. L. Walker, then chemist at the Murray mine, obtained 30 per cent of nickel in some First recebright cleavable fragments of a mineral which occurred in the form of cain set more or less rounded patches in the ordinary nickeliferous pyrrhotite at the Worthington mine. The writer, who had provided Mr. Walker with these samples, suggested the advisability of a complete analysis of as pure material as could be selected. It is to be regretted for Walker's sake, so far as priority in the first recognition of pentlandite in this district is concerned, that the present writer, in publishing the results of this first analysis merely stated his own belief, that these peculiar nodular masses probably represented a mixture in which millerite was the most prominent constituent, omitting to make mention of the fact that, the chemist had stated his belief, that the material was almost pure " Eisennickelkies " the German synonym for pentlandite. At this time, it was considered of more importance to empha-

(1) Ottawa Naturalist, June 1891, pp. 1-20; also Ann. Rep. Geol. Sur. Can., Vol. V, Part S, 1890-91, pp. 122-138.

(2) See also a paper by Dr. Robert Bell on ' The Nickel and Copper Deposits of . Sudbury District, Canada.' Bull. Geol. Socy. of Am., Vol. IT, 1891. page 135-36. (3) Ann. Rep. Geol. Sur, Can. 1890-91, Part SS, pp. 116-117.

14 Geological Survey Of Canada

zise the fact which had grown beyond a conviction, that the nickel was undoubtedly present in these ore bodies as a distinct sulphide, mechanically intermixed and probably separable and not as replacing a portion of the iron in the pyrrhotite. It was even considered probable that several nickel sulphides, and not one alone, contributed to the unusual enrichment of these ores.

a The report of the Division of Mineral Statistics and Mines of the nickel. Geological Survey for 1890, although not published until the following year, contained the first statistics showing the production and export of nickel and copper matte from the Sudbury district. This was likewise accompanied hy a somewhat detailed description of the deposits, to which attention has already beendrawn('). Previous to this, however, inthe report (2) of the same department for 1889, mention is made of the production of nickel in Canada, but the figures of production then supplied were only used in the summary of production. This course was necessary at the time, as the figures then available represented the production of only one company, who gave the figures on the understanding that they were only to be used in the compilation of totals.

Descriptions In the first report of the Ontario Burew of Mines for 1891, then

Lease — just organized, considerable space is devoted not only to the statistics

tario in 1891. of production of nickel and copper matte, but also to various details regarding the geological relationship of the ores, the methods of mining and metallurgy, as well as the use and value of nickel. It also contains the first of the annual reports of the inspector of mines, which each year since has contained an epitomized statement of the progress of mining and smelting in this area.

Paper by J. In 1891, Mons. J. Garnier, who had become famous as the discoverer os. of the New Caledonia nickel deposits, visited Canada, and on his return to Paris, furnished an account of his examination in a paper entitled,

'Mines de Nickel, Cuivre et Platine du District de Sudbury, Canada.

Analysesand In 1892, Dr. S. H. Emmens of Youngwood, Penn., and President' Seeertioti of of the Emmens Metal Company, announced tls discovery of three new

gad a nickel minerals from the Sadbury district, for which he proposed the

by Vr. Hm- . . :

mens. ns:xes Folgerite, Blueite and Whartonite. (4) The, substances thus namud, were stated to be sulphides of iron and nickel, the proportion

of the latter metal varying from 3:76 per cent in blueite to 35°20

(1) Aan. Rep. Geol. Surv, Can., 1890-91, Part. S, pp. 121-143. (2) Ann. Rep. Geol. Surv. Can., 1888-89, Part. 8, 1889, pp. 5 and 123. (3) Mem. Soe. des Ing. Civils, Paris, 1891.

(4) Jour. Am. Chem. Soc., Vol. XIV, No. 7; also Ann. Rep. Bur. of Mines, Ont. 1292, pp. 167-170.

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PREVIOUS EXAMI .cIONS AND DESCRIPTIONS 15

'cent in folgerite. All authorities are, however, agreed that none of these are definite mineral species, being mixtures of different sulphides. Thus folgerite is regarded as impure pentlandite, blueite is a oh pee A nickeliferous pyrite, and whartonite a mixture. persual of Dr. and blueite Emmens' methods of analysis, and the variability of his results are [iy (init sufficient proofs, that none of these names which he proposes, should receive a place in mineralogical literature. Aboat the same time Dr. Emmens conducted some rather crude and evidently hurried experiments in regard to the separation of the components of the pyrrhotite by means of magnetism, but the results are far from satisfactory. (1) The material on which the trials were made came from both the Gap mine, Pa., and Sudbury, Ont.

In 1892 Mons. David Levat, formerly Director-General of the Société Memoir on le Nickl, prepared a memoir on the production and uses of nickel and ay ae its alloys, entitled 'Progrés de la Métallurgie du Nickel,' (#) an /'#- abstract from which is translated and printed in the report of the Bureau of Mines of Ontario. Besides a description of the metallurgical treatment of the Sudbury ores, he institutes 1 comparison between these and the New Caledonia ores, giving all necessary details in regard to these latter, their composition, metallurgy, transportation, mining operations, and concludes with certain particulars relating to the composition of the nickel of commerce, its alloys and statistics of production.

During the summer of 1890, the late Baron von Foullon of the Work by Geological Survey of Austria, spent a few weeks in the district, direct- ont dg ing his attention chiefly to the determination of the relative ages of the different rocks. His collection of rocks for future study, contained First recogni- a specimen obtained from one of the detached blocks of material, which a had been blasted out to make room for the the foundations of the &TPtive. smelter at the Murray mines. Examination of thin sections of this specimen under the microscope, revealed for the first time the identity of what was evidently a typical and unaltered representative of the nickel bearing eruptive, showing it to contain besides the plagioclase, strongly pleochroic hypidiomorphic individuals of hypersthene, together with a smaller amount of diallage, both these last mentioned minerals being often bordered with hornblende. The rock thus evidently belonged to the general type of gibbros, which by the abundance of the hypers-

(1) Jour. Am. Chem. Soc., Vol. XIV, No. 19; also Ann. Rep. Bur. of Mines, Ont., 1892, pp. 163-166.

(2) Ann. des Mines, Paris, 1892, pp. 141-224. (3) Ann. Rep. Bur. of Mines, Ont., 1392, pp. 149-162.

'

16 Geological Survey Of Canada

thene is related to the norites. (1) This was the first recognition of the

Desoription of true character of the eruptive with which the nickel deposits are so 1. Williams. intimately associated, although the late Professor G, H. Williams had

in 1891 described (2)a very similar rock from the v'sinity of the Blezard

mine, but which in the description of the field relations furnished him,

had been reported as occurring ina later dyke. In 1893, Dr. A. P.

Coleman's Coleman,(") showed that the country rock of the nickel deposits south of pes ep of Clear Lake,on the Northern Nickel Range, wasa gabbro containingboth Pacer Aan diallage and enstatite. In the same publication, he gives a description Nickel Range, of the petrographical characters of the peculiar type of rock to which Williams first gave the name " micropegaustite, " and which occurs

here as elsewhere, throughout the district, in intimate association with

the sulphide bearing eruptive.

Recognition In 1893, Prof. 8. T.. Pentield, recognized and described for the first

f pentlandi'e ,- ; ' + nae . A ere : aap ® time, the mineral pentlandite, from the Sudbury district, found in some Penfield. sulphide material sent to him some years previously by Mr. F. L.

Sperry. Immediately following this article, in the same publication, he criticizes rather severely the methods of analysis, adopted by Dr. Emmens, in his attempt to establish the claims of folgerite, blueite and whartonite, to be recognized as new mineral species (°).

roma s In the same year David H. Browne, (") chemist of the Canadian separ: on . David H, Copper Company, challenged the accuracy of Dr. Emmens' magnetic rem work, as also the conclusions based thereon, so far at least as the

material from Sudbury is concerned At the same time, he published the details of certain personal experiments in connection with the magnetic separation of the ores from the Copper Cliff, Evans and Stobie mines. The ore was first handpicked and then crushed to various degrees of fineness. By means of these trials, he succeeded in dividing the material thus prepared into a magnetic and nonmagnetic product, the analysis of the latter showing a close resemblance to the pentlandite described by Penfield.

L prota FR In June 1893, T. L. Walker visited the Vermilion mine and £9 L. procured some additional material similar to that in which Wells and er.

oe ees (1) Ueber einige Nickelerzvorkommen," Jahr. d. k-k. geol. Reichsanstalt, Vol. XLII, pp. 223-310, Vienna, 1892. (2) Ann. Rep. Geol. Surv. Can., 1890-91, Part F, p. 77. (3) 'The Rocks of Clear Lake near Sudbury," Can. Ree, Sc., Vol. V, 1892-93,

pp. 343-346. (4) Am. Jour, Se., Vol. XLV, 1893, pp. 4938-494. (d) " " pp. 494-497.

(6) Eng. & Min. Jour., Dec. 2nd, 1893, Vol. LVI, pp. 565-566. (7) Am, Jour. Sc., Vol. I, 1896, pp. 110-112.

re sO s had ezard him, Aste ith of sboth ptioa which yecurs with

e first 1 some jane iblicared by ylueite

nadian gnetic as the plished ith the 1s and hed to ceeded resem-

ne and is and

alt, Vol.

1892-93,

Previous Examinations And Descriptions 17

Penfield had first discovered sperrylite. The evidence of these new specimens of this comparatively rare mineral, enabled him to publish further details in regard to its crystallographic behaviour. After critical examination of the associated sulphides, he concludes that this sperrylite is associated with the chalcopyrite, and not with the pyrrhotite, and that accordingly nickel mattes from mines low in copper contain very little platinum, while those richer in copper afford a matte proportionately richer in platinum. He mentions the fact, however, that the polydymite of Clarke and Catlett ccntains from 0:006 per cent to 0-024 per cent of platinum ('),

In April, 1893, Prof. W. L. Goodwin (?) announced th discovery Discovery of

of a highly nickeliferous pyrite, occurring at the Murray mine, and oman ana published an analysis of this somewhat unusual association. The Prof, W. I material, however, on which the examination was conducted, was mas. TL sive and somewhat decomposed. A little latter, however, T. L. Walker secured several specimens 'showing druses of small bright cubic crystals, These were found associated with marcasite, (containing no nickel or cobalt) magnetite, galena, chalcopyrite and nickeliferous pyrrhotite. An analysis of this new and fresh material was made, and the conclusion reached that the specimens represented true nickeliferous pyrite. in which the isomorphus elements, iron and nickel, replaced each other in varying proportions.

During the summer and fall of 1893, E. Renshaw Bush, while pur- Descri tion suing professional work, visited some of the more important deposits, 5 aha thee. afterwards publishing his observations in a paper called 'The Sudbury Nickel Region.'

On December 4th, 1893, Philip Argall of Denver, Col., presented a Paper by paper to the Colorado Scientific Society, on ' Nickel, the Occurrence, Fay Agile Geological Distribution and Genesis of its Ore Deposits.' This author gives a short but rather compl: "e statement of the character, composition and distribution of the three groups of the ores of nickel—arsenides, sulphides and silicates—and makes special mention of the main features and importance of the Sudbury Ore Deposits.(5)

On January 12th, 1894, Dr. Frank D. Adams of Montreal, submit- Opinions by ted a paper to the General Mining Association of the Province of —

(1) Bull. U. 8. G. S., No. 64, 21.

(2.) Can. Rec. Sc. Vol. V, 1892-93, pp. 346-347.

(3.) Am, Jour. Se. Vol. XLVII, April, 1894, pp. 312-314.

(4.) Eng. & Min. Jour., March 17, 1894, Vol. LVII, pp, 245-246. (5.) Proc. Col. Sc. Soc., Vol. IV, 1891-92-93, pp. 395-421.

Views by Prof. J. F Kemp.

Detailed description by

Ye. t. be Walker.

Dr. Walker first to recog: nize the micropegmatite

te of norite.

Paper by J. W. Bain.

as differentia-

18 + Geological Survey Of Canada

Quebec, 'On the Igneous Origin v: certain Ore Deposits.' In this paper, he gives a synopsis of the main conclusions reached by Prof. J. H. L. Vogt of Christiania, from his exaininations and study of the nickeliferous sulphides of Norway, and agreeably with these, Dr. Adams claims an igneous origin for the various Sudbury occurrences, the concentration of the ore being the direct result of magmatic differentiation of the peculiar type of eruptive with which the deposits of both countries are always associated. (')

In 1895, Prof. J. F. Kemp of ( .umbia University, New York, gives 'An Outline of the Views held today on the Origin of Ores' offering an explanation, based on the laws of thermo-chemistry, to explain the concentration of these sulphides of iron, copper and nickel. (7)

In 1897, Dr. T. L. Walker presented his inaugural dissertation to obtain the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, to the University of Leip zig, taking as his subject ' Geological and Petrographical Studies of the Sudbury Nickel District, Canada.' This thesis was fterwards co umunicated to the Geological ociety of Lordon, by Prof. J. J. H. Teall and subsequently published in an abridged form. (°) This publication con'aias an epitome of Dr. Walker's studies of the rocks which are most intimately associated with the nickel deposits. The author is in full agreement with Vogt, Adams and others, regarding thes ore bodies as of igneous origin, owing their present position and dimensions to magmatic differentiation. He furnishes very complete details of the petrographical character, not only of the nickel bearing eruptive, but also of the associated greenstones and the clastic rocks of the Huronian, making brief mention of the mineralogical composition of the Laurentian gneisses exposed near Wanapitei station. Dr. Walker was the first to recognize that the ' micropegmatite ', classed on previous geological maps, as belonging to the Laurentian, which it resem. bles, is really a differentiation phase of the prevailing norite. The later dykes of olivine diabase are also described in considerable detail. The whole publication may be characterized, in brief, as the most complete statement in regard to the geology and petrography of the district, which had yet appeared.

In 1900, J. Watson Bain prepared 'A Sketch of the Nickel Indus-

try,' which treats of the source and production of nickel ores, the me-

a

(1.) Can, Min. Review, February, 1894. (2.) Min. Industry, Vol. IV, 1895, pp. 755-766. (3) Quart, Jour. Geol. Soc. Lon., Vol. LVIITI, (1897) pp. 40-66.

PREVIOUS EX/MINATIONS AND DESCRIPTIONS 19 this tallurgy of both uhe New Caledonia and Sudbury products, conc sding f. with a brief statement of the composition and uses of nickel. (' the Jams In 1901, Dr. A. P. Coleman gives certain petrographical det: is of Deseription con- the nickel bearing eruptive and the associated greenstones, with © ecial mian in 1901, ation reference to occurrences of these rocks, between the Stobie and N kel soun- Mountain mines, He also furnishes an account of the mineralogical composition aut character, as revealed by the microscope, of som of ork the sedimentary rocks classified as Huronian in this district. ' Ores ' In 1901, () and again in 1902, the writer gives certain pre- Work nd A. ry, to liminary information in regard to the geology and pe\.ography of igo} and 1908. and the Sudbury district. In the summer of 1902, Profs. Victor Gold ad Willias rrylite by ion to Nicol prepared a very complete statement of ti) ography ak Leip sperrylite, the material being obtained from the or; ality at the jies of 'ermilion mine. pg In 1902, C, W. Dickson, (1851 Exhibition 1m (Que en's Sey ation of nas University, 'Xingstoa, and doing post-graduate wo: @ Scho! of fron alew which Mines, Columbia University, New York) succes : separating fir ew fe sperrylite from the unaltered chalcopyrite, obtain. at the Viccoria mines, and thus proved definitely that the platinum ses associ#ted with hide the copper sulphide. (") This is in agreement with jie result eehe by Walker, some years previously, to which reference has #! ee made, and also accords with the views of Prof. Vogt, from ee shied the various ores from the Norwegian nickeliferous pyrr! se di . of the srs Walker Ai the meeting of the American Institute of "ining Eng id Paper by C. on pre- in Albany in February, 1903, Mr. Chas. V ickson. & oo , resem. rence has already been made, submitted a paper entii Tie Orre he later ; Deposits of Sudbury, Ontario.' The information thus 1 was il. The also presented in the iorm of a thesis ,to obtain the deg at omplete Columbia University, New York city. district, — (1) Ann. Rep. Bur. of Mines, Ont., 1900, pp. 213-224. ae (2) Ann. Rep. Bur. of Mines, Ont., 1901, pp, 206-208, (3) Sum. Rep. Geol. Surv, Can., 1901, pp. 141-145. the me- "ss ow 1902, pp. 252-967. (5) Amer, Jour. Se., Vol. XV, 1903, pp. 450-458. (6) " " " " 137-139.

(7) Zeit fiir Prak. Geol. Aug., 1908, pp. 258-260, (8) Trans. Am, Tnet. Min. Eng. (Albany Melting) February, 1903, 65 pp.

20 Geological Survey Of Canada

New methods This publication marks a decidedly new departure, not only in the

of research. methods of research adopted, but also in the results sought to be obtained, and if the conclusions reached, seem new and startling, and at variance with many of the preconceived notions entertained in regard to the composition and origin of these ore bodies, the author must be given the credit for having weighed all the evidence and exhausted every means to prove the validity of his conclusions.

Mr. Dickson mentions that one of the purposes of his investigatior has been to ascertain whether the nickel and cobalt replace the iror isomorphously in be Sudbury pyrrhotite, Another purpose has bee to try to find a definite formula for the sulphide of this district, wit the idea of comparing it with similar minerals from other localitie: The thesis is divided into two main portions, as follows: I, The rel: tion of nickel to pyrrhotite and IT. Genesis of the Sudbury ores.

Analyses of The first of these two parts of Mr. Dickson's paper deals, in the fir

pagan' Be place, with a general statement of the Sudbury nickel region. Th is followed by a summary of the composition and origin of pyrrhotit to which is added a table, showing the percentage of nickel and coba in this mineral. Then succeeds a brief description of the Sudbu pyrrhotites, with tables indicating the percentages of nickel, cobalt a1 copper, not only in the ore of the principal mines, but also the avera composition of some of the resulting mattes.

Magnetic Mr. Dickson then discusses the methods pursued, and the results — his investigation into the magnetic separation of the pyrrhotite, and a result of these experiments, he concludes that all of the nickel, in t Sudbury ores at least, occurs as a separate mineral, avd, that in t district there does not exist a true nickeliferous pyrrhotite, in the sei that the nickel isomorphously replaces part of the iron in at mine! le gael oF In the second part of the paper, he adduces strong evidence in supf iron in pyF- of his opinion that all of the Sudbury ore deposits are of essenti: rhotite. and predominantly secondary origin. The evidence adduced, is deri not only from # study of the larger field occurrences of the depo and associated rocks, but also fir4s abundant support in the relati between the ores and rock minerals, as seen under the microscope. A comparison is made of these Sudbury deposits with those of R land, B. C., and Ducktown, Tenn., which are stated to show m remarkable and essential points of similarity, and concerning wl secondary origin, there can be no doubt. Dr. Coleman's In 1903, Dr. A. P. Coleman published his account of 'The Sud examinations' Nickel Deposits', (1) giving the results of the field operations ur

and descriptions in 1903. (1) Ann. Rep. Bur. of Mines, Ont., 1908, pp. 235-299.

Comparisons.

ly in the tht to be ling, and ained in 1e author nce and if.

estimation . the iron has been trict, with localities. The rela-

y ores,

in the first ion. This pyrrhotite, and cobalt, Sudbury cobalt and he average

e results of tite, and as ickel, in the that in this in the sense 'at mineral. e in support ' essentially d, is derived the deposits the relations rroscope. hose of Rossshow many ring whose

The Sudbury ations under-

History Of "Evelopment 21

taken at the instance of the Bureau of Mines of Ontario, in the summer

of 1902. This is, doubtless, the most comprehensive and satisfactory description of these deposits which has yet appeared. This work is

copiously illustrated with photographs of the different mines and

buildings, together with several small maps showing the progress of the

surface work, and the disposition of the various openings and mining

buildings. It is also accompanied by two coloured geological maps ¢;,.logical representative of the area in the vicinity of the Copper Cliff and maps of Cop- Stobie mines. It is not considered necessary in this connection, to Poet ged ac summarize the results of this work, as the publication is of such recent

date, and readily available to any one who desires to take advantage

of this information ; and no one interested in the geological and petrographical problems involved, should be without it. In 1903,

Dr. Coleman continued this work, directing his attention to the map-

ping out in detail of the outline of the northern nickel range, in order

to determine its connection .r otherwise with the Southern or Main

Range.

It is proposed, that during the coming season, Dr. Coleman will again Further continue this work, with the intention of ultimately publishing a mono. rong ray Shige graph. which will contain, in succinct form, all essential information in man. regard to these deposits, which have figured so largely in the mining

industrial development of Canada,

History o¥ DEVELOPMENT.

The presence of large deposits of nickel and copper, in the vicinity p. 116 attenof the town of Sudbury, and close to the boundary between the Dis- tion attracted tricts of Algoma and Nipissing, in Northern Ontario, has, for many to ore years, attracted world wide attention, in the tirst place, on account of paca A their immense aud 'apparently inexhaustible character, but latterly, because of the much more extended use of nickel, especially as an alloy with steel, to improve the qualities of the latter. The recent agitation for the imposition of an export duty on nickel ore and matte, has, at least, resulted in drawing public attention to the fact, that Canada has for some time past, been one of the two great sources of nickel in the world, and at the present day, produces more than half of the world's consumption of this metal. The history of the development of nickel mining in this region is inseparably bound up with that of copper, for the two minerals are always present in such intimate association with one another, that, in abstracting their metallic contents, they are sub-

jected to the same metallurgical processes.

22 Geological Survey Of Canada

Knowledge of The existence of workable deposits of copper in this region, was a prewsag of fact that had long been known, and as far back as 1770, a company 1770. had been formed and attempts made to mine this metal, but the difficulty of proeuring and maintaining miners, at so great a distance from any centre of civilization, the remoteness of any market for the ore, as well as the absence of facilities for transportation, were in themselves amply sutlicient causes, if none other existed, to render these first attempts abortive. However, in 1846, owing to the activity in prospecting and locating mineral lands, on the southern shore of Lake Superior, and a favourab'e report by Mr. W. E. Logan, then newly appointed Provincial Geologist, some enterprising Canadians banded themselves together into two associations called 'The Montreal Mining Company', and 'The Upper Canada Mining Company." The former company purchased, amongst others, what was then a known as 'The Bruce Mines Location', and, on account of the ap- Mines. pirent richness of the deposit, decided to commence active work at this locality, while the Upper Canada Company proceeded to develop and work what was known as the ' Wallace Mine', near the mouth of Mining work the Whitefish river,on Lake Huron. The Wallace mine was the choice

i at Wallace .

mine. of a number of locations, owned by the same company, on the north shore of Lake Huron, and was selected on account of its promising character and proximity to civilization. It is chiefly remarkable as having been the first place in Canada, in which the presence of nickel was detected. After sinking a shaft to the depth of between 60 and 90 feet, and the opening up of a few pits to test the size of the deposit, all work was abandoned, and has not been resumed since, as the quantity of ore encountered in these operations did not seem to warrant any further expenditure.

Murray's In his report for 1856, Mr. Alex. Murray,'(!) thus refers to certain

ae oer outcrops of sulphide bearing rocks, which were long afterwards shown

e Caieh ad to be the southwestern extension of the now famous Creighton

mine in 1856, Nickel mine, 'At the fifth milea dingy green magnetic trap, with a large amount of iron pyrites, forms a ridge, and that rock with syenite, continues in a succession of ridges to the seventh mile, beyond which the country becomes low and marshy. Previous to my visit to Whitefish lake, I had been informed by Mr. Salter that local attraction of the magnet had been observed by himself, while he was engaged in running the meridian line, and he expressed it to be his opinion that the presence of a large body of iron ore was the immediate cause. When, therefore, I came to the part indicated by Mr. Salter, I made

(1) Rep. Geol. Surv. Can, 1853-56, pp. 180-181.

cep. ree) ee, ee ee ae

a Pv rn

Pi lnc

Sr etnies ras Suv

iene eee Oke

ie

eesiceenlt ae (he SiS

History Of Development 23

a very careful examination, not only in the direction of the meridian line, but for a considerable distance on each side of it, and the result of my examination was that the local attraction, which I found exactly as described by Mr. Salter, was owing to the presence of an immense mass of magnetic trap.

The compass was found while traversing these trap ridges, to be Variation of deflected from its true bearing upwards of ten degrees at several parts, sn and in one place it showed a variation of fifteen degrees west of the canse. true meridian, or about twelve degrees from the true magnetic north, Specimens of this trap have been given to Mr Hunt for analysis, and the result of his investigations shows that it contains magnetic iron ore and magnetic iron pyrites, generally disseminated through the rock, the former in very small grains ; titaniferous iron was found in association with the magnetic ore, and a small quantity of nickel and copper with the pyrites. It was remarked that notwithstanding the powerful influence of this magnetic mass in causing a general local attraction, the contact of fragments of it with the compass, although producing a slight effect, rarely occasioned any remarkable agitation

of the needle.'

The line referred to in the above description, was what was once Position of known as 'Salter's Meridian line', and the exact position of these out- depot crops of mineralized 'trap', on the line, is in the first concession, on the boundary between Snider and Creighton townships. [t can thus be seen, that even at this early period of its history, the officers of the Geological Survey were aware of the existence of nickel in this region, an had pointed out the probability, that workable deposits would be found. (')

Years passed by, and the inaccessible nature of the country deterred Inaccessible : . i i ami i nature of prospectors from making any very detailed explorati OF examination, posers TONER so that it was not until 1883, when the Canadian Pacific Railway was passage of in course of construction, that the first discoveries of any consequence a were made, since which time, the whole belt characterized by the presence of the Huronian rocks in the Sudbury district, has been overrun

with eager prospectors and miners.

A not infrequent accident in newly settled districts, led to the first piscevery of important discovery. Judge McNaughton, late Stipendiary Magis- Murray, mine : : by Dr. Howey. trate at Sudbury, had been lost in the woods to the west of the town, and a diligent search was at once instituted for him. A party, consisting of Dr. Howey and two others, found the judge seated on the

(1.) Rep. Geo, Sur. Can. 1848-49, p. 63,

aeethe eheaiasaseecaai

anemncne memencmaneeeners

sqocmesaaepeneyee ertineatinese set tens COANE ALTE TRAC At ite tite CTT NOT TI

Opinions by Drs. Selwyn andGirdwood.

Dr. Howey's disappointment.

Discovery of Murray mine

24 Geologioal Survey Of Canada

small eminence which then marked the site of what is now known as the Murray mine. Dr. Howey's natural curiosity and geological turn of mind are well known to all his friends, and it is not surprising, therefore, that having overcome his anxiety on the Judge's account, he should turn his attention to the neighbouring rocks. Looking down at the knoll, which had served as a resting place for the tired wanderer, he noticed that the rock composing it contained abundant impregnations of what appeared to be a valuable ore of copper. More critical examination still, convinced him, that he had discovered a mine and hastily securing some representative samples, he exhibited them to Drs. Girdwood and Selwyn, who happened to be in the neighbourhood, and either of whom he considered fully competent to pronounce with authority as to the economic value or possibilities of his find. Dr. Girdwood, it may be remarked, was, at the time, one of the chief medical advisers of ths Canadian Pacific Railway, and a well known authority on chemistry and mineralogy. Dr. Selwyn, then Director of the Geological Surve:, accompanied Dr. Girdwood, in order to obtain the necessary transportation facilities, enabling him to make a geological reconnaissance of the area in the vicinity of the railway. To Dr. Howey's surprise, they informed him that the pyrrhotite which formed such a large proportion of his samples, was practically valueless, that the only metal of importance which might be present in such a mineral was nickel, and that past experience with similar ores in Canada and else. where, had taught them, that this was always present in such small amount as not to permit of its profitable extraction. Turning their attention to the chalcopyrite, which was also represented in his samples, both these gentlemen agreed, that although it was a valuable ore of copper, the mineral was not present in sufficient quantity to pay for working. Thoroughly convinced of the soundness of their advice, but disappointed at the unexpected result, Dr. Howey took xo 'further action in the matter, ridiculing in a quiet way the earnest aad persistent efforts of others to interest capital in the immense economic possibilities of this and similar deposits afterwards found. One can imagine his chagrin, therefore, and sympathize with his mortification, when subsequent development demonstrated that both these gentlemen, whose scientific attainments could not be called in question, had been rather hasty in their judgment, although from a wide experience with the composition of pyrrhotites in general, they had been right in thus expressing their opinion.

Early in 1884, the Canadian Pacific Railway made a cutting for their main line through this small hill (Murray mine), about 34 miles northwest of Sudbury, and on July 12th of the same year, Dr. Selwyn

History Of Development 25

made a careful examination of the location, and, stated to the writer,

some years afterwards, that he had pronounced the lode to be one of eh sige the most promising he had yet seen in Canada. No such opinion, z however, was ever published, although it is quite possible that the

greater facility of examination caused by the cutting for the railway:

and the massiveness of the deposit thus exposed, reversed his previous

judgment of the ore body in question.

Other discoveries soon followed, and the McConnell, Lady Macdonald, Other mines Stobie, Blezard, Copper Cliff and Evans mines were all located. At sian first, the wildest notions were entertained as to the extent of these deposits, and the most exaggerated reports circulated as to their value.

It was even confidently asserted that these were immensely important

discoveries, and would revolutionize the whole copper trade, and render yirst reports

other mines then in operation quite unremunerative. Rounded hills of greatly Sea : exaggerated.

gossan, indicating the presence of the more solid and unaltered ore

beneath, occur at intervals for miles in a southwesterly direction, con-

forming rudely to the strike of the stratified or foliated rocks, in the vicinity. This circumstance is all that seems to have justified the early discoverers in describing the deposits as veritable mountains of solid ore, many miles in extent and hundreds of feet thick. During the interval which has elapsed since the first discovery was made, prospectors have not been idle, and their efforts have been rewarded by the location of three large belts or masses of the sulphide bearing norite.

Until lately, these have been considered as entirely separate and Form of distincs from one another, but the later geological work is tending to igen oR prove their connection as one continuous ellipsoidal band, the central portion of which is now occupied by tufaceous slates and sandstones, coloured provisionally as of Cambrian age.

The history of the development of mining in the Sudbury district History of is, in the main, that of the Canadian Copper Company, for it was the ia

1. A specimen collected at the time by Dr. Selwyn from the cutting on the railway at the Murray mine, was examined by Dr. Hoffmann, who says 'It consisted of magnetic-pyrites and eopper-pyrites, in association with a dark gray fine-grained diorite and a grayish green chloritic schist ; a few of the fragments were in parts, coated with hydrated peroxide of iron. Some specimens of the magnetic-pyrites from this deposit contained numerous flakes of molybdenite. It was found to contain after drying at 100° C., (Hygroscopic water =0°085 per cent.)

Copper... loses.0e5 Sulphur Insoluble matter (gangue)

(Ann. Rep. Geol. Surv, Can. Vol. I, 1885, Part M, pp. 19-21.

bbisiebiphtiadigner et.

Canadian

Copper Co. organized,

Mining started at Copper Cliff.

First blast furnace.

No. 2 mine started.

Evans mine closed down,

26 Geological Survey Of Canada

first combination of capital which seriously undertook the business of mining in this area, while, at the same time, having the distinction of being the only corporation, which has continued its operations without serious interruption, from the commencement until the present time.

The McAllister mine, later called the Lady Macdonald mine, (now No. 4 mine of the Canadian Copper Company's group), situated on the north side of the lake of the same name, on lot I, con. IIL., of the township of Snider, was the first property on which any work was done in the summer of 1885, although later in the fall, the Evans mine, about two and a half miles farther south in the same township, was opened up and some preliminary tests made. On January 5, 1886, the Canadian Copper Company was formed, with a subscribed and paid up capital of $2,000,000, which was afterwards increased to $2,500,000, to operate the Copper Cliff, Stobie and Evans mines,

On May Ist, 186, work was started in earnest at the Copper Cliff mine, near the north end of lot 12, con. II., of McKim township, and the first shipments of ore made from the district, were obtained from the surface openings of the original Copper Cliff mine. Later on in the same year, both the Stobie and Evans mines were opened up, and these three mines together produced all the ore treated in the smelters at Copper Cliff, until the year 1898. The first blast furnace installed at the old or East Smelter was blown in on December 24, 1888, this being augmented under the same roof bya second blast furnace, which was started on September 4, 1859. During 1896, and 1897, diamond drill exploratory work was undertaken in connection with the deposits afterwards known as the No. 1 and No. 2 mines with their extensions, and in 1898, many of these openings produced a considerable quantity of high grade ore, but, with the exception of the deposit at No. 2, there was apparently no very large or continuous body encountered, for tlxy were soon abandoned and are now completely dismantled. About the same time, what is now the largest open pit of the whole group of the Copper Cliff mines (No. 2), was started in earnest, soon supplying a very large quantity of ore, which, bowever, contains a considerable admixture of rocky matter. The Evans mine, although with some rather serious interrrptions, continued to furnish ore until late in the fall of 1899, when it closed down, and to all appearances has been permanently abandoned. The engines, boilers and other machinery have been removed, and the rails of the spur connecting the mines with the main line of railway, have all been torn up and carried off to be used elsewhere. In the fall of 1899, preparations were made for openig up the Frvod mine (No. 3), situated

History Of Development 27

a little over a mile southwest of the Stobie mine, on lot 6, con. VI., Frood mine

of the township of McKim, and carly in 1900, this was added to the opened, list of producing mines, During 1899, and succeeding seasons, many

of the openings northwest of No. 2 mine, as well as some of the pits

and shafts known as the Ciarabelle group of mines, were being oper- Clarabelle ated at one time or another, and added materially to the reserves of ore, but all of these were shut down in the spring of 1902, when the

business of the company was being curtailed, pending reorganization

and consolidation of the various interests. In July, 1900, the work

of stripping at the Creighton mine was begun, and in August of the Opening of following year, ore was shipped for the first time to the roast yards at Copper Cliff. The Creighton mine is undoubtedly the largest mine

in the district of which we at present have knowledge, and from the

very beginning of operations, has produced very large quantities of the

almost pure sulphides, with little or no rocky admixture. It is espe

cially valuable as carrying a high percentage of nickel, with a very

much smaller proportion of copper. The mine is situated on the north

half of lot 10, concession I., of the township of Snider, about six miles

in a straight line west of Copper Cliff station. The ore, when mined;

is carried on cars over the Manitoulin and North Shore Railway, on

the north side of which the mine is located, to Clarabelle junction

where connection is made with the railway owned by the Canadian

ver Company. Before the opening of the Creighton mine, the Stobie mine. we uad the distinction of having supplied the largest quantity uf

ore ot uil the Canadian Copper Company's mines, and with the excep-

tion of some minor stoppages, this mine was in continuous operation

from the date of its opening in 1886, until November, 190:, when it Closed down closed down and has remained so ever since. 'The reason for this cgs- in 1901. sation of operations does not appear to be that the end of the deposit

has been reached, but because the quality of ore which it supplies is

not needed in the present smelting operations. The Creighton mine Very large is at present the main source of supply, and this mine with its equip- Hay enn ment allows for a production of between 500 and 600 tons of ore per tn mine. day, and Dr. Coleman is authority for the statement that for some time in 1902, the output from this mine alone reached 17,000 tons per month. The old or original Copper Cliff still continues to supply about 1,000 tons of ore per month, obtained mainly from the 13th and 14th levels, the latter workings being 1,052 feet below the surface ; but even at this depth the ore body shows no serious diminution, either in size or richness. No. 2 mine and the Frood (No. 3), complete the list of mines from which at present the supply of ore is drawn. The mines of this company, not in use at present, must not all be considered as

28 Geological Survey Of Canada

having been permanently abandoned, but the openings now utilized produce an ample supply of the sulphide material of the various grades suitable for smelting.

Tnereate ith This activity in mining at Copper Cliff, and the steady increase in smelting the production of ore, necessitated constant additions to the smelting equipment at : :

Copper Cliff, equipment, as well as the erection of new and suitable buildings for the accommodation of the new blast furnaces, We thus find, that, besides the enlargement of the old or East Smelter, where three new furnaces were installed in addition to the two elready mentioned, an entirely new structure known as the West Smelter, was built in 1899. At first, this building had room for only 4 furnaces, but this was quickly enlarged, and the furnace capacity doubled. The site chosen for this new building, was on the slope of the hill about 300 feet southeast of the No. 2 mine rock house, the deep valley to the south providing a convenient and ample dumping ground for the slag.

East Smelter 'Since the inauguration of this smelter, the one at the east end of

abandoned. the works is being gradually abandoned, and much of the old plant has already been removed to the site of the new building. The work done at this place, since the suspension of operations in the beginning of 1902, has been rather spasmodic, and has consisted mainly in the production of a low grade matte known as 'spilt matte.'

Pyritic Thus, several of the furnaces at this smelter were being employed in

enelting. producing this matte from June, 1902, until the end of the year. In addition, two of the furnaces have been engaged from time to time, making experiments in the way of smelting the ore pyritically. It is hoped, by this method, to reduce the coke to 3 or 4 per cent of the charge, by using a hot blast and an oxidizing atmosphere in the blast furnace, and utilizing the heat developed by the burning of the suiphur and iron of the ore, for the smelting. In the fall of 1900, the plant of

Installation of the Ontario Smelting Works was installed by the Orford Copper Com-

ig agi pany, an organization closely related to the Canadian Copper Compa-

in 1900. ny. The works, as completed, are designed to further refine the first or lower grade matte, produced by the blast furnaces of the Canadian Copper Con:, "y, using as a flux, the silicious ore from the Massey Copper mine.

Formation of Perhaps, the most important event in the development of the nicke] eon ae industry, either in this district or elsewhere, occurred in April, 1902, when after negotiations, covering a period of several months, the International Nickel Company was organized under the laws of the State of New Jersey, to consolidate and control the nickel production of the world. The following properties were included in the new organiza-

? !

PegremmcecsstTASp LTE

tion :—The Canadian Copper Company ; the Orford Copper Company,

History Of Development 29

with reduction works at Bayonne, N.J.; the Anglo-American Tron Company, and the Vermilion Mining Company, in Canada ; the American Nickel Works, in Camden, N.J. ; the Nickel Corporation, Limited, and the Société Minitre Caledonienne, in New Caledonia, During 1902, and 1903, mining operations were considerably curtailed, ex-

cept in the case of the Creighton mine, where the production has been brisk ever since it was first opened. This has permitted c -tain very Mining necessary explorations of many of the ore deposits, by diamond drilling pavers and testing shafts. The results of these experiments, have added very

largely to the detailed knowledge, not only in regard to the size and

shape of the deposits already known, but has succeeded in revealing

the presence of considerable bodies of ore, whose presence had not been suspected.

Such, in brief, is the record of the principal events in the develop- Business-like Pe : : pede methods of

ment of the mining and metallurgical operations of this pioneer com. Canadian pany, in the nickel industry in Canada. From the start, their work has Copt<t Ce always been characterized by energetic and business-like methods, and

if at the present time, thr seem to have gained control of more than

their fair share of thea .Jlable nickel bearing area, which likewise

includes many of the mines producing the largest supplies of high grade

nickel ore, the result must not be attributed to chance or a series of fortunate circumstances, but is rather the strongest evidence of the

keen business foresight of the originators of the enterprise, and an . abiding faith in the permanence of the nickel mining in this district.

It must not, however, be assumed that all of the available or even Aj) important important deposits of nickel-copper sulphides, have passed under the ae control of the International Nickel Company, for besides the Victoria International mines of the Mond Nickel Company, which still contain a very large aan reserve of high grade ore, there are many others through the district which are capable of economic development #s more or less permanent mines. Suspension of operations, so often recorded in the his- Reasons for tory of the mining development of the district, does not in all or even pil scary a majority of cases, imply a failure in the ore supply, but is oftener to be attributed to a waste of capital, owing to lack of business judgment, and the need of a technical knowledge of the difficulties to be encountered in both the mining and smelting departments. Moreover, many of the deposits have been condemned, because they failed to give a pro- Necessity for per return for the capital invested, when all that was available of the op eggs latter was utilized in costly experiments, to discover new methods of

smelting or refining. Past experience in this district has shown that

cane near name sO 7 PER RRMRNE RRR pe A me

cena nanan

shiner seseeenrcemen ener imens iaimetens: aman

Important deposits on Levack and North Nickel Range.

Beginning of operations at Murray mine.

Smelting at Murray wine.

30 Geological Survey Of Canada

success and permanency in the mining and smelting operations of any company, can only be secured by the possession of Jarge reserves of ore, preferably obtained from different mines or deposits. In this way, not only is a constant supply of ore assured, but diversity in composition is possible thus enabling a judicious selection of the different grades, whose mixture in the proper proportions, promotes successful and economic smelting.

In addition to the deposits which are still available along the Southern Range, most of which are in various stages of development, there are other apparently very large and important ore bodies, situated along the Middle range (in Levack township) ; and others again on the Northern Nickel Range which are certainly worthy of close attention and which seem destined, in the near future, to be v wked as mines. The lack of transportation facilities has, up to the present, prevented any deep mining work being done, but the surface indications an" geological conditions are entirely favourable to the existence of large ore bodies, which, although perhaps not attaining the phenomenal dimensions of the Creighton mine, will nevertheless prove of sufficient magnitude to form valuable mines.

Henry H. Vivian & Co.

The incidents attending the discovery of the duposit which was afterwards known as the Murray mine, have already been related, as also the fact that it was located over a year previous to either the Copper Cliff or Stobie mines. In spite of this circumstance, however, and its advantageous situation on the main line of the Canadian Pacitic Railway, no mining of any importance was done in connection with this property until early in the year 1889. During the whole of this season, however, it was prospected under bond by H. H. Vivian & Co., of Swansea, Wales, and in October, of the same year, it was sold outright to this company by the original owners. The mine is situated on the north half of lot 11, con. V., of McKim township. All the necessary machinery, buildings and other adjuncts were installed, and preparations made for carrying on the business of mining on an extensive scale.

The first blast furnace at the Murray mine was blown in about the end of September, 1890, and put to work on some ore which had been previously roasted. The general practice followed by this company in their smelting operations, consisted in the production of a co" varatively low grade blast furnace matte (averaging 9.4 per cent nickel and

iii spel pk Sl A ete aR nals ihe aH a

fs

History Of Uvevelopment 31

4.7 per cent copper), thus preventing an undue loss of the metals in the slag, and subsequently bessemerizing this into a second or higher grade matte (averaging nearly 75 per cent of the combined metals or about 49 per cent nickel and 26 per cent copper). For this second concentration of the metallic contents, the Vivians were the first to make use of the Manhés furnace or converter in 1891, Mining and smelting operations were continued, although with some minor interruptions, from 1889 until 1894, when the works were finally closed down, Between August, 1896, and January, 1897, however, the smelter was engaged in producing matte from about 6,000 tons of ore which had been roasted by the Vivians. This product was shipped to Mr. Joseph Wharton, of Camden, N. J., to whom it had been sold.

The purchase of the Murray mine by this old established and well known firm of Welsh smelters, was regarded by all as marking a distinct epoch in the history of nickel mining in Canada. Their wide experience in all branches of metallurgical industry, seemed to augur well for the success, not only of their own individual enterprise, but their presence in the district, promised to be of immense assistance to others similarly engaged in the mining and s'nelting of these nickel and copper sulphides. The difficulties which always attend the initiation of a new undertaking, were in evidence from the very beginning of the business of nickel mining, and were of that nature, which required the exercise of just such ripe technicai knowledge as the Vivians were sure to possess. Moreover, such a significant acknowledgment of the success and permanence of nickel mining in Canada, on the part of a firm whose sphere of activity in mining and smélting had extended to all parts of the known world, could not fai! to have a most marked influence on all subsequent mining operations in the district. It was, therefore, to say the least, bitterly disappointing, that from the very outset, a seeming lack of energy, and often even of ordinary business ability, on the part of those who had control of the work, was a subject of common remark, being in marked contrast to the alert methods characterizing the operations of the rival corporation, the Canadian Copper Company. This was evident in almost every department of the work, and the apparent lack of technical knowledge and business capacity on the part of this firm, from whom so much had been expected, could not be very well understood by the ordinary observer. On the other hand, the management entrusted with the conduct of affairs at the mine, complained of want of interest and attention on the part of the authorities in England, but, whatever the real cause or combination of causes, the~ '"*rprise was not attended with the success anticipated, and which shou. have been reasonably

Cessation of Operations.

Purchase of

Murray tine by Vivians of great promise

to wh re district.

Cause of failure.

Apathy of

management.

b a a '

32 Geological Survey Of Canada

expected. The final decision of the company to close down and withdraw from the business of mining in Canada, came as a distinct shock to all those who were interested in seeing the permanency of the nickel Ore still pre: mining established. The failure of these operations must not, theresen ll fore, be attributed, as some have supposed, to the diminution in depth of the ore body or to abundant rocky admixture, although these, no doubt, contributed to a certain extent to bring about the undesirable result, It seems altogether reasonable to suppox that a considerable quantity of ore is still present, both in the lower ievels of the mine, as well as below these workings at depths which have not yet been reached by the mining explorations so far undertaken, which could be profitably mined in conjunction with other deposits. In this Necessity for respect, the Vivians were at a manifest desadvantage as compared be oh grades ith the Canadian Copper Company, the varied composition and character of the ores from whose Aifferent mines permitted, and even favoured, the mixtures which are seemingly so essential for the successful and economical smelting of these sulphide ores. In addition Lady Violet to the Murray mine, the Vivians owned the nickel and copper deposit at known as the Lady Violet mine, situated on the north half of Lot 1, con. IV., of the township of Snider, about miles southwest of the Murray mine. The mining, however, undertaken at this locality consisted chiefly of stripping, the sinking of trial shafts, and other preliminary development work. A blacksmith's shop and some temporary residences were the only buildings erected.

Diamond drili Some rather ex censive diamond drill exploration werk was subsecoe a quently undertaken by order of the Board of Directors in England, at Lady Violet both the Murray and Lady Violet mines, but unfortunately, the diffe- — rent sites for the drill, as well as the angles of inclination and direction of the bore holes, were determined by some of these same directors in England, whose only means of guidance in this selection, seems to have been maps of the two properties in question, but without any very extended personal knowledge of the actual geological conditions prevailing at these places. As might have been expected, from operations carried on under such adverse conditic -3, no important ore bodies were encountered, nor was any information of material value obtained, which might be of assistance either to the owners or to any prospective buyer. The diamond drill used belonged to the Ontario government, and was loaned tothe Vivians under the usual conditions Cost of of working in 1898. Boring was begun on the 2nd of December, 1898, diamond and the work continued until the 16th of June, 1899, the number of —— days of actual boring being 212, of 10 hours each. In all, eight holes

ithock ckel ere- h of , no able able rine, been ould this vared chaeven ition posit ot 1, f the y conpreli- orary

su bse-

nd, at

diffe-

direc-

direc-

seems ut any Jitions operaore bolue obto any )ntario ditions r, 1898, nber of it holes

History Of Development 33

were put down, having an aggregate depth of 1,146 feet, which cost on an average $2.65 per foot. (1)

Since the abandonment of active mining, the property has been under Caretaker at the charge of Mr. G, H. Behenna, who has been continuously employ- Murray mine ed looking after the various buildings and machinery, while a pump has kept most of the levels comparatively free from water.

Dominion Mineral Company.

The Dominion Mineral Company commenced mining operations in Location of the summer of 1889, on a deposit of nickel and copper ore known as FemEG aie. the Blezard inine, occurring on lot 4, con, [f., of Blezard township, about miles north of the Stobie mine, at the southern edge of the Main or Southern Range of norite, which here comes in contact with the older diorites and hornblende schists. A smelter was soon built, with a furnace capacity of 120 to 150 tons daily. Four shafts were sunk Erection of at this mine, the deepest of which seesms to have reached a point 172 —— feet below the surface. Most of the ore secured, however, was by ineans of a series of large open pits which are at present filled with Composition water. 'The "kies" or metallic portion of the ore thus obtained is of ore. said to have averaged about 4 per cent nickel and 2 per cent copper.

For reasons which have been differently stated, mining operations were discontinued in the summer of 1893, and have not been resumed since. Cessation of The smelter, however, at this mine, was kept running until July, 1895, operations, on ore brought chiefly from the Worthington mine. The total pro. Production. duction of ore cannot be accurately given, but the figure of 100,000

tons is certainly somewhat below the actual output. The Worthing-

ton mine, also vorked by the same company, is situated at a station Discovery an of the same name, on the Sart branch of the Canadian Pacific rail- ase way, twenty-five miles west of Sudbury. The mine itself, consisting mine.

of two shafts, lies close to the line between lots 1 and 2, con. IL., of

the township of Drury. It was discovered at the time of the cons-

truction of this branch by Mr. James Worthington, one of the railway contractors. Actual mining was started on this property in the sum-

mer of 1890, and continued without much interruption until the mid-

dle of September, 1894, when operations ceased, and with the excep-

tion of a short time in 1902, when the mine was pumped out for Depth of poses of inspection, no work of any consequence has since been one From the two shafts, one of which reached a depth of 100 feet, and

the other 175 feet below the surface, as well as from two adjoining

(1) ane Rep. Bur. of Mines, Ont., 1901, pp. 53 & 56.

b ' t

Production of Worthington mine,

Character and compos tion of ore at Worthington mine,

Work at Cameron mine,

Reasons for cessation of mining.

Work by Algoma Nickel Co.

34 Geological Survey Of Canada

stopes and connecting levels, @ considerable .:.aount of unusually high grade ore was obtained, which has been estimated by Dr. Coleman at 25,000 tons. The pyrrhotite occurring at this mine is often phenomenally high in nickel, chiefly owing to abundantly disseminated pentlandite, and the first recognition of this mineral in the district was by Dr. T. L. Walker, in the ore procured from this mine by the writer in 1891, and to which reference has already been made. The analysis of this pentlandite by Walker showed 30 per cent nickel, but an examination of some large masses of ore obtained at a depth of 8&5 feet below the surface, and consisting of pyrrhotite with a considerable proportion of pentlandite, which could be readily discerned, showed 17:48 per cent of nickel. In 1891, a shipment of raw ore was made from this mine of 123 tons, which contained 10 per cent nickel and 3 per cent copper. Large masses of practically pure chulcopyrite were also obtained, and a considerable quantity of such ore is stated by Manager Attwood to have been shipped, assaying 18 per cent copper and 2°5 per cent nickel.

In the fall of 1895, some development work was done by this seme company, at the Cameron mine, on lot 7, con. 1, of Blezard township, nearly two miles southwest of the Blezard mine. A shaft was sunk a distance of 65 feet with a drift 66 feet in length. The real reason for the cessation of work at both the Worthington and Blezard mines is very difficult to ascertain, but bad business management was responsible in large part for many of their difficulties during these mining operations. Individual members of the company state that the present idleness of these properties is because no decision satisfactory to all parties can be reached by the board of directors, so that working under these conditions is impossible, and they would be inclined to sell.

Some of the other companies who carried on mining and in some cases smelting operations for a time, shortly after the recognition of this area as a mining district deserve a pssing mention in this connection.

One of these, the Algoma Nickel Company, in 1891, under an option secured from the owners of the property, sank four shafts varying in depths from 12 to 35 feet and aggregating 84 feet in all, besides some smaller openings or test pits on lot 11, con. V., ot the township of Lorne. No large body of ore was, however, met wih as a result of this development work, the sulphides apparently occurring as unusually rich 'mpregnations, which, if continuous, might prove an economic pos- : bility. These sulphides occur in connection with what is seemingly the southwestern extension of the same mass or band of norite On

'igh n at pnopen- was the ade. 'kel, hn of sideywed nade nd 3 were

l by ypper

seme ship, ink a yn for nes is ponsiining @ prewctory workclined

some ion of onnec-

option ing in s some ship of sult of usually 1ic posmingly

rite On

History Of Development 35

which the Worthington and Mitchener mines are situated. Work was abandoned, leaving ore piles aggregating about 500 tons in weight. Assays of an average sample in the laboratory of the Survey showed 1:95 per cent nickel, with traces of cobalt.

The Drury Nickel Company purchased the deposit known as the prury Nickel Chicago or Travers mine in 1800, and began active mining in February, Company. 1891. This mine is situated on lot 3, con. V, of the township of Drury, about 5 miles north of Worthington station, on the Sault branch of the Canadian Pacific railway. Most of the ore was mined by means Mining a of open cuts, one of which had depth of 30 feet, length 60 feet and renee width 30 {set, from the bottom of which a shaft 8 by 12 feet was sunk to a depth of 60 feet, Another open pit measured 40 feet in length, 80 feet in width and 3O feet in depth. From these openings 3,500 tons of ore were obtained, and reduced to matte in a water: Smelting. jacketed furnace capable of treating 60 tons in 24 hours. roast. yard was prepared, suitable buildings erected, and the plant installed necessary for permanent mining, but in spite of all this, the mine closed down in 1892, In 1893, after lying idle for nearly a year, some additional mining and smelting was undertaken, but this was also soon abandoned. On May 20, 1896, works was again resumed, the company Trill Nickel being reorganized under the name of the Trill Nickel Mining and Ma. yer nufacturing Company, and the deposit it elf was rechristened the Inez mine. An elevated tramway, 44 miles long, was built from Wor- Inez mine. thington station, for conveying supplies to the mine, and the product of the mine, in turn, to the station. It was possible, by means of this tramway, for a single horse to haul two cars, each containing two tons, and to make two round trips, each way, daily. Mining and smelting continued briskly again, for a while, but before August, 1897, work was again stoppe' and has not since been resumed.

From time to time, mention is made of the 'Big Levack proper- Leyack mines.

ties,' thus referring to certain deposits of nickeliferous pyrrhotite,

which were discovered early in tne history of the district in the town-

ship of Levack, but none of which have been sutliciently developed to

be dignified by the name of "mine." From time to time, however, considerable work has been done and examinations made, with a view

to possible purchase, but for various reasons, the properties are at pre-

sent lying idle and without any present prospect of being opened up in

the near future. The deposits in question are situated along the Windy lake northern junction of what has sometimes been called the Windy lake "Y?"*" eruptive or Middle Velt of the nickel-bearing norite, although it is pos.

sible that this is a portion of the huge ellipsoidal band, and the south-

# : ' '

36 Geological Survey Of Canada

Surface indi. western continuation of the Northern Nickel Range. The surface indi- a cations are undoubtedly among the best in the district, and the devethe district. opment work so far undertaken has exposed a very large amount of almost pure nickeliferous pyrrhotite, with little or no rocky admixture.

Character of The ore-body has the additional advantage that chalcopyrite forms ore body. only a comparatively small proportion of the whole. The first, and probably the most extensive vuisimg exploration work in connection with

Examination these properties, was u iertaken in 1597, and a report made by Mr. A. pie eel a Merry, of H. H. Vivie oni Company, fr. the owners of the property. Y his work consisted of xtrisive strip! 1g, and the removal of portions

of the overlying drift muiesic!, fhe opening up of numerous cross cuts,

trenches and test pits. The average assay of a number of typical sam-

Composition ples, made by Mr. Merry, showed the presenc? of 3.86 per cent of nickel parece in the pyrrhotite, with 0.81 per cent of copper. Assays made in the laboratory of the Survey show the nickel to vary from 1.96 to 4.13

per cent, the lower figure containing considerable gangue, while the

higher results were obtained from the solid, coarse-grained pyrrhotite.

Exploration Early in 1901, some of these locations were examined by means of dia- Ay mond drill exploration, under option by the Mond Nickel Company, but to the disappointment of all who were concerned in the welfare of

the district, this company decided to abandon their option, and the

property was again thrown on the market. It is manifestly unwise,

as a rule, to condemn as worthless the testimnony afforded by diamond

Diamond drill exploration, especially when such work is under the superinten-

pede gt dence of men thoroughly experienced in the mode of occurrence of the factory. class of deposit to be tested, but an inspection of the work performed at this time, seems thoroughly convincing, that much of what was done

added very little, if any, information to what we already possessed in

regard to these deposits, or than can be secured without such costly

assistance. We are, therefore, still in the dark as to whether or not

there are any large or continuous bodies of ore at these places, and if

the former, as to their most likely disposition. All geologists who have

visited these deposits, and especially those who have had wide expe-

Probability of Tlence in the district, are agreed that large and valuable ore-bodies are

oe likely to occur at this place. The rock is the usual norite, with which Levack. all the other mines of the district are associated, while the contact

is well and sharply defined, and the differentiation pronounced. The area covered by the nickel-bearing norite is very large, and no other deposits have been found in connection with this eruptive. The angle of dip to the southeast is unusually low for the district, and this fact has to a large extent prevented its successful exploration. The development work, as well as the borings undertaken by the diamond drill,

ons uts, am- 'kel the the tite. diaany, re of wise, nond nten- f the rmed done ed in sostly rr not und if have expeies are which ontact The . other y angle is fact

d drill,

re

ny

1..8Tory Of Development 37

seem to incline the casual observer to the conclusion that the deposit Suggestions is a 'pancake' and has no great depth or permanence. A careful peed mock study of the attitude of the outcrops of rock, as well as their surface work. outline in the immediate vicinity of the sites chosen for drilling pur-

poses, is convincing that no deep deposit need be expected in their vici-

nity, while on the other hand, it seems reasonable that the main body

of the sulphides is concealed beneath the drift, at the base of the hill,

where no trials whatever have been made, A shaft sunk here and continued with the granite-gneiss as a foot-wall, with drifts outward

towards the main mass of the norite, would show definitely and finally

not only if any large and continuous ore body is present along this

line of junction, but at the same time would secure a considerable

amount of ore, which could afterwards be used,

In 1891, a shaft was started on the Davis property, known as the Location and Sheppard or Beatrice mine. This deposit is situated along the north- ended te es eastern extension of the same line of junction as the Blezard mine, bet- Sheppard ween the norite and greenstone. Itis on ot 1, con. III., of Blezard or Township, nearly two miles north-east of the Blezard mine, with which it is connected by wagon road. The shaft, 10 by 12 feet, was sunk to thedepth of 100 feet, with three small drifts, aggregating 34 feet. Work,

however, was not continued after April, 1893.

In the same year, (1891), a shaft was sunk and considerable develop- Operations by ment work done by the Emmens Metal Company, on the property after- ae ere wards known as the Macdonell or Gersdorttite mine, situated in the Gersdorttite or

P. - : Macdonell southeast corner of lot 12, con. III., of the township of Denison, and mine. about one mile and a half northeast of Worthington station. This locality is remarkable as having furnished the first specimens of the rich nickel minerals, niccolite and gersdorflite in the district, but as no large

body of ore was discovered, mining operations soon came to an end.

In 1894, the deposit known as the Trillabelle mine was opened, and 'Tyj}Jabelle a shaft 60 feet in depth sunk on the deposit. This mine is situated on ™i"e. lots 10 and 11, con. III., of the township of Trill, and is connected by wagon road, by way of the Inez or Travers mine, with Worthington station, which is about 13 miles distant.

In 1898, the deposit which was named the Kirkwood mine, situated Mining at on lot 8, con. III., of the township of Garson, at the southern edge of ca the main or southern belt of norite, along the same line of junction as the Blezard and Beatrice mines, was opened. Three shafts were sunk, the deepest of which was rather less than 20 feet. A substantial rock house and other suitable mining buildings were erected, but for lack of sufficient capital the work has not proceeded further.

et arnemene spenrurtsaamtaraats

38 Geological Survey Of Canada

Great Lakes On October 5, 1899, the Great Lakes Copper Company was orpas coe ganized, and purchased the property known as the Mount Nickel mine, pag te comprising lots © and 6, con, IL, of the township of Blezard. They mine. also purchased what was known as the " Trill Property," consisting of lots 9 and 10, in cons. III., and IV., of the township of Trill in the district of Algoma. The Mount Nickel mine was chosen as the scene of the first mining operations, and this deposit was developed by means of two open cuts and a shaft, which eventually reached adepth of about 165 feet, with certain levels and drifts, from all of which considerable ore was obtained. Itis also stated that diemond drill explorations subsequently undertaken revealed the presence of a good Equipment supply of ore. The mine was equipped with all the machinery and vag teri other appliances for carrying on extensive mining operations. The Nickel. smelting works were built from original designs, by Anton Graf, of Vienna, and it was proposed to produce high grade matte one operation, from ores which had received no previous roasting. This method of smelting failed, and in May, 1901, all operations ceased, and

have not been resumed since.

Work by In the latter part of 1899, it was announced that a strong company, ites under the title of the Hoepfner Refining Company, with a capital of - ene $10,000,000, had been formed in Hamilton, to refine nickel-copper Co. mattes and zinc ores. These metals were to be recovered by electrolytic methods discovered by Dr. Carl Hoepfner. The Nickel Copper Company, of Hamilton, also organized about the same time, were to

furnish the necessary supply of nickel-copper matte. Unfortunately,

however, Dr. Hoep' 1s unable to so perfect his methods as to permit of its econ" - ication ona large scale, and the Nickel Copper Company toc matter of experimenting into their own

hands. The services of Mr. Hans A. Frasch were obtained, who devised what is known as the "Frasch Process." This method likewise, .ithough possible under ordinary conditions of laboratory practice, as was demonstrated at a public exhibition held on September 3, 1900, was not capable of commercial application. The operations of

Operations the Nickel Copper Company came to an end in 1901, owing to the

SANS ee complete failure of the new self roasting plant erected near Worthing. ton station.

Lake Supertor Power Company.

Propesals for For some time after the opening of the pulp mills at Sault Ste.

He Lake Marie, the Lake Superior Power Company were content to manu S PT 19} ° . . Pe Gs, facture mechanical pulp, but discovering that there was a large and

Lake Superior Power Company

growing demand for sulphite pulp, it was decided to at once enter

[- 2, upon its manufacture. The proximity of the sulphide deposits at y Sudbury, suggested 'that the sulphur which was necessary for the proyf duction of this pulp might be most profitably extracted from these e ores, and at ihe same time yield a by-product of very great value. The e 4 preliminary experiments with the nickeliferous pyrrhotite were con- 1s vincing that sufficient sulphur dioxide could be procured from this if : mineral by roasting, while at the same time the roasted ore or residue, h 2 consisting essentially of a mixture of iron and nickel with only a com- Manufacture ll paratively small percentage of sulphur, could be mixed with lime and wht d charcoal and smelted in electric furnaces to ferro-nic! 1. It was id a intended at the time to employ this alloy in the production of steel 1e 2 rails, which it was proposed to manufacture in large quantities. An of inspection of all the available deposits of nic eliferous pyrrhotite 1e seemed to indicate that the property afterwards known as the Ger- Purchase ia trude mine was peculiarly adapted to meet the necessities of the case piers id in hand. In 1899, therefore, the Lake Superior Power Company ae reer purchased this mine, and immediately proceeded to develop the deposits , which were situated on the S. of lots 3, 4 and 5, of concession I, of the township of Creighton, a little over twelve miles west of Sudbury, of The preliminary examinations and first development work showed an as unusual predominance of a high grade nickeliferous pyrrhotite, with ad x comparatively little of the objectionable copper in the form of inter wed 3 mixed chalcopyrite. As mining operations proceeded, however, more to a chalcopyrite was encountered, and the deposit gradually assumed the ly; : usual characteristics of those elsewhere in the district, and the copper Large experito contents assumed too large a proportion to permit of the successful "YQ cel carrying on of the first proposal. Repeated experiments were made Je with many car loads of raw material shipped to the works at the Sault ho for this purpose, but it was finally decided to adopt the ordinary pro- Ordinary Be cesses of smelting in use elsewhere throughout the district, producing eciiee De a blast furnace matte averaging about 29 per cent of the combined *depted. 3, metals, the proportion of nickel being about double that of the copperke In 1900, the development of the Gertrude mine was continued, but yfining 1g. the necessity of transportation facilities greatly hampered these pega ag operations. Two shafts were sunk, one attaining a depth of 120 feet, rine. and the other of 80 feet, with several levels and drifts. In the spring of 1901, the Manitoulin and North Shore railway reached his mine, and work was conducted much more energetically. Roast yards ite, were prepared, and the erection of a smelter commenced. In July Opening of nu- of that year, the Elsie mine on the S. of lot 12, concession V., of Hisie mine. nd McKim, and about half a mile southwest of the Murray mine, was open-

eS AEE TE RT

Smelting at Gertrude mine.

Cessation ot operations.

Discovery of carbon monoxide process,

Perfection of method and erection of refineries.

rchase of . ictoria mine,

40 Geological Survey Of Canada

ed up. The ore was shipped in 50 ton steel cars to the roast yards at the Gertrude mine, and the first shipment of ore was made to this place on the 26th of October 1901, on the completion of the switch, which connects the deposit w.ch the main line of the Manitoulin and North Shore railway. The smelter at the Gertrude mine was finished in June, 1902, and afterwards ran steadily throughout the year, converting 100 to 160 tons daily into standard matte. In November, 1902, all work was suspended at the Elsie mine. to permit of the needed removal of some of the mining buildings, whose safety was threatened, hv a continuance of the mining work. Later, in 1903, the whole of the mining operations in the Sudbury district shared the same fate in common with the other industries, operated by the same company, at the time of their failure.

Monp NickEL ComPANy.

In 1889, Dr. Ludwig Mond, F. R.S., in collaboration with Dr. Carl Langer, while carrying on certain experiments for determining a suitable method for eliminating the carbon monoxide gases containing hydrogen, made certain observations, which eventually resulted in the discovery of what has since been known as the Mond or carbonmonoxide process, for separating metallic nickel from copper, ete. In this process, there were many technical difficulties to be overcome, so that although a patent was applied for 'on the 12tn of August, 1890, it was some years before it had reached such a stage as demonstrated its possibilities of commercial success. In 1892, an experimental plant, on a large scale, was erected at Smethwick, near Birmingham, England, and after several years of patient work, during which time the plant had to be several times remodelled, in order to meet all the requirements of this somewhat delicate process, it gradually assumed its present shape. In 1898, it had reached such a state of perfection, as to afford the most convincing proof, that the process was able, not only to compete successfully in regard to cost of operation, but at the same time, the metallic nickel produced, showed on analysis, a higher degree of purity than had yet been possible by any other known process.

The success of the method being thus assured, Dr. Mond began at once to make inquiries, with a view to obtaining an unfailing supply cf nickel ore. Experiments conducted on the nickel and copper sulphide ores, seemed convincing, that such were peculiarly suited to treatment by the Mond process, so that 1. was decided to buy one or more of the best locations which were then available in the Sudbury Mining District. At this time, and for some years previously, it was a

the on :onlore 02, ) to rork il of conning mon time

Dr. ing a ining n the rbon-

In 1e, SO 1890, rated plant, land, plant ments resent afford time, ree of

gan at supply copper ted to one Or idbury

, Was a

Mond Nickel Company 41

matter of common gossip 'throughout this area, that the McConnell

mine or property, in the township of Denison, was one of the largest

deposits of high grade ore which had yet been found, and attention

was, therefore, directed tc it with a view to possible purchase. After

some negotiations, and @ thorough investigation of the merits of these

deposits, Dr. Mond decided to acquire these properties, and accordingly,

in the summer of 1899, the necessary transfer was made. These mining Diamond drill locations had been under development for some time by their former i i owner, Mr. Rinaldo McConnell, and at the time they were sold to Dr.

Mond, explorations were being carried on by means of the Ontario government diamond drill, with a view to determining more definitely

the position and extent of the various ore-bodies. The change in ownership, however, did not affect the progress of the work, which

began on July 10, and finished on November 21, 1899. In this Cost of time, seven holes were bored, the aggregate number of feet being 994; ya ay at an average cost of $1.75 per foot. In addition, two other drills

owned by Dr. Mond were engaged more or less continuously during

this and the two succeeding years, investigating these and other mining

locations, in which Dr. Mond was interested. The main shaft and Location of mining buildings of what was henceforth to be known as the Victoria a mines, are situated on the north half of lot 8, con. IV., of the township

of Denison, while the smelter, offices and official residences, were built

on the north half of lot 8, con. II., of the same township, close to the

"Sault" branch of the Canadian Pacific railway, and a little over two

miles south of the main openings.

Beginning in 1899, the work of opening u, these deposits proceeded Opening up as rapidly as circur:stances permitted. Extensive stripping of the —— deposits and other preliminary development work was undertaken ; roads were opened up; a rcast d was levelled and otherwise prepared, and the necessary timbers . cured for the numerous extensive structures contemplated.

During 1900, this work was continued, special attention being given Erection of to equipping the mines and smelter, the site of the latter being chosen — close to Fairbank creek, on the Sault branch, 22 miles west of Sudbury.

An aerial tramway, 11,000 feet in length, was installed by the Trenton Aerial Iron Co., of Trenton, N. J., to convey the ore from the rock house at bg the mines to the roast yard, whi~h was first located close to the smelter.

On the 16th of October, 1900, the Mond Nickel Company, Limited, Incorporation of London, Eng., was authorized, by license of the Lieutenant-Gover- Rant nor, to carry on business in Ontario. The incorporation of this company, with a capital of £600,000, was for the purpose of acquiring all

42 Geological Survey Of Canada

the above property, plants, patents, and smelters belongir.g to Dr. Ludwig Mond in the Sudbury district.

Plant of the most modern type, for roasting, smelting, and bessemerizing the ore, was erected at Victoria Mines, under the direction of Mr. Hiram W. Hixon, formerly of the Anaconda Company, this equipment being the most complete and conveniently arranged, which had, Building up up to that time, been installed in the district. In addition, substanrd ge tial offices and tasteful dwellings, with all modern conveniences, such as water and electric light, have been erected for the accommodation of the staff and their families, and the site of pre-existing swamps and rocky hummocks was quickly filled in, levelled and transformed into en important village and business centre.

Beginning of Early in 1901, the mine was in complete working order, and beginae ing with February, ore was regularly raised and transported by means operations. of the aerial tramway, to the roast yard. The smelter shortly afterwards commenced to turn out matte, by the Bessemer process, this product averaging about 80 per cent of combined nickel and copper, the former metal being usually present a little in excess. On 1st July, 1901, the head house or landing station at the roast yard was struck by lightning, and before adequate assistance could arrive, was burned Breakdown to the ground. This temporary breakdown of the cable system, caused by : ss P : lightning. although greatly retarding mining operations at the time, was really a blessing in disguise, as it resulted in a decision to abandon this roast Removal of yard, the position of which on the immediate outskirts of the village, roast yards. had been a source of annoyance and inconvenience to the residents, who during certain conditions of wind and weather, suffered greatly from the sulphurous fumes given off by the burning piles. The new site chosen, consisted of a flat about half way between the smelter and the mine, which could be easily levelled, drained and otherwise pre pared, this location being much more spacious and suitable in every way, than the roast yard it was proposed to abandon.

Temporary During the winter of 1901 and 1902, the operations of this company, ence of at the Victoria mines, were greatly curtailed, but the completion of i the refining works in England, and the beginning of operations cn a large scale at these works in April, 1902, gave a fresh impetus to all Operations at departments of mining activity. During the summer of 1902, the ee soar North Star mine, situated on lot 9, cons. II and III, of the township Stobie mines. of Snider, and the Little Stobie mine, on the north half of Jot 6, con. I., of the township of Blezard, were worked by this company. The ore, amounting to 4,724 tons, obtained from the North Star, and 1,584 tons

from the Little Stobie, was shipped to the Victoria mines for treat-

oy

MOND NiCKEL COMPANY 43

ment. The bessemerized matte, as quickly as produced by the smelt-

ing works at Victoria mines, was shipped to Clydach, near Swansea, in

Wales, where extensive works had been built for its treatment, calcu- pe sob lated for an annual production of from 1,000 to 1,500 tons of metallic Clydach, nickel, and 4,000 to 6,000 tons of copper sulphate, These works have been so designed as to render future extension easy and economical.

The property at Clydach, including about 33 acres, on which the works

are erected, has a frontage on the Swansea Valley canal, giving easy y cation of access to the port of Swansea, and is connected by a siding to the Tefinery Midland railway. After a year's steady production from both mines

and smelter, all activity ceased in December, 1902, and although most

of the higher officials were retained in office, no mining work of any consequence was undertaken until early in the spring of 1903, when

work was again resumed and continued until November of the same pas year, when operations were again discontinued. It is currently re. cessation of ported that the real reason for these frequent interruptions in the min- ™!™'"6- ing operations, was due to certain defects in the plant at the Clydach

refining works, and it is also rumored that after a recent breakdown in

the plant, there were o -r twenty cases of poisoning from the escaping

gas, which resulted in veral fatalities. It is confidently expected

that a remedy will soon be found for this serious condition of affairs,

and that the necessary alterutions in the plant will again permit of its

operation on an extensive scale, thus insuring a resumption of work at

the Victoria mines.

The history of the development of mining in the Sudbury district, History of has not, therefore, been an unbroken record of brilliant successes, but ee often quite the reverse has been the rule, and as may be noticed in successes, the preceding pages, the number of companies who for different lengths of time have operated in this area, already constitute a formidable list. These failures, and the causes which have operated to a bring about this untoward result, serve however to bring into strong Copper Co. relief, the gallant and successful struggles of the only company, which has been able to surmount the various difficulties to which the other organizations have successively succumbed; at the same time, Strengthening the belief, that the crisis has been passed, and the industry has at last been established on a firm and permanent basis.

It is true that certain details in regard to the extraction of the nickel are still in the experimental stage in order to determine, if possible, a more economical method, but there is no doubt whatever, that the business of the mining and smelting of nickel, is not only in a satis- Sudbury Disfactory condition, but has reached such phenomenal dimensions, that ond Songer

. . ° . i Vy operations in other countries have, in consequence, been either greatly a in the ¥ Uli,

44 Geological Survey Of Canada

curtailed, or have ceased altogether, so that at the present time the supremacy of the Sudbury mining district as the world's greatest producer of nickel is unquestioned.

Reasons for It may be well, in passing, to state some of the reasons which have fir failures. eontributed to the failures, which have been so frequently recorded in connection with the establishment of the Sudbury nickel industry. For some time after the beginning of mining work in this region, the world's annual consumption of nickel did not exceed 700 or 800 tons of the pure metal, which amount could readily be produced by any prmeeton one of the three compan' then operating in the district. The demand sad demand, for nickel was, theres 80 small and uncertain, that before the discovery was made cf advantageous employment as an alloy with steel, especially in the manufacture of armour plate, no great future seemed assured for the nickel industry, and even with this distinction in its favour, no very marked increase in the deman¢ for nickel could More extend- b+ noticed, and it took a number of years more before the consumption pe eg vereased to 1500 tons per annum. By the time, however, this ateel. latcer figure had been reached, it was certain that a constant and ever increasing demand for nickel was assured, on account of its general use in all kinds of steel, where strength combined with lightness, were the important factors. At the present time the consumption of nickel exceeds 10,000 tons per annum, and exhaustive experiments now being Nickel steel undertaken under the auspices of the International Nickel Company, experiments. 4 6 stated on the best authority, to give strong evidence of the superiority of nickel steel in bridge building, so that a much larger demand for nickel can be looked for in the immediate future. In addition, the oe recent decision of the Pennsylvania railway, to use nickel steel rails, ails awarded. and the award of a contract for 9000 tons of the same to carry 3°50 per cent nickel, by this vast and progressive corporation, will no doubt give a fresh stimulus to the demand. The only anxiety which now exists, and which has often been urged against any large employment of nickel steel, relates to the sources of supply, and to the possible exhaustion of the nickel deposits now known to exist. All authorities misutle are, however, in substantial agreement, that the supply of high grade practically nickel ore, contained in the Canadian deposits is practically unlimited, unlimited. and at least amply sufficient for many years to come, to supply the requirements of even much more extensive smelting operations than are now carried on in the Sudbury district. Besides, a demand for larger eS Ere quantities of nickel will stimulate prospecting, not only in this region, likely tobe but also in areas of similar crystalline rocks, to be opened up in a very ae: short time by the Grand Trunk Pacific and its branches, as well as by the Temiscaming and Northern Ontario railway, with the probable ; result that many more new deposits will be discovered.

ry. he ms ny nd the 'ith ure jion yuld pion this ever eral vere cke] eing any, riornand , the rails, per doubt now ment ssible ities grade nited, ly the an are larger egion, a very obable

History Of Development 45

Another fact, which has contributed to a considerable extent to The assunpbring about the failure of some of the Sudbury mining concerns, was peed the assumption by interested parties, that each individual deposit, poner fa of which they had the good fortune to obtain possession, was another a mine, capable of producing a permanent and unlimited supply of rere aiay nickel ore of the desired grade, the Sore-body extending to unknown depths, and increasing both in quality and quantity with its downward extension. With such confidence in the size, permanency and suitability for smelting operations of the ore-bodies, it is not surprising that very often no special effort was made to obtain control of other available sources of supply, which were sure to be needed when

extensive and long continued refining operations were in progress.

A third cause, which perhaps assisted more than any other to bring The need of about the frequent suspension in mining and smelting operations oe already recorded, was the lack of the necessary technical knowledge and pag oe experience on the part of those who had the management of many of the organizations. The strong necessity of such information, in every department of mining and smelting, needs no special explanation or emphasis, but it was more than ever required for the successful treatment of these particular sulphide ores. 'Lhus, some of the companies engaged in mining in the vicinity of Sudbury, succeeded in reaching the stage of producing matte, but even these were obliged to sell this unfinished product to the various refiners, at prices which usually came far from realizing their expectations in this respect. The refiners were Retiners said accused of reaping all the profits, which should have been shared with '¢ Hn dla oa the producers, so that very early in the history of the region, it was patent to everyone, that to share in the full benefits of the industry, the same individuals or company must control the whole of the operations necessary to manufacture the finished product. Acting on this knowledge, therefore, many of the corporations engaged what was considered the most expert metallurgical advice, and numerous experi- Com ments were undertaken, to determine an effective and economic pro- 'ud Pr cess, by which the nickel and copper could be extracted from these ores, @article to and afterwards separated from one another. In this manner, the too hes often very limited resources of these companies, were taxed to the utmost, and any failure, even in the preliminary trials, to yield the decisive and satisfactory results looked for, often resulted in the closing down and practical abandonment of the mines and works concerned, Unsound busi- Finally, in more than one instance, the absence of sound business me- pret psa thods, assisted very materially to bring about some of the disastrous crac failures, which have been recorded in the foregoing pages.

pense d produ-

peat viet

cnn:

Sudbury Mining District ' not an electoral subdivision.

Definition of limits of Sudbury District.

Location of the town of Sudbury.

Ouvlines of areas of nickel bearing eruptive.

Description of township and method of survey and sub-division.

46 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA GENERAL Puysica, Fratur..

The expression " Sudbury Mining District," was applied as a term of convenient reference, soon after the discovery of these valuable mineral deposits, to designate that particular tract of country, immediately surrounding, and tributary to the town of Sudbury, It must not, therefore, be confounded with other areas in Northern Ontario, to which the term "district " has been applied, and which have been thus set apart, with definite boundaries, for electoral and other purposes. Roughly speaking, iv may he described as extending from Wanuapitei lake and river on the east, to Onaping and Worthington stations on the west, On the north, it may be considered as embracing the recently discovered iron deposits in Hutton township, while southward, tite commencement of the Laurentian gneiss, is believed to limit important mineral discoveries in that direction.

'The town of Sudbury is a creation of the Canadian Pacific railway, coming into existence, at the time of its construction in 1882, and increasing in importance, by reason of its boing chosen as the junction point for the branch line to Sault Ste. Marie. It is distant on the main or transcontinental line of this railway, 442.7 miles from Montreal, and 322.4 miles from Ottawa, the capital of the Dominion of Canada.

The area in which workable deposits of nickel and copper are now known to occur, extends from the southeast corner of Snider township (Evans mine), northwest to the central part of the township of Levack, a distance of about 20 miles; in a northeasterly direction, it reaches from the township of Drury, to Wanapitei lake, a distance of about 40 miles, The mines which have actually produced ore for smelting or shipping purposes are, with the exception of the Worthington mine, all connected with that portion of the main mass or belt of norite, which stretches from the old Inez or Chicago mine, in the township of Drury, to the Blezard mine, a distance of abut 26 miles.

The area contained in the two accompanying map-sheets (Victoria mines and Sudbury), and comprising portions of the district of Algoma and Nipissing, has all been subdivided into townships and lots of the more recent form adopted by the Crown Lands Department of Ontario. With few exceptions, each of these townships measures six miles square, the area thus embraced being thirty-six square miles. Each township is divided into six concessions, by east and west lines, run astronomically, which are designated by the Roman numerals, the order of numbering being from south to north; while the concessions themselves are subdivided into twelve lots, by true north and south lines, which carry the

General Fhysical Features

ordinary Arabic figures, numbered from east to west. Each lot, therefore, measures one mile from north to south, and half a mile from east to

un of west, thus containing an area of 320 acres. Only every alternate lot

ine- line is cut out through the woods, the intervening boundary being

tely marked by posts on the concession lines. The lines are all sup- Lines not not, posed to be run astronomically, although in some cases, no allowance reset oo st , to having been made for the convergence of meridians, considerable

een error and confusion have resulted. Sometimes the surveys of these

pur. townships have not been done as carefully or accurately as might be piece ah rom desired, and in more than one instance, two, or even more approxim aes ton ately parallel lines were found, within short distances of one another,

cing evidently intended for a single boundary, each connecting with separate

uth- posts, designed to mark the same point. Over the larger part of the Destruction

unit 3 district, repeated forest fires have destroyed all traces of many of these ——— lines, and the limiting posts, except where an occasional one happened to

wily, be located in a swamp, have been burnt, so that it is usually exceed-

1 in- + ingly ditticult, and sometimes impossible, to locate these original bound-

'tion é aries,

nain The general character of the country may, perhaps, be best described General phyreal, sical features

an that of an uneven or undulating rocky plain, with a gentle slope ffi)

ada. towarJs the south and southwest. In detail, the surface of the plain is far from uniform, consisting of a rapid succession of more or less

se parallel and disconnected rocky ridges, with a Prevailing northeast and

rack, southwest trend, the intervening valleys being usually occupied by

ea swamps, lakes or river courses, The average general elevation of the Averng

at district as a whole, varies from 800 to 1,100 feet above the sea. The "800

iting present topography has been the result of prolonged denudation and

ton erosion, assisted to a considerable extent by subsequent glacial action,

prite, which removed the softer decomposed material from the higher levels,

ship to be deposited elsewhere in the neighbouring valleys, or in areas consi- i derably removed to the southwest. The scouring action of the vast (lacial action. glacier is everywhere apparent, in the smooth well-rounded hills, while

toria ijn most cases, the exposed rock surfaces still preserve the glacial

gona grooves and strive. Although the country is exceedingly rocky and

f the uneven, there are no very prominent hill features, the highest seldom Aichi

tario. attaining a greater altitude than 150 feet above the neighbouring "!!! features.

juare, valleys, while elevations of 25 to 100 feet are far more common. The Location of

hip is highest land in the district comprises a strip varying in width from 3 ——

cally, to 5 miles, and extending in a northeasterly direction from Denison to

ering Garson townships, a distance of over 30 miles. This is underlaid for ——

3 sub- the most part by the nickel-bearing and associated eruptives, although rock. ©

y the some areas of highly altered quartzites contribute to this unusual

;

Location of Wigghest hill.

Flevations on Canadian Pacitic railway.

EBlevations on Manitoulin and North Shore Ry.

Flat belt of country

het ween Vermilion and Wanapitet lakes.

Character of drift of the Chelmsford flat.

Another irregulay flat.

48 Geological Survey Of Canada

elevation. One of the highest hills in this rocky belt is situated immediately south of the Elsie mine, Barometrical observatir correlated with the known elevation at the intersection of the Elsie mine branch with the M. & N. 3. railway, show this to have an altitude 1,120 feet above the sea, Starting from Sudbury, which has an elevation of 850 feet, the Canadian Pacific railway ascends a series of steep grades for a distance of 34 miles before the summit is reached, at an altitude of 992 feet ; while an equal distance further, at Azilda station, this elevation is decreased to 881 feet above the sea. The Manitoulin and North Shore Railway Company, on the other hand, have bui!t a portion of this road, alittle over twelve miles in length, and have located it toVictoria mines and beyond, the line runnin, through this hilly district for the whole distance. Starting from Sudbury, which as stated, has an elevation of 850 feet, the grade rises to 919 feet at Clarabelle junction, and further to 959 feet at Elsie junction. The summit is reached about 8 miles west of Sudbury, where the level of the rail is 986 feet, falling again to 965 fect avove the sea, at the end of the profile 12:7 miles from Sudbury, close to the Gertrude mine. To the northwest of this hilly tract, the land becomes tolerably level, forming a plain with an average elevation of nearly 880 feet above the sea, This flat belt of country has an general width of about six miles, and stretches from the vicinity of Vermilion lake, in Fairbank township, almost to Wanapitei lake, a distance of over 30 wiles. The whole of this area is evidently underlaid by the slates and felspathic sandstones coloured provisionally as of possible Cambrian age, but this rocky floor is largely concealed by a thick mantle of drift, through which protrude occasional low, rounded hummocks, which alone give evidence of the underlying

material.

This drift is composed of & well stratified gray clay, unencumbered for the most part by boulders, and is seemingly well adapted for all purposes of agriculture. Roads have been opened, and large clearances made over most of this level district, the various barns and buildings erected, giving strong evidence of the prosperity of this farming community.

To the south, and southeast of the hilly stretch already mentioned, a somewhat irregular shaped, and comparatively narrow valley, extends from the vicinity of the Worthington mine, almost to Wanapitei lake, where it connects to the north and west with the extensive plain just described. The continuity of this comparatively level tract of country is broken, at certain intervals, as for instance, near the crossing of the Whitefish river, but the whole flat may be considered as

1 is red ely nal ing

red

all ances ings :om-

ned, ends pitei plain t of TOSs-

d as

General Physical Features 49

belonging to one valley, with a gentle though perceptible slope towards the southwest, Tn the township of McKim, this flat has an average Flat in the general elevation of about #45 feet above the sea, From Sudbury, in 'ene ad a southwesterly direction, this comparatively level belt has been utilized in tne location of the 'Nault Branch' of the Canadian Pacific railway, while, in addition, advantage has been taken of the even surface in erecting most of the buildings included in the towns of Sudbury

and Copper Cliff. In the township of McKim, the surface of this flat Farming good ' is sometimes broken by small rocky hills, and that are available, have been cleared,

the considerable areas, '" places, t and arc now under cultivation, '. with gratifying results, especially during those years when the roasting of the ores at the mines is not proceeding too briskly.

Throughout McKim, and the area to the southwest of this township

the soil is a fine silty clay, well stratified ; but to the northwe t, in the

township of Garson and beyond the limits of the Sudbury sheet, in the Flat north. township of Falconbridge, this is replaced by a coarse yellow sand, with gravel in certain places, the whole forming a light and rather

poor soil, although some portions of it are now being used for farming

purposes.

To the east and southeast of Sudbury, the district is, for the most Rough area part, exceedingly rough and hilly, this area being characterized by the aoe oa of presence of quartzite, with large and irregular intrusive masses of Sudbury, norite and diorite, and only occasional limited flats are available for agriculture,

Perhaps one of the most interesting physical features presented by Vajloyscaused this district, is the narrow valley formed by the weathering of the by <rosion of large diabase dyke, near the Murray mine. This dyke, which is about diabaee dykes. 150 feet wide at this point, and intruded through a mass of granite, has been decomposed and considerably eroded, leaving a valley the whole width of the dyke, with perpendicular walls of granite. This very conspicuous feature in the landscape has been used in locating the wagon road between Sudbury and Azilda (formerly Rayside).

The influence exerted by the underlying rock on the general contour Tatuense ch of the ground is everywhere well exemplified throughout this district, unterlying

2 ' Fs . rocks on The harder igneous and quartzite rocks, owing to their greater resis- surface

tance to processes of weathering and erosion, form the higher ridges, while the more fragile slates, sandstones and schists, make up most of the intervening lower ground, occupied chiefly by the river valleys, swaups and lake basins. The area covered by the main mass or belt of norite is likewise one of low relief, in contrast with the other igneous

District not so abundantly supplied with lakes as other Archean areas.

Elevations of lakes.

"che drainage of the district by Wanapitei, Spanish and Vermilion rivers.

District once covered by a dense forest.

Havoe wrought by fire.

Character of forest growth.

50 Geological Survey Of Canada

rocks with very small gently rounded hills, this variety of rock evidently offering no very effectuai resistance to decomposition. The district, as a whole, is not as abundantly supplied with lakes as many other areas of similar Archean rocks, but several fairly large and beautiful lakes occur, and nearly all are supplied with good clear water. The shores and islands of Ramsay or Lost lake, are occupied by the summer residences of many of the inhabitants of Sudbury, while its pure clear water is used to supply the large water tank, erected for the water works, on one of the rocky hills east of the town. The highest lake in the area is Garson lake, which is 923 feet above the sea; while the lowest is McCharles lake, an expansion of the Vermilion river, which has an altitude above the sea of 760 feet.

The drainage of this district is effected through three important and well known streams, the Wanapitei, Spanish and Vermilion rivers, the whole of the water eventually reaching Georgian bay and Lake Huron through these channels. The Vermilion river with its tributaries the Whitefish branch, Levey river, and Whitson and Fairbank creeks empties the water of nearly the whole of the area included in the two map sheets. The Vermilion river is itself a branch of the Spanish river, joining this stream near the boundary between Merritt and Foster townships, about 10 miles southeast of the corner of the Victoria mines map. A portion of the Spanish river, known as the 'Great Bend', crosses the corner of this map sheet, receiving in this distance, the whole of the drainage of the township of Drury, and the western part of Denison township. The branches of the Wanapitei river are limited to the eastern parts of Garson and Neelon townships.

The whole area was once covered with a dense forest, but repeated fires have destroyed nearly the whole of this original growth, and even the tall rampikes which often alone remained as the silent witnesses of the havoc wrought by the fire fiend, have themselves been gradually cut down to aid in kindling the heaps of roasted ore. Occasional small areas, as for instance, in the northern part of Garson, the western part of Snider and Creighton townships, are still covered by green bush, but the lumberman's axe is quickly clearing out all the valuable timber that remains, while the constant demand for cordwood as fuel for the roast heaps, will still further limit the forest area. Hardwood is scarce, and can only be found in valleys, chiefly in the vicinity of certain streams. Occasional dwarf oaks were noticed in some of the hollow: between the higher ridges. The second growth usually consists of poplar and birch, these small trees being so closely packed together in some of the valleys as to form almost impenetrable thickets.

eks two ver, ster ines nd', the part are

ated and witbeen ison, vered ll the wood area. n the ed in rowth being almost

General Physical Features 51

The district, as a whole, cannot be said to be suitable for agriculture, Distriet asa and must rely for its ultimate importance on the development of its "06 net mineral resources. The proximity of the mines furnishes a good market, *sticulture,

so that every flat is being utilized for purposes of farming. Geology.

rical ubdivision of ocks.

The rocks of the Sudbury Mining District, arranged in the probable (;,.jagic

order of their geological age, may be stated as follows, in ascending : order.

1. Lower Huronian. No rocks of this age are at present known in General chathe nickel bearing area, but this period is represented, in part, by the gee of

a . . . sower banded silicious magnetites and associated rocks of the townships of Huroma.

Hutton and Wissner.

2. Upper Huronian. (A) Diorites, hornblende-porphyrites and green subdivisions schiste, (2) Conglomerates, greywackes and quartzites (C) norite and PAL diorite (Worthington mine belt, and areas southeast of Evans mine and east of Sudbury).

3. Laurentian. Granite and diorite-gneiss near Wanapitei station. Laurentian

" s cee a BNeiss. 4. Upper Huronian? Tufts, felspathic sandstones and slates classified (yaracter of

provisionally on previous geological maps as of Cambrian age. ae See

5. Post Huronian. A. Granites. B. Nickel bearing eruptive of the ae main belt (quartz-hypersthene-gabbro or norite, diorite, with their nian eruptive. peculiar differentiation product, micropegmatite). C. Dykes of olivine diabase.

6. Pleistocene. Clays and sands. Pleistocene,

The geological history of the nickel mining area proper, or that Por- General tion of the Sudbury district which is included in the accompanying een ape: map sheets, began in very ancient times, and most of the rocks now district. exposed are regarded as representative of what is known as the Huro. nian period, being thus the oldest with which geologists are at present familiar. The detailed examination and study of these rocks have ajundant furnished abundant evidence of the almost unexampled volcanic acti. idisetd i vity then prevailing, caused largely, no doubt, by the instability of the volcanic earth's crust at this early period of its history. These rocks are esssen- *"'''tYtially of pyroclastic origin, consisting mainly of tuffs of both acid and basic types, intimately associated with more or less altered basic eruptives, some of which still retain much of their original massive character,

although by far the larger proportion have undergone such profound

ect segndabaeeSneaterscr ime we ree Seaheneeaeeimaparearerreeese TT

' ;

General type of eruptive rocks.

First clastic rocks formed

Volcanic interruptions.

52 Geological Survey Of Canada

deformation and metamorphism, that it is exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, even with the assistance of the microscope, to

, make any very definite or accurate statement in regard to their original composition and structure. Some of these eruptives are, however, probably of laccolitic origin, and intruded along the planes of bedding of the enclosing clastic rocks, while many of the porphyrites and obscurely amygdaloidal forms, doubtless represent surface flows of lava which have been very mu altered and decomposed.

With the establishment of conditions of more stable equ.librium, came a time when the higher elevations were being subjected to the usual processes of degradation and erosion, with the transportation of the material thus detached to be deposited at the lower levels, forming the conglomerates, felspathic sandstones ani quartzites, included in the above table as Upper Huronian. Even this period of comparative quiet was probably interrupted at intervals by a return of the volcanic activity, and some of the breccia-like material, and certain of the interbedded greywackes, may be the direct results of explosive action. Subsequent to the formation of these rocks, the huge bathyliths of granite and diorite-gneiss classified as Laurentian, and occurring in the vicinity of Wanapitei station, were intruded into the highest or

Correlation in quartzite member of the Upper Huronian. Later than these quartzites,

age of the various rock masses,

Age of socalled Cambrian, still a matter of doubt.

and possibly also later than the Laurentian gneiss, certain mas-es of norite and diorite, among which may be mentioned the belt on which the Worthington mine is located, weze intruded. This Worthington mine band of norite, as may be seen by a reference to the map, extends across the southern part of the township of Denison, forming a conspicuous range of hills, a short distance south of the Canadian Pacific

railway. The band of similar igneous material, which forms the high lands to the south of McCharles lake, is of the same age, as also its probable continuation, in the large belt of norite and diorite, which crosses the country to the southeast of the Evans mine. This same band of intrusive rock continues with unbroken continuity northeast, forming a considerable area of exceedingly rough country east of Sudbury, and north of the Canadian Pacific railway, besides covering a considerable portion of the northern and central parts of Neelon township.

The age of the tuffs, felspathic sandstones and slates hitherto classified provisionally as of Cambrian age, and so coloured on all previous geological maps, is still a matter of considerable doubt, and much more detailed work and critical examination of the area, characterized by the presence of these rocks, will be necessary, before this can be

Syst tis

GENERAL GEOLOGY 53 satisfactorily settled. They apparently form a synclinai basin, resting against the micropegmatite phase of the nickel bearing eruptive, and a study of several of the localities where the junction between these rocks is exposed, lends some support to the belief that the micropegmatite is intrusive through the tuff or breccia. Gn the other hand, it seems reasonable to suppose, that all of these rocks are very intimately associated in regard to their time and manner of genesis.

The granites, usually referred to as ' younger', are decidedly so, in Age of reference to the older diorites, porphyrites and green schists and sane a rock which may be called a breccia, formed by an exceedingly intricate intrusion of dykes and masses of granitic material through these basic rocks, covers considerable areas throughout this district ; while even the mainn ss of the granite bathylith, frequently contains enbedded fragments and masses of all sizes and shapes of these older greenstones,

The nickel bearing eruptive, which in its fresh condition is now Relative age referred to as a quartz-hypersthene-gabbro or norite, is decidedly later oer sag than, and intrusive through, the green schists and associated diorites. eruptive. The relations between the so-called " younger" granite is much more complex and anomalous. For the most part, the nickel bearing eruptive, has cooled against the granite, as may be seen at the junction 'Anomalous between these two rocks, on the west side of the large pit known peice as the No. 2 mine at Copper Cliff. Here, the norite is distinctly finer in grain at the immediate point of contact, this rock growing visibly coarser farther away from the line of junction. This cooling of the norite against the granite, and the production of a finer grained or chilled selvage, is especially well seen in the vicinity of the openings made by the Vivians on lot 9, concession VI., of McKim township.

On the other hand, in some localities, certain dykes or apuphyses of

the granite, seem to penetrate the norite, as may be noticed along the

line of junction to the northwest of No. 2 mine, at Copper Cliff; while

the intrusive nature of the granite, and its apparently later age in Intrusive relation to the norite, is quite marked to the north of Claratelle lake, cone ee where the line of junction between the two rocks is well exposed for a of Clarabelle considerable distance. Besides, near the Creighton mine, the granite

. Geeta Kit) cs . Character of becomes decidedly more basic in the vicinity of the norite, and a contact near certain zone or belt is formed by the commingling of the material eae of both rocks, as a result of actual fusion. It has been suggested that the granite and norite may have been differentiates of the same magma, but a more reasonable expl-uation would seem to be that their periods of intrusion were so closely synchiru.cus, that they overlapped

Age of olivine diabase dykes

Use of the term 'greenstone.'

Greenstones oldest rocks in area

Early misconceptions.

Greenstones not deformed portions of

54 Geological Survey Of Canada

in their time of crystallization, and that the later secretions from the slower cooling granite magma, forced or ate their way into the norite in certain places.

The olivine-diabase dykes cut through, and are, therefore, later than all the rocks with which they have been noticed in contact. Their mineralogical composition is essentially the same as the dykes of diabase-porphyrite in the Lake Superior district, which latter have been regarded as the channels by which the Keweenawan lavas reached the surface.

(2.) Upper Huroniay. (A.) GREENSTONE SCHISTS.

It has been the general practice in previous reports of this and other Archean areas, to employ the somewhat vague and indefinite term 'greenstone', the common field name for certain basic eruptive rocks, often more or less altered and deformed. In the present report, this term has been retained as the most appropriate 2d convenient designation for certain very ancient basic intrusives, presenting every possible phase of metamorphism and deformation. Under the general heading, 'greenstone schists,' are included several varieties of diorite, porphyrite, hornblende and chlorite schists. They are undoubtedly the oldest rocks with which we have at present any acquaintance in the district. Their usual occurrence in intimate association with the more massive and uniform norite, in addition to their general lithological appearance and behaviour, especially the more massive types, were the main reasons for grouping these rocks together, under the same colour designation, onal 'earlier geological maps. In these first examinations, such roc _+arded as the sheared and altered representatives of the more mass..s norites, the latter, by some fortunate circumstance or

Mckel bearing series of circumstances, having escaped this extreme of deformation

norite.

Mapping of lines of junction of norite very important

and metamorphism. Later examinations have, however, revealed the fact, that in most cases, at least, these more or less foliated and schistose basic eruptive rocks, are distinctly older in age, and were upturned, faulted, folded and considerably metamorphosed, at some time prior to the intrusion of the nickel bearing eruptive proper: Careful and detailed work never fails to reveal the presence of a di-tinct line of separation between these two classes of igneous rocks, and the importance of accurately tracing out and mapping such a boundary, from an economic point of view, is especially emphasized, when it is remembered that all the deposits of nickel and copper ores, Which are commercially valuable, are located either in the imme

Upper Huronian 55

diate neighbourhood, or at various points directly on the line of

the junction between the norite and the associated rocks.

The least altered representatives of these older diorites, or more Character and an massive varieties of the older greenstones, can with difficulty be dis- os eir tinguished from the prevailing type of diorite (altered norite), with and green- : of which the nickel and copper deposits occur, and it is impossible a ave to resist the conclusion that both rocks have originated from precisely vas similar types. Their difference in age, however, is quite evident from

their field relations, and although both pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite occur in these earlier basic rocks, no deposits of economic importance y,, deposits have been found in assoriation with them at any great distance from pl ne the line of junction with the younger norite or diorite. in older r greenstones, this Most of the hand specimens examined of the more massive type: of Colour of and these older rocks, are considerably finer grained than the neighbouring — 1D norite, and in contrast to this rock, are decidedly greenish rather than In greyish or blackish in color. Most of the outcrops may be referred to pro- as ' gabbro diorite', a name proposed by the late Prof. G. H. Williams, in. for a diorite which gives unmistakeable evidence in the hornblende, of and its derivation from pyroxene, originally present. Some exposures ¢;))ro. are exhibit the ophitic or interlacing structure characteristic of diabase, 'liorite or, and which is often discernible either to the unaided eye, or with the pele ppchowsers hich assistance of an ordinary pocket lens ,and the rock in which the ue ere sual structure is developed would be referred to as a uralitic diabase. it Mineralogically, as represented by the thin sections, examined under pytrographithe microscope, the rock is now composed essentially of plagioclase seroma ae and hornblende, and no portion of the original pyroxene has yet been Siorive. detected. The plagioclase, in all cases where the rock is sufficiently — fresh for its identification, is labradorite, and in those specimens, which Doce have suffered least from metamorphism, this mineral occasionally has sda' a pale brownish tint, the colouring matter (presumably very finely wis disseminated iJmenite), being rather unevenly distributed through the espe various individuals, with cloud-like effect. Pressure and advancing end decomposition, however, seem to quickly destroy or remove all traces amid of this colouring matter, so that, with few exceptions, the felspar is annad nearly, if not quite, colourless. As a rule, the plagioclase has under- ajteration of er gone more or less advanced saussuritization, but some individuals are Plagioclase. of 8 still sufficiently fresh to permité of their recognition by means of the ocks, extinction angles. All stages in this characteristic alteration of the ich Ms basic plagioclase are represented in the specimens collected and vas examined, but this has been so fully described in previous publications, )

that only a brief mention is necessary in this connection. The first

tt

4)

General

characters of

saussuritie and its composing minerals.

56 Geological Survey Of Canada

step in the decomposition of the original felspar, consists in the developmeat of minute scales of sericite, and fine needle-like forms of epidote and zoisite, in the midst of the plagioclase substance. Another, and very frequent form of development of these secondary minerals, consists of grape-like bunches of finely granular saussuritic material, chiefly zoisite or epidote, whose coalescence ultimately produces a single larger individual, or aggregate of several individuals of these minerals. One of the more advanced stages in this process of decomposition of the felspar, consists in the complete obliteration of the twinning lamellz, and the replacement, either wholly or in part, of the plagioclase substance, by a brilliantly polarizing aggregate, made up chiefly of sericite, epidote and zoisite. In occasional instances, the place of the felspar is taken by a colourless or pale yellowish saussurite, which polarizes in dull bluish tints. This substance is usually so fine-grained that it cannot with certainty be resolved into its component minerals, even with the assistance of the higher powers of the microscope. Some of the coarser portions of this substance were examined rather critically, with the result that zoisite, sericite, a little calcite and a secondary plagioclase, possibly albite, were recognized as contributing

Another form to the aggregate. Still another form of alteration of the original

of alteration.

Microscopic character of bisilicate minerals,

Hornblende.

Biotite.

' Bleaching' of biotite.

felspar, and one often accompanying the more usual saussuritization, consists in the replacement of part of the original felspar by a fine interlocking mosaic of a clear, sharply extinguishing, secondary felspar (albite) and quartz.

The hornblende, is as a rule, the usual deep green, strongly pleochroic, compact variety, occurring in long, imperfectly developed, prismatic forms. Occasionally the fibrous or actinolitic variety is represented, much paler in colour, and with less pronounced pleochroism. Many of the individuals of this mineral show the pale coloured, more or less non-pleochroic interiors, with deep coloured, much more compact, and strongly absorptive borders characteristic of uralite. Portions of occasional crystals show a brownish colour, but even these have a decided greenish tinge. Biotite is almost invariably present, and usually in large amount. It is of the us. deep brown colour, showing strong differences in the absorption of .ight when rotated between crossed nico!ls, It occurs in plates and scales, frequently embedded in, and sometimes forming intricate parallel intergrowths with the hornblende. It has often undergone considerable 'bleaching', and ic then somewhat paler in colour than usual, besides showing brilliant chromatic polarization between crossed nicols. In spite. of the elimination of a considerable portion of the iron, the pleochroism as stated is still very pronounced. It often contains irregular grains of

Upper Huronian 57

magnetite. Both the hornblende and biotite show frequent decompo- Decomponisition to chlorite. ' Pleochroic halos', surrounding embedded small poe ot sc grains or crystals, chiefly of sphene, are frequent in both the hornblende bictite.

and biotite, as well as in the chlorite derived from them. Comparat-

ively large and sharply defined crystals of epidote and zoisite occur, Fpidote and some of which may be of primary origin, although by far the larger p-oportion are undoubtedly the seconda:y products of decomposition,

Quartz is almost invariably present, occasionally forming the ciaracteristic granophyric intergrowth with the felspar. In most cases Quartz, a

it is not of secondary origin, but an integral part of the same magma Soeateenk oit of which the other minerals have been formed. It was as usual

the last mineral to form, filling up the irregular interspaces left by

the crystallization of the other constituents. Ilmenite and highly Iimenite and titaniferous magnetite are the prevailing iron ores, and these are chien iy present often in comparatively large amount. Most of the individuals

are surrounded by opaque grayish leucoxene, or the more normal

sphene, resulting from the alteration of the titaniferous iron ore.

Apatite is usually present in small amount, occurring in the character- Apatite. istic long, acicular, prismatic forms, which pierce all the other consti-

tuents of the rock. Pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite and pyrite, frequently

occur disseminated through the rock, and under the microscope are sulphides. seen to form curious irregular skeleton or sponge-like masses, intima- t2ly associated with, and frequently embedded in the coloured constituents. Altered These diorites occur in all stages of decomposition, while still retain-

ing much of their original massive character. A type illustrative of

perhaps the extreme of this alteration is well represented by a hand

specimen obtained from the tunnel in ' Lake Hill', lot 8, con. 1V., of Decomposed Denison. This rock is a fine-grained, comparatively light greenish-gray, piasig "ick diabasic rock, with occasional fine disseminations of pyrrhotite and fll" chalcopyrite. The thin section siiows that a'l of the hornble ide and

part of the biotite have been altered into green chlorite, which retains

much of the strong pleochroism characteristic of the original minerals Mineralogical from which it has been derived. The ilmenite has been almost wholly °™!"'""'™ converted to sphene, which occurs in irregular grains and crystals,

Calcite is very abundant, and portions of the slide are made up of a

rather coarse mosaic of quartz and calcite, with a smaller proportion p,,., ,,yritic of chlorite. As a rule, these old diorites are comparatively uniform in divrite of grain, but porphyritic varieties occur, and a good example of this phase, pigs was collected from certain small rounded hummocks, on the west side

of the upper or new roast yard of the Victoria m'nes, (N. 4 lot

&, Con. TIT, Denison). The hand specimen, shows, . comparatively

coarse-grained rock, made up of indefinite or irregular phenocrysts of

Mineralogical composition,

Hornblendenal ag? ba

rom Murray and Elsie mines.

Diorite-

oi ab tween

Gertrude and

Creighton

mines.

Mineralogical composition of dioriteporphyrite.

58 Geological Survey Of Canada

dark green, almost black hornblende, embedded in a proportionately smaller amount of a comparatively fine-grained matrix, which is rather paler in contour. The microscope shows the rock to be a porphyritic diorite, made up very largely of a green, feebly pleochroic hornblende. Much of the hornblende is compact, but in the finer-grained portions of the rock, as well as in the terminations of the larger crystals, the mineral shows a inarked tendency to assume the actinolite habit. The interspaces between the larger porphyritic individuals are made up of saussuritized plagioclase, actinolite and ilmenite, the latter mineral in various stages of alteration to leucoxene. Occasional small scales of biotite may be noticed embedded in the hornblende.

Another closely related rock is that which is usually referred to as 'hornblende-porphyrite.' This type of rock is perhaps best illustrated by outcrops occurring to the southeast of the Elsie mine, while the steep and prominent hill southeast of the office at the Murray mine, is almost wholly made up of this material. The groundmass is much finer in grain than in the porphyritic diorite just described, but the phenocrysts ure usually considerably larger and more conspicuous, their deep green, almost black colour, with glistening cleavage planes, contrasting well with the fine-grained and lighter coloured matrix made up largely of hypersthene with some felspar. Still another closely related form, and one which may be included in the general class of the older and more massive greenstones, may perhaps be best described as a 'diorite porphyrite'. The best examples of this type of rock were obtained from exposures outcropping a little north of the boundary between Graham and Creighton townships, on lot 2, con. I of Creighton township. The hand specimen shows a dark-green, rather schistose, dioritic rock, with ill-defined phenocrysts of plagioclase, some portions of which are of a paler yellowish-green colour, while other parts of the same crystal are reddish. Under the microscope, the thin section shows that these large irregular phenocrysts are labradorite, which have undergone more or less advanced alteration to svussurite or huronite, with the development of zoisite, epidote and sericite. The reddish portions of the crystals are comparatively unaltered and still show the twinning lamelle. The finer interstitial matter is made up essentially of green hornblende and plagioclase. Some of these individuals show the pale interiors and comparatively dark-green borders usually considered as characteristic of uralite. Most of the plagioclase has undergone more or less advanced saussuritization. The iron ore present is mainly, at least, ilmenite, for it may be seen undergoing alte ration to leucoxene. A little quartz is present, and also an occasional scale of biotite.

Upper Huronian 59

Very frequently these more massive types pass into foliated schistose varieties, the structures being the direct result of pressure and stretching, and all gradations may frequently be observed in the same rock exposure, from the massive gabbro-diorite, through diorite schist, hornblende schist or amphibolite, to actinolite and chlorite schist. The prevailing type of hornblende schist or amphibolite, is a dark-green to almost black, usually glistening and very fissile rock. It is made up largely of slender prisms of the common green hornblende, usually compact and strongly pleochroic, but sometimes actinolitic, a varying but usually small amount of plagioclase and quartz occupying interspaces between the rudely parallel individuals, In the less altered varieties the original plagioclase still remains, although usually more or less saussuritized, but some specimens examined are seen to have undergone more or less complete recrystallization, with the formation of an interlocking mosaic of water-clear, usually unstriated plagioclase (albite ?) and quartz. Biotite is almost invariably present, and the iron ore is sometimes ilmenite, or highly titaniferous magnetite, the grains of this mineral being bordered with sphene. In other instances, the iron ore is simply magnetite, showing no traces of alteration and this mineral is often present in large quantity. Pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite and pyrite, are sometimes disseminated through the rock in small grains, and in the vicinity of the ore bodies, these sulphides are often abundantly present in this type of rock. Some exposures of these rocks are made up almost entirely of hornblende. The thin section of a specimen, secured from Cryderman mine, (lot 5, ccn. III., Garson) showed this rock to be made up of hornblende individuals closely compacted together, with no intervening felspar or quartz. Magnetite is abundant, while pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite are thickly disseminated through the rock, Some phases of these hornblende schists are sometimes so badly decomposed that only occasional cores of the hornblende crystals have survived, the remainder having been converted into chlorite. The plagioclase and quartz present in these rocks, are often indistinguishable from one another, the former being the clear, often unstriated variety (albite), so characteristic of these recrystallized eruptives. Biotite is present in much smaller amount, and has likewise contributed by its alteration to the formation of the abundant chlorite. Epidote and calcite are also present in comparatively large amount, as secondary products of decomposition. Magnetite is plentiful, and much of it is undoubtedly of secondary origin. These rocks are usually much paler in colour than the prevailing and less decomposed varieties of amphibolite.

Formation of different types of eTreenstone schists,

Mineralogical composition of amphibolite.

Amphibolite from Cryderman mine,

Decomposition of amphibolite.

cearessammneccernenesretmesaai

haeidigeoen <bbeiaabiekensraahewne

respaceny=ae ae celia

piguneseaserre set

Slave staat enters ones season eb

Augen' amphibolite.

Origin of Augen.'

Augen amphibolite from Frood mine and Graham township.

Bivtite schist from Denison,

siotite schist from. Graham.

60 Geological Burvey Of Canada

In certain localities these hornblende schists were noticed to contain numerous small, irregularly oval, light-coloured patches or 'augen - sometimes made up altnost entirely of plagioclase, or this mineral in association with an equal or even greeter quantity of quartz, while in certain instances, quartz alone is present. These are of various sizes and shapes, but they are usually less than a quarter of an inch in diameter, and most of them are about the size of an ordinary pea. In certain instances, some of the larger of these areas seemed to be made up of asingle imperfect phenocryst of plagioclase, but a study of the slides usually shows, a mosaic made of several distinct interlocking grains of this mineral, together with a varying amount of quartz. The rock, at first sight, suggests, an amygdaloid, with the amygdules or vesicles filled with this quartzo-felspathic material, but a more reasonable explanation suggests their probable origin as small, more or less continuous veins, of pegmatite which have become thus deformed and separated as a result of stretching. The structure is of rather frequent occurrence and characteristic of comparatively large areas of the amphibolite. Similar rocks have been noticed by Dr. Coleman as occurring in the vicinity of the Frood mine, while in the central part of the township of Graham, the writer has collected several specimens from the N. lot 8, con. IIl., and the N. lot 1, con. IV., of this township. The matrix in which these small eye-like forms are developed, shows a fine-grained hornblende schist made up, in great <4, of compact, dark-green, strongly pleochroic hornblende, together with a little biotite. In the specimen from the N. lot 1, con. IV., of Graham, the quartz and felspar of many of the 'augen' contain small scattered individuals of hornblende, zoisite und biotite.

Another type of rock, which was noticed at two widely separated localities, intimately associated with these amphibolites, is adark-gray, almost black, faintly glistening schistose rock. The thin section of a specimen obtained near the openings on lot 12, con. IV., of Denison, shows a fine-grained aggregate of pale-coloured or ' bleached ' biotite, with a much smaller amount of plagioclase. Small grains of sphene are abundant, and also irregular fragments of calcite.

Another variety of the same rock is represented by a specimen obtained near the Century Copper mine, on the N.} lot 4, con. I'V., of Graham. It contains frequent disseminations of pyrrhotite, pyrite and chalcopyrite, and in addition to the plagioclase, contains a considerable amount of quartz. The biotite, which is in fairly large plates, is 'bleached ' with frequent pleochroic halos, surrounding certain of the smaller inclusions, which are abundant, and include sphene, epidote and zoisite.

Upper Huronian 61

Occasionally these anmphibolites contain garnet, which is sometimes abundant, and often in large, ill-defined or rounded crystals, The most striking example of such a rock is, doubtless, that occurring in the vicinity of the Vermilion mine, (lots 5 and 6, con. IV., of Denison). The matrix shows the prevailing fine-grained, dark-green schist, in which rounded crystals of reddish garnet, sometimes two inches in diameter, are developed. The matrix is made up principally of hornblende and quartz, The garnet is quite normal, but is much cracked and slightly seamed with green chlorite, which has resulted from its incipient alteration. It was also noticed to contain inclusions of magnetite and quartz.

There can be little doubt in regard to the origin of most of these older greenstones, that they represent greatly decomposed, sheared, and, at times, completely recrystallized, basic eruptives, but there is still considerable doubt regarding the exact conditions attending the genesis of certain other types of rocks, which are intimately associated with, and usually included in these greenstones, Some of these show, though somewhatindistinctly, the ellipsoidal and amygdaloidal structures, characteristic of lava flows, while others, again, are almost certainly of a pyroclastic nature, representing consolidated beds of voleanic ashes and fine agglomerates, but all of these have been so greatly squeezed and stretched that their precise identification is extremely difficult, if not impossible. Some portions of the sedimentary rocks, chiefly quartzites and greywackes, are included in these areas of greenstones. In some instances, these clastic rocks, which have been thus caught up in the greenstone, are sufficiently large to permit of being separated on the map, but, for the most part, they are comparatively small, and have been included under the same colour as the greenstone. All of these clastic rocks are greatly metamorphosed. The tuffs or greywackes are now made up chiefly of clear felspar, with a smaller proportion of quartz, the former mineral being largely altered to sericite ; biotite, chlorite and magnetite or ilmenite, are the most abundant minerals represented. Often reerystallization has been so advanced that no traces of their detrital origin remain. The quartzites are of the usual felspathic variety, the component grains only occasio: ily revealing traces of water action, the structure, for the most part, being eminently interlocking

(2.) Upper Hurontay.

B. Conglomeratfs, Felspathic Sandstones And Quartzites.

Although a large proportion of the rocks included as Huronian, in the , are the direct result of igneous action, considerable

Garnetiferous amphibolite from Vermilion mine,

Microscopical determination of minerals,

Origin of yreenstones,

Deformed eruptives,

Squeezed lava flows,

Altered volcanic ash rocks,

Altered clastic rocks inclided with greenstone.

General characters of rocks of Upper Huronian.

62 Geolog\ Al Survey Of Canada

areas are uncderlaid by others of undoubtedly sedimentary origin. While, however, the various types of these rocks have been studied in considerable detail, so that their precise mineralogical composition is well Stratigraphi- understood, their stratigraphical position has not been determined as cal position satisfactorily as might be desired, as only a comparatively limited torily deter: time could be spared from the work of examining and delimiting the more important eruptives, directly associated with the ore bodies. The geological succession therefore, advocated in this report, is not based on an extended or critical study of the field relations of these rocks, and much more exhaustive work will be necessery before a final and authoritative utterance. is possible on this point. Some difficulties Mificulties of Which presented themselves during even the preliminary investiga.

meena tions undertaken by the writer, may be mentioned briefly. In the

sion. firet place all the rocks of the district have been greatly di wur ed, so

that, the originally horizontal strata are now tilted at \ery high

t angles, in some instances, having assumed a vertical attitude, and

Rocks greatly occasionally, have even been overturned asa result of the mechanical disturbed and stresses, to which they have been subjected. In some cases, and over altered, extended areas, the rocks have been so metanerphosed, that the planes of original sedimentation are more or less completely nsas'ed, or even destroyed altogether, thus rendering it very ditficult, if not impossible to interpret the true structure or succession. In addition, the situa-

. Sichistose tion is further complicated, and a satisfactory explanation delayed, by ieevtckan for reason of the frequent development of certain secondary structures bedding. due to intense and prolonged pressure and stretching. The foliated,

schistose or slaty structures, thus induced, are frequently mistaken for bedding planes, although usually forming considerable angles with Succession them. Besides the continuity of the areas of the clastic rocks is fre-

pe pele quently broken by the intrusion of irregular masses of igneous matecated by rial which not only greatly disturbed and obscured the original order intrusive€ of deposition, but divide these seJimentaries into a number of separate basins, whose satisfactory correlation can only be unravelied by much more detailed study than the present opportunity afforded the writer. At this stage, therefore, the succession favoured in this report, is not offered without a certain degree of hesitation, although it is without doubt, a much more complete and satisfactory A peel a classification than any which has yet been attempted. With the exswith some ception of one or two minor poin:s, it differs in no essential! particular

hesitation but oe oe ee : : ar essentially from the scheme offere:] by Dr. Coleman in his last report. (!) and we

—e both agree, in advancing the opinion, that the intrusion of the nickel a bearing norite, took place at a much later date, than formerly supposed.

(i) Ann. Rep. Bur, of Mines, Ont. 1903, p. 208.

ae eanepabas iewmbe ote oe

dash age tenets ores

Upper Huronian 63

It is confidently expected, however, that Dr, Coleman, as a result of Expected the later work he is now conducting in the district, will decide iany jute wok of the questions which are still a matter of opinion and conjecture, determine and the appearance of his monograph is accordingly awaited, with the sion expectation that this question, of succession especially, will receive full

and satisfactory treatment.

The oldest clastic rocks exposed in the vicinity cf Sudbury, are cer- Oldest clastic tain felspathic sandstones or greywackes, frequently interbedded with, Sotbury. and passing by insensible gradations, into felspathic quartzites or arko. ses, the latter, for the most part, being the later rocks, and usually forming the summit of the series. These rocks are evidently closely related, the main point of difference noticed, consisting in the relatively coarse grain and large amount of quartz in the quartzites, with less of Mineniel the finer-grained interstitial material, this being made up, for the most tion of part, of the lighter coloured decomposition product sericite, while in the &"°Y**# greywacke, the texture is finer, and fe!spar, not quartz is the predominant constituent. Chlorite, with innumerable fine, disseminated particles of opaque matter, gives the prevailing dark colour to the rock.

The quartzites, for the mest part, xccur in thick, massive beds, which are

very uniform in mineralogical composition, while the greywackes are

much more distinc: and evenly stratified, and certain shaies and slates

exposed in the disteict, are evidently thinly bedde" varieties of this

rock. All intermediate stages, both in composition and structure, may Transition

be noticed between these two twpes of rock, which at the two extremes, — — are quite distinct and recogni rable. Comparatively large areas are 4*rtzite. characterized by the prevalence of one or other of these rocks,

Some of the greywackes are evidently of the nature of muddy Origin nents, deposited im water, as a result of ordinary conditions of degrada. aia tion and deposition, but tuffs constitute, by far, the larger part, representing the consolidation of what w 4s originally volcanic ashes, being one of the results of tl:e explosive action to which is due the presence, at the surface, of the great belts of greenstone. These have. in most cases, been sorted and re-arranged by the action of water, but, in other in tances, little or no trace of rounding action can be detected in the component ree ag grains, even in those types which have suff-ed little or no alteration. of grey wacke, These rocks arc usually of a dark-gray, purpiish-brown, or greenish-gray colour. They are often evenly and very distinct ly banded, in vy <rying shades of gray. Jointing is frequent and also slaty cleavage.

They are often faulted and shattered, and in the Vicinity of the various greenstone masses, are pene!

and abtered by irregular tongues and masses of the basic ig: rt

y

tot EM Fade pipe lateness test

set orenye

Porphyritic greywacke or 'rice rock.'

Phenoerysts of andalusite staurolite and hornblende,

Composition of greywacke.

Alteration of greywacke.

Quartzites

Mineralogical composition of quartzite,

Microscopic: structure,

Altered quartzite band north- West OF Sudbury.

64 Geological Survey Of Canada

porphyritic, and usually the phenocrysts are small, very thickly disseminated, and of avery pale-grayish or whitish colour. For this reason, the rock has been referred to, in the field, as 'rice rock.' These phenocrysts were probably andalusite or staurolite, but the skeleton-forms are now occupied by a confused aggregate of minute sericite scales and quartz, Other expusures show small yellowish-brown spots made up of rutile, while othersagain, exhibit irregular phenocrysts of hornblende, now wholly replaced by chlorite. Thin sections, examined under the microscope, reveal a rock which has undergone rather extensive decomposition. It is usually made up very largely of felspar, with a smaller proportion of quartz, in small, angular or slightly rounded fragments. These are surrounded by a net-work of sericite and chlorite scales, together with a considerable amount of opaque iron ore. The larger individuals, at least, have evidently been ilmenite, but are now almost completely altered to leucoxene. The darker bands are made up of more thickly disseminated, dust-like particles of iron ore, much of which at least, is iimenite. In the vicinity of the various eruptive masses, as well as in those masses which havebeencaught up in the greenstone, these rocks are very much altered, the various types having been described as mica schists, felsites and phyllites. The rocks referred to as quartzites are massive, though usually distinctly stratitied, of a pale-gray reddish, yellowish-gray, or greenish-gray colour. They are intimately associated and often interbedded with the tuffs or greywackes, so that it is frequently impossible to se; rate the two for purposes of mapping. Under the microscope the thin section exhibits a rock made up chiefly of quartz, with a somewhat smaller proportion of felspar, most of hich is unstriated, and therefore presumably orthoclase. Occasional grains of microcline were noticed, showing the various stages in the development of the characteristic fine, cross-hatched, twinning structure. Much of the felspar i, decomposed into a hydrous form of muscovite (sericite), occurring in irregular, pale-yellowish or colourless scales and plates, which together with fragments of undecomposed felspar, make up a groundmass, in which the larger individuals of quartz, and more rarely of felspar, are embedded.

The structure of the rock is for the most part interlocking, but some specimens show distinctly clastic structure, while, in most, the resemblance to well authenticated, recrystallized clastics is such as can hardly he mistaken.

A little over a mile northwest of Sudbury, the Canadian Pacific railway crosses a belt of very highly altered felspathic quartzite, the outcrops of this rock, forming a series of comparatively high and con-

Upper Huronian 65

spicuous ridges. This band averages about half a mile in width, and

extends with unbroken continuity, from the vicinity of the Frood mine

to Copper Cliff. Here, denudation has removed a considerable portion

of these rocks, leaving only small areas such as that which outcrops immediately north of the old Copper Cliff mine. These rocks are again

exposed to the west of the Ontario Smelting Works at Copper Cliff

forming the high ridges, which with some minor breaks, extend in a Altered southeasterly direction, a little beyond the boundai y between Waters —— in and Graham townships. Areas of very similar rocks are shown on the Graham'and map, as occurring in the township of Denison, the largest mass cover- seamia ing a considerable tract north of the Vermilion mine. The microsco-

pical examination of most of the thin sections, representative of this

rock, throws little or no light on its origin, and the exposures might

very readily be mapped as belonging toa biotite or hornblende granite,

while the presence of a breccia of autoclastic character at the junction Autoclastic between this and the greywackes to the southeast, might easily be Tcks. interpreted as indicating the intrusion of a granitic rock through the greywacke.

These small, usually parallel, and seemingly dyke-like forms of quart- z0-felspathic material, are in reality thin beds of arkose material, which, originally continuous, have been drawn out, broken and separated during the processes of stretching, while the enclosing rocks, having yielded more readily to deformation, give no evidence of autoclastic action. This quartzite is frequently 'blotched' in the vicinity 'Blotched ' of the railway line, the spots or blotches of a pale-reddish or pinkish pay att of colour, being embedded in a network of grayish material, without how- Sudbury. ever, any sharp or well-defined boundary between these two portions of the rock. It is made up principally of quartz, felspar, biotite, muscovite and sometimes hornblende, the last mentioned mineral being especially conspicuous in those exposures of the rock crossed by the railway and wagon road to Azilda. This mineral occurs usually in long, slender prisms, of a dark green colour, disposed at various angles to one another, and very evidently the product of secondary action.

The component minerals possess the irregular, interlocking outlines, Mineralogical with usually no suggestion of the rounding action of water and at first sad sight, has every resemblance to a granite or gneiss. An examination quartzite. of the field occurrences of this rock is, however, much more satisfactory than that of the thin section under the microscope. At times, a series of beds can be traced out, differing considerably in composition and texture, the whole occurring in the form of a synclinal basin, resting upon the greywackes. This quartzite represents the most advanced

:

ry idan ee o8igcoas tesnenh 20cb) MLS LRCEEaRBOLA,

orev) Sears

Regenerated granite.'

Stratigraphical succession.

Character of conglomerates

Mineralogical composition of conglomerates.

Ramsay lake conglomerate.

Conglomerate in Denison.

Conglomerate near Stobie mine.

Probable unconformity in Huronian.

66 Geological Survey Of Canada

type of a recrystallized arkose for which the term ' regenerated granite' has been proposed ('). In the Huronian, there are no very large areas of conglomerate, and the exact position of these rocks is still a matter of doubt, but it is hoped that future investigation will, at an early date; ennble a precise statement of their stratigraphical position to be made. From the investigations undertaken by the writer, these conglomerates would appear to lie at the base of a series, which passing upwards into darker coloured felpathic sandstones or greywackes, are in turn overlaid by felspathic quartzites or arkoses which cover the larger portion of the southeastern part of the Sudbury map.

Such rocks are, as a rule, of a dark-gray colour, with disseminated, angular, subangular, or rounded fragments, chiefly of quartz, granite, diorite, ete. Thin sections exhibit a rock made up of fragments, chiefly of quartz, but also of orthoclase, plagioclase and microperthite. The most abundant composite fragments are granitite, composed mainly of micioperthite and quartz, together with a little biotite. All of the larger individuals are embedded in a matrix, made up of much finer pieces of quartz and felspar, together with biotite, sericite and a palegreen chlorite. Occasional grains of pyrite and also some of ilmenite occur. Excellent exposures of the last mentioned conglomerate may be seen along the line of the Canadian Pacific railway, immediately east of Sudbury, and in the vicinity of the north shore of Ramsay lake- As usual, these conglomerates are extremely local in their development, covering no very large extent of country, and the area to the east of Sudbury is, by far, the largest covered by such coarse, detrital rocks, Exposures of a very similar rock occur on lot 7, con. L., of the township of Venison, to the south of a small lake, the conglomerate at this place underlying the quartzite.

Dr. Coleman mentions that, 'the most typical conglomerate in the region, however, extends as a much broken band from northeast tc southwest, near Stobie mine, showing crowded pebbles and small boulders of more than half a dozen kinds, including granite, quartzite and several sorts of green schist, as well as greenstone.' The occurrence of these conglomerates and the character of their pebbles, indicate a probable lack of conformity in the Huronian, and it is quite possible that there is a lower and an upper series, the former made up of greenstones, schists, greywackes and highly altered quartzites (regenerated granites), overlaid unconformably by the conglomerates just mentioned, together with the overlying greywackes and felspathic sandstones

(1.) Quart. Journ, Geol. Lon. Vol. LIII (1897) p. 44. (2) Ann. Rep. Bur. of Mines Ont., 1903, pp. 289 and 290.

Upper Huronian !—-Older Norites And Diorites 67

exposed in the southern part of the Victoria mines map, and the south-

eastern part of the Sudbury map. Besides these coarse detrital rocks, Panning which are evidently consolidated shore deposits, there are certain autoclastic pseudo-conglomerates or autoclastic rocks, formed, as already stated, as ite:

a result of pressure and deformation. These 'crush' conglomerates

are especially abundant where the harder and more brittle quartzites

come in contact with the schistose greywackes. Certain portions of

the green schists, penetrated by granitic material, have likewise become Autoclastic autoclastic, through the stretching and rolling out of the rocks, while and granite large portions of the greywackes themselves, have been broken, the °°! fragments separated and recemented together, by similar, though some.

what coarser material.

(2.) Upper Hurontan ? (0.) OLDER ? NORITES AND DIORITES,

Certain areas of gabbro and norite, with their derivative diorite, ne occur, which have no direct or visible connection with the main mass and diorite, of the nickel bearing norite. Most of these intrusive masses exhibit certain peculiarities of composition and structure, which all seom to possess in common, and by means of which, they may usur ; be distinguished from the ordinary norite. The possession c" these characteristics, as well as their prevailingly greater alteration, suggests a probable difference in age, and the position assigned to them in the table of the geological formations exposed in this district, is believed to be a very close approximation to the truth. Most of these masses, at pegcaag least, are distinctly younger than any of the clastic rocks with which than clastic they come in contact, as they pierce and alter the highest beds of the quartzites, which occur in the region covered by the southern and southeastern portions of both the accompanying map sheets, Their age, with re regard to the granite or main mass of norite, is not known, as they nowhere occur in conjunction with these rocks. They are, however, norite older than the olivine-diabase, for dykes of this latest rock in the area, oe are seen to cut them in many places.

With the exception of the Worthington mine, no large or econo- Worthington

mically valuable deposits of nickel or copper have been found ia large ee

connection with them, although the Mitchener and Totten mi) en, of okie

norite, situated in the township of Drury, were opened on masses of these

minerals which were direct!y connected with the Worthington mine intrusive. Other deposits of these sulphides are known to occur at Other several points, as for instance on lot 12 con. IIT., of Neelon township, ee where the pyrrhotite was found to contain 3.10 per cent of nickel,

and on the north half of lot 4, con. VI., of Neelon township, but, co

f ¥

65 ines vd eth TUE a

Outline of

68 Geological Survey Of Canada

far as known, none of these are of sufficient dimensions to form working mines under present conditions.

One of these belts of norite starts in the township of Drury, to the

band of older .outh of the Canadian Pacific railway, and extends across the southern

norite.

Older norite east of Sudbury.

Older norite in Neelon township.

part of the township of Denison, ending a short distance east of the Vermilion river. The sirall areas shown on the map, as occurring on lot 12, con. II and III., of Denison, are of the same rock. Another band forms the high land between Trout, Clear and Whit fish lakes on the southeast, and McCharles and Simon lakes on the northwest, The highest portion of the ridge rises 220 feet above McCharles lake. The probable continuation of this band forms the higher hills northwest of Kelley lake, and with some minor breaks, the ridges formed by the outcropping of these hard rocks, extends to the eastern end of Ramsay lake. To the north of the Canadian Pacific railway, and to the east of the town of Sudbury, the rock forms a series of exceedingly rugged and comparatively high hills, the highest of which rises over 1000 feet above the sea. This mass of norite and diorite covers an area of about four square miles in this part of McKim and Neelon townships, sending off a long narrow arm, which crosses the sixth concession of the township of Neelon. The large irregular mass of similar igneous material, occurring in the eastern part of Neelon, and shown on the map as covering portions of the third, fourth and fifth concessions, is known to be directly connected with the same mass. With the exception of the smaller separated masses, with which the Frood and Stobie mines are connected, and which undoubtedly belong to the main mass of the

Smaller areas norite, all of the smaller areas of massive, basic, igneous rocks, shown of older norite. 6) the map, are made up of this or aclosely related type of rock. In

Older norite in Denison.

Older norite in Graham.

Field character of older norite.

addition to these, considerable areas of massive diorite occur in intimate association with, and probably intrusive through, the older greenstones and tuffe, which make up the larger portion of the area covered by the third and fourth concessions of Denison. These rocks are quite distinct from that which forms the main mass of norite, and are seemingly more closely related to this older norite intrusive. Similar areas of diorite rocks occur in the belt of old.: hornblende and tufaceous rocks, which crosses the third and tourth concessions of Graham, to the south of the granite mass. Deposits oi pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, pyrite and cobaltiferous arsenopyrite are known to occur in connection with these rocks, but they are not at present of economic importance.

In the field, outcrops of these older norites, are pale-greenish, in gontrast to the dark-grayish or black tones of the main mass of norite. They are, as a rule, finer in grain, eminently diabasic in texture and

rite, ction ance.

h, in rite.

Upper Huronian 1—Older Norites And Diorites 69

frequently show considerable masses of diorite pegmatite, or malchite, in this last respect, differing from the ordinary norite, which is remarkably uniform in grain over the whole area. Under the microscope, they contain less quartz, and the hornblende is always actinolite, and not the compact variety common in the diorite derived from the norite of the main niass,

Fresh representatives of this apparently older norite are comparatively Fresh reprerare, and the writer's specimens, selected with every care, at widely prompted separated localities, contain only two specimens in which the pyroxenes Very rare. are sufficiently fresh to permit of their identification, and even in the Slides from these specimens, by far the greater portion of the original ferromagnesian constituents, are represented by the usual secondary serpentine and actinolite.

One of the hand specimens of the least altered phase of the diorite, Fresh norite collected near the eastern extremity of the band of greenstone, between oe Whitefish and Simon lakes, is a pale greenish, media:n-textured, mas- and Simon sive greenstone, with little or no evidence of having been subjected to !

dynamic metataorphism.

The thin section shows a hypersthene-gabbro or norite, the greater vpicroscopical portion of which has undergone advanced chemical alteration or decom- character of position. For the most part it is now made up of plagioclase and a pasha serpentine closely related, if not identical with bastite. The latter mineral is very evidently secondary, and occupies very approximately the same position as the original bisilicate material, from whose altera- Mineralogical tion it has resulted. Occasiona!:y, limited areas show the origina] Composition. pyroxenic minerals, in various stages of the bastitic alteraticn. A faintly pleochroic hypersthene or enstatite and diallage are both present, and some of the individuals or grains of these minerals are, with difficulty, distinguishable from one another. Both minerals are Fnstatite and very nearly colourless, but the double refraction of the hypersthene is "'#!lage. weak, while the diallage, on the contrary, shows brilliant chromatic polarization. Both pyroxenes show a faint, though distinct pleochroism, that possessed by the hypersthene being more decided. The index of refraction of the hypersthene is somewhat higher than that of the diallage, while the latter mineral shows frequent polysynthetic twinning. Both pyroxenes, however, decompose to the smea pale Decomposigreenish, usually fibrous, but occasionally scaly bastite, often exhibit- suse ing brilliant polarization colours. In places, this bastite is being converted into a pale greenish, feebly pleochroic, fibrous hornblende or actinolite, this uralitization being especially pronounced in the Bastite. vicinity of the margins of the individuals. These bastitic areas contain

Sss Arlen

Poikilitic plagioclase.

Titaniferous magnetite,

Fresh norite from Neelon.

Norite east of Sudbury,

Mineralogical composition of older norite southeast of Evanc mine.

Description of altered norite from N4 lot 10, con. V., Neelon.

70 Geological Survey Of Canada

very numerous, small, irregular scales and plates of a pale brownish, apparently secondary biotite, and, in places, are crowded with small grains of secondary magnetite. The plagioclase, which judging from the extinction angles is labradorite, has a marked poikilitic development, this mineral extinguishing simultaneously over large areas, which in the thin section, are separated either partially or wholly by invervening bisilicate material. This poikilitic effect is likewise noticeable in the hand specimen, owing to the uniform reflection of light from the plagioclase individuals. Comparatively large, irregular grains of magnetite probably titaniferous, are also distributed through the rock, while quartz occurs, filling up occasional interspaces between the tabular forms of felspar.

Another specimen, representing a very fresh variety of this rock, was obtained from a small hill, west of a lumber road, on lot 11, con. V., of Neelon. Dr. Coleman mentions the fact that a specimen of this rock from the hill top east of the town of Sudbury, is 'a typical norite made up essentially of faintly pleochroic enstatite or hypersthene and plagioclase, the latter somewhat lath-shaped.'

A thin section from a specimen obtained from the large mass of this rock, occurring to the southeast of the Evans mine, shows a greatly altered variety of this norite. The original pyroxene minerals are wholly converted into an aggregate of pale greenish, brilliantly polarizing scales and fibres of serpentine, this, in turn, being converted, in certain instances, to actinolite. Pale coloured biotite is abundant. A small amount of greenish-brown, compact hornblende is also present. The plagioclase, with the pale brownish tints so common in these rocks, occurs in rather broad, lath-shaped or tabular, well-twinned crystals, which are, as a rule, quite fresh. Quartz is not very abundant, and some grains are intergrown with plagioclase, forming the characteristic granophyre. The iron ore is ilmenite, with borders of sphene. Apatite is abundant, in the usual slender, prismatic forms.

Another thin section, taken from a specimen obtained on the north half of lot 10, con. V., of Neelon, is still more decomposed, the pyroxene being replaced by a very pale yellowish-green serpentine and actinolite. All the intermediate stages in the conversion of serpentine to actinolite may be studied. Much of the felspar is quite fresh and clear, with a pale brownish colour, but the areas of this mineral have been invaded, toa considerable extent, by small fibres and crystals of actinolite. A little compact, brownish hornblende is also present. A large

(1) Ann. Rep. Bur. of Mines, Ont. 1903, p. 296.

Laurentian Gneisses 71

amount of znisite occurs as a secondary product of decomposition,

Ilmenite, largely altered to sphene, and occasional grains of pyrrhotite

and chalcopyrite are also present, while quartz occasionally occupies

the irregular interspaces between the plagioclase laths. Another spe.

cimen, from the north half of lot 4, con. V1., of Neelon, was also exam-

ined under the microscope. The rock may be referred to, at present, as Mineralogical a uralitic quartz-diabase. The original pyroxene is now represented sieaced wort. by pale greenish, feebly pleochroic bastite and actinolite, much of the ate plagioclase is rather clearand fresh, butsome has undergone considerable Neelon. saussuritization. A little brownish hornblende is present. Sphene, in

irregular grains, with black opaque cores of ilmenite, epidote and

zoisite, are the principal other minerals noticed.

The actinolite diorite and schist, with which the deposits at the Other altered Worthington, Mitchener, Totten and Macdonell or Gersdorttite mines tae une are associated, are evidently highly altered forms of this norite. These deposits possess certain peculiarities in common with one another, which distinguish them from the other ore bodies, connected with the main mass of the norite. Some of the rock, collected at the Vermilion mine is possibly of the same type and age, but this was not definitely ascertained. As is evident from the foregoing, it is manifestly difficult, if piticult in all not impossible, in all cases, to decide the question of the identity of distinguish every individual specimen of altered norite, or even the various separ- norites, ated masses, but in a broad way, these two norites are distinct and separate from one another, and the criteria already mentioned for distinguishing them will usually be found sufficient.

(3.) Laurentian GRaniTe AND DiorivE-GNEIsses.

The rocks usually classified as Laurentian, comprise a series of fol- eae ee iated, eruptive rocks, mainly of granitic and dioritic composition, cross. ares, where ing the southeastern corner of the Sudbury map, in the townships of "

Dill and Neelon, in the vicinity of the Wanapitei river. These rocks

possess a well-marked foliation, this structure being determined not General, only by the alternation of lighter and darker coloured bands, but also des<ription. by the parallel disposition ar? .!'grment of the component minerals,

The lighter coloured bands 1: su. ly of the prevailing flesh-red tint, Character of and are made up largely of quartz with orthoclase, microline and mi- foliation. croperthite as the felspathic constituents, and these minerals, together

with biotite in varying amount, make up the bulk of the rock. The Mineralogical darker coloured bands contain less quartz and very abundant mica, composition. with oligoclase as the principal feispar. The biotite is often altered to

Ris: rs sate oar pe: stays ig : seeaeesiceenhaierss..neis rea nar teneene ree na2Y< "he 1aeyeM sayerrs senseayes

ieee: ae ee eee as ats wahaganeyeotnan aberontlnncasipenibeoad eine cpiabecect

vaemaeeeiema ri Sere rarereeaeteestnepreceenedting

in eiabetatltaeliem. Soctasudinlew

hah Meinl as sb cantons Sir savant esate rs

We ad

Gl

Almandine garnet.

Cyanite abundant in certain portions,

72 Geological Survey Of Canada

chlorite. Muscovite and zircon are often present in small amount. Garnet is very abundant, of the prevailing almandine variety, and usually more or less rounded, but some of the well formed individuals show the faces of the rhombic dodecahedron and icositetrahedron. Perhaps the most interesting mineral is cyanite, which is abundant in certain portions of the rock, occurring both in the micaceous and felspathic bands. This mineral occurs in flat, blade-like crystale, with the prevailing bluish and whitish colours. In the micaceous bands, the colour is especially deep, and of a beautiful azure tint, somewhat unevenly distributed or cloud-like in its effect, the colour being often deepest in the centre of the crystals, gradually becoming colourless towards the margin. These crystals are arranged, for the most part,

Sillimanite on parallel to the foliation, but some individuals are disposed at con-

jointing planes.

Gneisses of eruptive origin,

Location of Upper Huronian rocks.

Rocks segnrced big

probably Ot ambrian age.

Probable relative age

Synclinal trongh overlying norite.

siderable angles to this structure. Sillimanite or fibrolite is also occasionally present, especially on slickensided or jointing planes, and shows abundant evidence oi pressure and stretching. These gneisses are distinctly of eruptive origin, and their intrusion through the quartzites and other clastic rocks is everywhere apparent, where the line of junction is sc exposed, that the relationship between the two may be examined und studied.

4, Uprer Hurontan (?) Cuastic Rocks.

The rocks, thus classified, occupy the large oval area situated immediately northwest of the main belt of the nickel bearing and kindred eruptives, and underlying the extensive clay plain, which has already been described as so eminently suitable for agricultural purposes. As a result of the first geological examination, these rocks were regarded by Dr. Bell as probably of Cambrian age, and have thus been coloured on all subsequent geological maps. Their precise geological age is still a matter of doubt, but the later work seems to indicate a close relationship both in origin and age, with the main masses of norite and micropegmatite. If, as seems probable, from the work already accomplished, these several separate ranges of nickel bearing norite are, in reality, the exposed portions of one continuous laccolite, with occasional minor irregularities or offsets, then, as illustrated by Dr. Coleman ('), these youngest clastic rocks of the district will, no doubt, be shown to occupy a synclinal trough, overlying this deep platter-shaped sheet of intrusive rock.

(1) Ann. Rep. Bur. of Mines, Ont. 1903, (illustration 52 ) pp. 288-289.

Post Huronian—Clastic Rocks 73

These rocks extend from the southeastern part of the township of Trill, to within a few miles of Wanapitei lake, the area being thus nearly thirty-five miles in length, with an extreme width of a little over eight miles.

They comprise, at the base, certain breccias and agglomerates, most Succession of of which, at least, are of pyroclastic origin, these rocks passing upward !#*tt< rocks. into black bituminous shales, while they are, in turn, overlaid by a

comparatively coarse greywacke or felspathic sandstone.

The identification of the breccia at the base of this series, as a con- Identification solidated volcanic ash, was the result of microscopical studies under- ped ten nt nal taken by the late Prof. G. H. Williams, of material furnished him by ey Dr. Bell. The important fact of the occurrence, in these ancient rocks, Williams, of a voleanic glass breccia, the various minute details of structure being so exceptionally preserved through silicification, as to permit of its positive recognition, has always been a matter of general interest and comment, especially amongst those geologists, who regarded these earlier periods of the earth's history as characterized by exceptional

and prolonged explosive volcanic activity.

A description of this comparatively rare type of rock, was carefully Description prepared by Prof. Williams, and communicated to a meeting of the Ciel n Geological Society of America, held on December 31st, 1890. These ee ae ig details were embodied in an appendix to Dr. Bell's paper on the nickel America. and copper deposits of this district, which was also read at this

meeting (').

The material submitted for examination, consisted of two small hand Spickuine specimens, collected at the lowest falls on the Onaping river, in the — Onaping township of Dowling. Prof. Williams' description is so complete ;

and satisfactory, that it may be quoted in this connection.

'In a hand specimen, this rock presents a nearly black felsitic ma- General, trix, in which are embedded sharply angular or slightly rounded frag- i of ments, varying from 14 cm. in diameter, downwards to ultra-microsco- breccia. pic dimensions, These fragments are lighter in color than the matrix, but differ considerably among themselves in their tint, structure and composition. The majority resemble chalcedony in appearance, others are greenish, while some of the largest fragments are now replaced by a single calcite individual. Occasional small grains of clear vitreous quartz may also be detected, while specks of pyrrhotite are every where abundant. Many of the angular fragments show distinctly under the ee nae

f ants, (1) Bull. Geol, Soc. Am. Vol. IT. 1891, pp. 125-137. ss Soma

(2) Ann. Rep. Geol. Surv. Can. Vol. V. 1890-91, Part F, pp. 74-76.

H

: j

74 Geological Survey Of Canada

lens a flow or vesicular structure, which is still more apparent in a thin section of the rock when seen under the microscope. The fragments even down to those of the smallest dimensions, have the angular form characteristic of glass sherds produced by explosive eruptions, with struc- more or less coarsely vesicular structure. The flow structure is as ; perfectly marked by sinuous lines of globulites and microlites which terminate abruptly against the broken edge of the glass particle, as in the most recent vitrophyre. Minute spots of pyrrhotite are scattered Character of throughout the section. The groundmass is of a dark colour, owing to ee ie massing in it of minute black globulites, to whose nature the highest magnifying power gives no clue. Between crossed nicols it is seen to be made up largely of chalcedonic quartz, which has changed the Arrangement easily destructible glass into a sort of jasper. Chlorite is also abundant, frequently arranged as a border of radiating scales around the edges of the fragments, so as to coat them green in the hand specimen. The larger grains are always a fine mosaic of interlocking quartz, but some Quartz, calcite of the smaller ones are composed of a unit individual of clear vitreous and felspar. quartz, The only other minerals which could be identified in the section are calcite and a few grains of a glassy striated felspar. The presence of this latter mineral is very noteworthy, as we should expect it to have disappeared during the vicissitudes through which this rock has passed.' Composite In other localities, this breccia shows a greater diversity in the cha- — racter of the larger fragments, and composite rocks made up largely of quartz and felspar, either granite or recrystallized quartzite, frequently occur. Plagioclase xnd quartz, usually in angular or subangular pieces, are very often represented, while epidote and hornblende, also mentioned by Dr. Coleman, are likewise present in the thin sections examined by the writer. Silica deter- No complete chemical analysis has yet been made of the individual mination by specimens examined by Prof. Williams, but Dr. Hoffmann made a silica determination, showing it to contain 60.23 per cent. Dr. T. L.

Chemicai Walker however, has made an analysis of a specimen of this breccia, analysis by — obtained from the north shore of Whitson lake, with the following results: (').

Si O, 59-93 Na,O 3-80

Al, O, 12°12 K,O 0°97

Fe O- 10:56 Loss by ignition 1°57

Mn O trace

Ca O 4:49 Total cies. ne 98°63

MgO 5:19

a) Quart, Jour, Geol. Soe. Lon. Vol. LITT, 1897 p. 45.

Post Huronian-——Granite 75

Various sulphides, chiefly pyrite, but sometimes also pyrrhotite and Abundance of chalcopyrite, are often abur 'lan' ly disseminated through this rock, and "hides. not a few mining locations have been surveyed, intended to cover such deposits, which were regarded as possible mines. One of the most promising of these, visited by Mr. Leroy, was situated on the south half of Deposits lot 8, con. TV., of the township of Dowling, and the specimens secured a ae were handed to Dr. Hoffmann for assay, The hand specimen shows & massive pyrrhotite, with which is associated a little chalcopyrite and a somewhat larger proportion of gangue. The pyrrhotite, when freed Assay of from the chalcopyrite and gangue, was found by Mr. F. G, Wait (+) [ririctite by to contain 0.26 per cent, of nickel with a trace of cobalt. Resting upon this breccia or agglomerate, are certain black bituminous shales, often with well developed slaty cleavages, This rock is made Up principally Presence of of minute fragments of quartz, with intervening scales of chlorite and oe sericite, and abundantly disseminated, black, opaque particles of shales. carbonaceous or bituminous matter. These slates sometimes contain eaieiaiatiee. fissures occupied by anthraxolite or vein anthracite, and a large outcropping of such material in the township of Balfour, occasioned considerable excitement some years ago. Samples of the surrounding 4 unt of rock, analyzed by Dr. Ellis, showed 6.8 per cent of carbon in the shale. pvt oa in The highest rocks in this series are certain gray sandstones and shales, ' the former frequently containing concretions, which weather more rapidly than the matrix in which they are enclosed. Composite Composition fragments can often be recognized with the naked eye, and the rock of then assumes the character of a coarse grit. Itis made up, principally ""° of angular and subangular grains of quartz, embedded in a finer-grained base, composed of felspar, quartz, chlorite and mica. Zircon and tourmaline are also sometimes present. The dark colour of the rock is due to disseminations of innumerable, fine particles of Opaque material, especially abundant in the felspar, and which are probably ilmenite.

(5.) Post Hurontan. (A.) GRANITE,

It hes been customary, of late years, to speak of certain areas Younger of acid intrusives, occurring in intimate association with the nic. 8*anites. kel bearing eruptive, as the 'younger granites.' Reference has heractn already been made to their strange and anomalous behaviour pace with regard to the sulphide bearing norite, for wherever the line rite.

of junction, between these two classes of rock, has been exainined, it

(1) Aun. Rep. Geol. Surv, Can. Vol. XITT Part Kp. 85. (2) Ann. Rep, Bur. of Mines, Ont. 1896 pp. 159-166,

f t

Granitoid gneiss older than norite,

Explanation of contradic. tory pheno. mena,

Evidence of successive periods of intrusion.

Ditference in

7¢ Geological Survey Of Canada

presents a series of apparently conflicting phenomena, which, in the present state ef our knowledge, cannot be satisfactorily interpreted or explained, The larger proportion of the evidence, so far available, seeins decidedly in favour of regarding these granite rocks as of earlier generation than the norite or gabbro, and even in the vicinity of the Creighton mine, where the immediate junction ie characterized by the presence of a narrow belt of intermediate composition between the yranite or norite, Dr. Coleman states that 'on the whole, however, the impression ia formed that the granitoid gneiss is older than the gabbro, the latter sometimes growing, tiner grained at the edge of the gneiss '

'), A-reasonable explanstion of the contradictory phenomena witnessed, seems to be closely connected with the manner and rate of cool - ing of the granite bathylith. This immense hody of acid eruptive, as at present exposed at the surface by denudation, has ne evidently resulted from the consolidation of a body of magma, the product of one simple act of plutonic activity, but is rather the result, locally at least, of several successive fusions and re.cemantations, before the whole mass reached its final or present condition. The evidence of such successive periods of intrusion, is furnished by study of the granite mass

itself, for although over the larger part of the ara, the granite is remarkably uniform in structere and compos tion, cer tain localities show rather sudden changes in these respects, witli vecasion uly a sharp di-

viding line, thus indicating an apparent diiferwace image. All attempts, however, to trace out this apparent line of subdivision in detail, over any extent of country, proved futile, and the conclusion was reached, that the whole mass is very closely synchronous, and that no appreci able lapse of time in a geological sense, has occurred between the several dates, represented by these di ffereni phases of the granite. The

rateof cooling. pate of cooling, moreover, was extremely slow, much more in fact

Two main types of granite.

Approximate-

than the norite, so that it is possible that, in certain instances, some portions may have been sufficiently cousolidated to permit of the cooling against it of the norite, while in areas not far distant, some of the latest acid secretions of the granite penetrated und altered the norite or gabbro. There are two main types of these granites, the difference between the two being essentially one of structure, and although inter™ mediate varieties between the two extremes are known to occur, such phases are relatively unimportant and may be ignored for purposes of general description. These two varieties are at present believed to be

ly of same age. very approximately, at least, of the same age. One type of rock which

occupies by far the largest area of any of these acid eruptives, is a very decided ' augen' or porphyritic granitite-gneiss. In places, this seems

(1) Ann. Rep. Bur. of Mines, Ont., 1903, p. 245.

Post Huronian—Granitr 77

to pass into a finer-grained and more massive type, with ill-defined or Transition no foliation, thus resembling the second variety, the type of which, "potas however, forms two smaller and separated bathyliths occurring to the "nite.

northeast of the main mags,

The coarser or ' augen' type presents such a strcag resemblance, in Rese! jance every respect, to certain gneissoid rocks, oceurring in the Laurentian, — that it was indicated as part of this formation in the first geological aurantian. map. It constitutes a well marked bathylith, intrusive through the older green schists and diorites, which it has greatly disturbed and altered, furming @ belt to the south of the main mass of the sulphide bearing norite, nd extending from the second lot in the township of Outline of Denison, to & point little east of the boundary between Snider and ot a McKim townships, near she Copper Cliff mine. The mass is thus about : thirteen miles in length, with an average width varying from one to two miles. It forms a very striking and beautiful rook, eminently suitable Suitable for for building or ornamental purposes. It has been used in the building —eoe 0: che main office at Copper Cliff, as also for mantles in the manager's purposes, house at Victoria Mines,

Under the microscope, the thin section shows the rock to be made Microscopical up chiefly of microcline, orthoclase, albite, oligoclase, biotite and quartz, with epidote, sphene and apatite as accessory minerals, and calcite, epidote, zoisite, sericite and chlorite as secondary products of decomposition. The orthoclase and microciine sometimes occur free, but, fur the most part, are intergrown with the albite, forming both miorocline-and orthoclase-microperthite. The quartz is the usua; graustic variety, frequently showing intense strain shadows and some. time ov anulated into a fine interlocking mosaic. The felspars of the rove, olshough like the quartz, often much cracked, broken and 'rons lotd, we comparatively fresh. Reddish-brown iron oxide has -vongh the cracks, giving cloudy or stained appearance to 'uo ot fae grains. Much of the oligoclase has undergone considera) le

"tation, the resulting products being epidote, zoisite and

cents. Luis usually stained a deep reddish-brown colour. The biotite

i cc tally 'bleached' and has often undergone more or less complete

chlor:tization. Sphene and epidote are often embedded in the biotite.

Apatite is frequently present in the usual acicular prisms, while occasionally, a little calcite was noticed in thin sections.

The 'augen' are usually made up of a comparatively coarse-grained Composition aggregate of microperthite or micvocline, together with a much smaller ° *"8"" proportion of quartz. More rarely, it is a single crystal of felspar, often a Carlshad twin, rarely, however, with sharp or weil defined boundaries,

iss haa ' bead thiaet bebe tia acs cupestatstnats sia ee os

Reaction between granite and norites,

Two smaller areas of finergrained granite.

Location of larger area of fine-grained granite. ,

Microscopical determination.

Small area of coarse granite near Pump lake.

Small intrusions of granite northwest of Murray mine.

78 Geological Survey Of Canada

In the vicinity of the Creighton mine, the granite of the main bathylith comes in immediate juxtaposition with the nickel bearing norite, while to the southwest in the vicinity of the Gertrude mine, as well as to the northeast from the North Star mine and beyond, considerable areas of the peculiar granite and greenstone breccia intervene between the two rocks. As has been stated, there is the cleavest evidence at the Creighton mine, of considerable reaction between the granite and norite, the former being often impregnated for a considerable distance from the contact with the nickel and copper bearing sulphides, while, in addition, certain portions of granite are unusually basic, presenting a rock of intermediate composition between the granite and norite, with deep flesh-red porphyritic individuals, often Carlsbad twins of orthoclase, microcline or microperthite, embedded in a groundmass made up principally of biotite, hornblende, epidote and sphene, the latter containing black opaque cores, presumably of ilmenite.

The finer grained variety of granite is characteristic of two areas. The smaller one is situated immediately east of the Lady Violet mine, and extends a little north of the Manitoulin and North Shore railway, on the boundary between McKim and Snider townships. It covers a considerable portion of lot 1., Con. IV., of the township of Snider.

The other and larger area, extends from the main line of the Canadian Pacific railway, a little southeast of the Murray mine, northeast to within a quarter of a mile of the Little Stobie mine. It thus constitutes an oval area, measuring about three miles in length, and averaging about three quarters of a mile in width. A microscopical examination of the thin section. shows an aggregate of quartz, orthoclase, plagio. clase, biotite, hornblende, magnetite and zircon. The rock has evidently been subjected to great crushing. The structure is by no means uniform, but larger fragments are embedded in a finer grained mosaic, which has resulted, in great part, from their peripheral granulation. The magnetite is highly titaniferouc, as it is often surrounded by borders of leucoxene or the more normal sphene. Besides these, a very small and irregularly shaped area crosses the Manitoulin and North Shore railway, immediately east of Pump lake, on lot 1, con 1V., of Snider township. It has a general resemblance tothe coarse 'augen ' variety. This small mass measures about 850 feet long and from 150 to 500 feet wide.

About two miles west of the Murray mine, Walker mentions that the nickel bearing eruptive is cut by two separate intrusions of finegrained, pinkish, biotite-granite, which send off apophyses into the surrounding greenstone. The wider of the intrusions is about 100

Post Huronian—Granite 79

yards broad, while the smaller is less than 60 yards. The microscope

shows that quartz, orthoclase, plagioclase and biotiie, are the chief constituents. Considerable areas, in the vicinity of the line of junction

between these granites and the older greenstones, are characterized by

the presence of a breccia, made up of an extremely intricate intrusion Breccia of or penetration of the greenish schistose rocks by dykes and irregular oe masses of granitic material. The chief alteration noticed in connec-

tion with the greenstone, is the development of biotite at the expense

of the original hornblende, and the replacement of the plagioclase by a

fine mosaic of secondary plagioclase, quartz and epidote, the rock being

thus well formed mica or biotite schist. Subsequent differential movements have occasioned very considerable deformation, and some

portions of the resultant rock mass represent very perfect and charac.

teristic pseudo-conglomerates. Areas of these breccias are often big Location of enough to be shown on maps of ordinarily large scale. They are espe. pr Para tially noticeable east and southeast of the Gertrude mine, and between

this and the Creighton mine, and some of the cuttings of the Manitou.

lin and North Shore railway, between these two mines, have been made

through hills of this breccia. It seems to occupy a lenticular area, in-

tervening between the norite and the granite, the widest part being a

little over three quarters of a mile, while the length from northeast to

southwest is about three miles. To the northeast, in the vicinity of

the North Star mine and beyond, as far as Clarabelle lake, consider- Breceia at able areas are underlaid by this breccia, while in the neighbourhood rire aa of the Murray mine, they are especially noticeable and well developed. ™ines.

The manager's house at Copper Cliff, is located on a rocky knoll, made

up of this breccia, and a comparatively narrow band of this rock ex.

tends for a short distance in a southwesterly direction.

In addition, the main mass of the granite bathylith contains frequent Inclusion of inclusions, often of large size, of these older greenstones and schists, oer ea in the reason for their presence and occasional abundance being readily explained by Dr. Daly as due to 'stoping,' as he terms the pheno- Reason for menon of the detaching of portions of the original material overlying — or enclosing a bathylith, and the inclusion of such fragments in the 'gments. mass of the original magma. (')

(1) Amer, Jour. Sc. Vol. XVI, 1903, p. 108,

80 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 0% CANADA (5.) Post Hvaomtan. ai (B.) NICKEL BEARING ERUPTIVE. # 3 i Ae tal Soon after the discovery of these nickel and copper deposits,

; nation of

1 — it was remarked that all of the rich and extensive ore bodies Ee between basic occurred in intimate connection with certain basic eruptive rocks, sulphide and o¢ medium texture, and which for convenience of description, and deposits. in the absence of more precise information, were usually referred

7 arg eres to under the names of greenstone and diorite. The first published i scopical microscopical descriptions were all in substantial agreement, in i descriptions. regarding the prevailing type of the nickel bearing eruptive as made up essentially of plagioclase and hornblende, with a smaller proportion of bivtite and quartz, while ilmenite and apatite, with variable

quantities of pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite, were the usual accessory si! constitutents. The ro:k was therefore regarded as an intrusive gabbro

q or diabase, which, owing to subsequent metamorphism, had its pyroxenic

b components changed to secondary hornblende or uralite. Rocks quite i like these had been studied in many rogions, where they could be

PE mer traced with certainty into basic eruptives of normal character, and it recognition of was confidently predicted by the late Prof. G. H. Williams, who was vieruptive, the first to make any detailed petrographical examination of these i ee rocks, that 'specimens might be collected at some of these localities fi ow which would establish positively both the original form, and the fi oe course of alteration of the present specimens.'

ti i Included in the same suite of specimens as the foregoing, all of which fia Dominion Bat boon sent by Dr. Bell to Prof. Williams for identification and mine eruptive description, was one, which had been collected near the Dominion mine, : yay naa in the township of Blezard, but which, in the hurry of a first examination, was regarded as occurring in the form of a dyke. This rock, the exceptional character of which was noted at the time by Prof. Williams, and which was described as a 'quartz-hypersthene-gabbro with accessory biotite' was in reality a practically unaltered representative of the nickel bearing eruptive, although its identity s such, was

not suspected until some years afterwards. . All of these first microscopical determinations, therefore, showed a : : normal type of greenstone, differing in no essential particular from : others similarly altered, and with no apparent reason for the develop- Ficus ment of such unusually large and rich deposits of sulphide material. At the same time, the field and prospectors term of diorite was justi-

name of

: Satie' fied, as also the names proposed after more detailed microscopical ; examination, such as uralitic or gabbro-diorite, uralitic diabase, etc.

peroentresssegsers Ter Ss

(1) Ann. Rep. Geol. Surv. Can. Vol, V. 1890-91, Part F., pp. 60 & 62. (2) Ann. Rep. Geol. Surv. Can. Vol. V. 1890-91, Part F. pp. 77-78.

Nickel Bearing Eruptive 81

It is to be regretted, therefore, that although great care was exercised In spite of in the collection of these first or type specimens, attention was directed, Shad chiefly, to the selection of material in immediate association with the — all ore bodies, and the rocks thus obtained, were in such advance i stages pian: j ot decomposition, that no very definite or precise information was possible in regard to their original composition or true affinities. Asa consegence of this, the opinion prevails that the whole of the eruptive in the vicinity of these nickel deposits, is completely altered, whereas Many fresh the very opposite appears to be the case, and most of the writer's col. Sramcsunmad lection of fresh and unaltered material was obtained in the immediate pita coe ll vicinity of the various mines. In this connection it may be remarked containing that some of these hand specimens, containing as much as from 5 to whake 10 per cent of the sulphides, have undergone so little metamorphism, "terial. as to permit of the positive identification of all the prevailing minerals,

including hypersthene, enstatite, diallage, olivine and labradorite.

In 1892, the late Baron von Foullon published the first determina- Descriptions tion of the nickel bearing eruptive, occurring in the vicinity of the palbey ae! Murray mine, showing it to be a gabbro, closely related to the norites, and Coleman his descriptions being prepared after a study of material collected at this locality, in the summer of 1890. In 1893, Dr. A. P. Coleman identified the eruptive of the Northern Nickel Range as a gabbro con-

taining both diallage and hypersthene.

The true significance of these discoveries and isolated descriptions, Fuller was not, however, fully appreciated, until the appearance of Dr. Wal- S—. ker's results, the issuing of this publication marking a very signal — advance in our knowledge, regarding the origin and relationship of these sulphide deposits and their associated rocks.

The nickel bearing eruptive, characteristic of the three main belts or yp... divisions

ranges, may, for purposes of description, be considered under two divi- oon sions. eruptive,

1. A basic portion :—Including certain gabbroid rocks, chietly, at least, of the norite facies, with their derivative diorites, with which the nickel and copper bearing sulphides are immediately associated.

II. An acidic portion :—Comprising large areas of rock of granitic type, with well marked gneissoid structure, the prevalence and abundance of the graphic intergrowth of the quartz and felspar, known as granophyre or micropegmatite, having suggested the name 'micropegmatite,' by which this rock is now generally known.

The least altered phase of the basic portion of the eruptive is repre- Name for

sented by what may be referred to as 'norite'. The rock is some- po

sr sropRREteeoreeemeetrenenerreereamgnrrest "Tne REERPRNEET arene mrerererte

Ferret Te

Eek te

Eruptive ef exceptional interest,

Presence of original quartz and hyperstbene.

Granophyre.

Biotite and quartz co ns} ncunous,

Norite decomposes readily.

Spheroidal weathering.

Developanent of hy persthene. and enstatite.

Alteration of rhombic pyroxene.

82 Geological Survey Of Canada

times called a 'quartz-hypersthene-gabbro '', but for general purposes the former name is preferred.

The microscopical examination shows the, rock to be an eruptive of rather exceptional character and interest. It belongs to the general family of gabbros, but with distinct traces, and, at times, well marked diabasic or ophitic structure. The prevalence and usual preponderance of hypersthene or enstatite, show its close affinity with the norites, while it contains, what is very exceptional for such a rock type, an abund ance of original quartz. In fact, many specimens could be secured, which contain nearly as much quartz as an ordinary hornblende granite. In some instances, noticeably at the Copper Cliff mines, a large quantity of micropegmatite or granophyre is present, the felspathic constituent of this graphic intergrowth being usually plagioclase. Exposures show a massive, medium to coarse-grained, dark-grayish, greenish gray or brownish rock, which is often almost black in color on freshly broken surfaces. Scales of deep brown biotite are usually conspicuous, while the quartz is perhaps equally so, in very characteristic sapphireblue or purplish grains, the color which is often seen in the phenocrysts of quartz-porpliyries.

These rocks do not offer any very effectual resistance to processes of decomposition and erosion, and, as a consequence, the area characterized by their presence is, generally, one of low relief.

Spheroidal weathering is characteristic, but not so pronounced as in the case of the later dykes of the olivine-diabase.

The orthorhombic pyroxene, either hypersthene or enstatite, shows a distinct approach to perfection of crystallographic outline, and, in many cases was the first of the essential minerals to form. In occasional instance:, the hypersthene is unaccompanied by 4 monoclinic pyroxene, as in some of the specimens collected in the vicinity of the Blezard mine. It is often, by far, the most abundant of the coloured constituents, as at the Murray mine, where the diallage is only occasionally represented, while almost the whole rock mass is made up of hypersthene, in various stages of decomposition, the small and infrequent interspaces being occupied by plagioclase. The hypersthene is, as a rule, rather faintly pleochroic, although specimens from the vicinity of the Blezard mine, and from a railway cutting about one mile and a half north. west of the Murray mine, ure very strongly pleochroic, rose red to pale yellow fiish-green. The enstatite is also colourless in thin section, and,in contradistinction to the hypersthene, exhibits little or no pleochroism. Both the hypersthene and the enstatite are very liable to decomposition, so that, in most cases, areas of this mineral, are replaced by an aggregate

nh

Nickel Bearing Eruptive 83

of light-green, non-pleochroic, brilliantly polarizing, pentine (bastite). This alteration is often accompanied by the separation of minute grains of magnetite. In most cases, even the fresh individuals of hypersthene are bordered by a compact, strongly pleoc

hornblende which is doubtless an original constituent. hornblende, likewise,

fibrous or scaly ser-

hroic, green

This primary Presence ea forms borders on areas showing the complete poor hae al bastitic alteration. In addition to this, there is undoubted secondary hornblend= hornblende resulting from the alteration, first, of the bastite into

actinolite, and this in turn, to the ordinary type of green. hornblende.

The monoclinic pyroxene, which is usually present in subordinate Diallage amount, is likewise frequently bordered by primary hornblende, and thus, the individuals of these two pyroxenes cannot be distinguished from one another, in specimens which have undergone any advanced decomposition. Sometimes, both pyroxenes show the presence of the

characteristic, minute, tabular interpositions or schillerization products but, as a rule, these are absent.

The diallage is distinguished from the orthorhombic pyroxene chietly yfeans of by the absence of pleochroism, its inclined extinction, and frequent distinguishing polysynthetic twinning, while it usually shows a lower index of pyroxene refraction with higher double refraction. Olivine is present in small (jj .ine pareiy amount in the norite obtained from the Little Stobie mine, but most present. of it is altered to an aggregate of deep coloured scaly serpentine, tale and magnetite. Biotite is an almost invariable constituent and is usually rather abundant, in large plates and is undoubtedly of primary origin. The plagioclase is usually in broadly twinned, stout, lath-shaped or tabular crystals, whose frequent interlacing arrangement produces the characteristic, rude, ophitic structure. Separations by means of Separitions Thoulet's heavy solution, as well as the extinction angles, show that ar ies this plagioclase is labradorite. The presence of innumerable, brown, dust like inclusions, presumably of ilmenite, gives to the felspar its prevailing dark colour.

Quartz and occasionally granophyre fills most of the irregular Guatte ana interspaces between the other constituents, although, in the norite granophyre. from the Creighton mine, microcline almost invariably accompanies Rimoctine' ai this interstitial quartz. Apatite, magnetite, which is usually highly ae titaniferous, zircon and grains of pyrite, pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite , are almost always present. These sulphides are distinctly of primary Primary origin, and were among the earliest of the minerals to crystallize from sulphides the original magma, antedating even the magnetite, in some cases, fot

grains of pyrrhotite were noticed completely enclosed by the iron ore

The sulphides ovcur, for the most part, intimately associated with, and

sneer ceramamntineeneers cert sssaneiaiaedindinaiinenmmanenetememe-taa

aoe nunsianeeneiantneneneretambbipnesiasinens ni sadehetpocehemnenibiiineammreteietncataneen tes

Sestatiti faunal

84 Geological Survey Of Canada

Sulphides frequently embedded in the coloured constituents, in much the same peace orm way as the magnetite, from which they can only be distinguished by a the difference in colour in reflected light. The pyrrhotite and chaleopyrite are often very intimately associated, so that they are extremely difficult of separation, even the smallest grains showing intimate intergrowths of these minerals with one another. These sulphides frequently occur in those portions of the norite which have

Sulphides suffered so little from dynamic metamorphism, that only an occasional

on ~Ds dislocation of a plagioclase crystal is noticed, while the same exposures forms of have been so little affected by hydrochemical agencies, that such readily

cone alterable minerals as hypersthene, enstatite, olivine and diallage are

still plainly recognizable in such specimens. The sulphide material, in such cases, is often not subordinate in amount, but is so abundantly disseminated as to characterize the rock, and justify the name of ' pyrrhotite-norite' which is sometimes applied to it.

Altered Although a considerable number of specimens were secured, repre- —— sentative of the comparatively unaltered norite, by far the larger abundant. proportion of the material collected consisted of a massive, usually coarse gabbro-diorite in various stages of alteration. Very few of these show even traces of dynamic metamorphism, and, as a rule, the ophitic structure, produced mainly by the interlacing arrangement of the Pyroxenes plagioclase crystals, is quite undisturbed. The alteration is mainly due a to hydrochemical agencies, and affects the pyroxenic minerals, decomposing these to a pale, yellowish-green serpentine, sometimes of the ordinary type, but usually of the bastite variety. Actinolite also results from the alteration of the pyroxenes. The compact borders of primary hornblende often surrounding the original pyroxenes, are evidently made up of much more stable material, not having been affected by any of these changes. The areas formerly occupied by the pyroxene are, therefore, replaced by bastite or actinolite, the hornblende borders

Probable remaining unaffected, the individuals thus decomposed being referred il to as uralite. No distinction can be drawn between grains which cones represent hypersthene or diallage, as both of these minerals apparently enes. — decompose to closely related, if not identical material. The labradorite

js usually quite fresh, in tabular or broad blade-like forms, with a

brownish colour of varying shades, which is so prevalent in the norites.

a Occasionally it shows incipient decomposition to the usual saussuritic — quite products, mainly sericite, but also epidote and zoisite. Biotite is always , present and conspicuous in large plates with strong pleochroism. It is Character of Sometimes intergrown with the hornblende and has also undergone pe considerable 'bleaching'. It usually contains comparatively large, irregular grains of magnetite. Quartz is always present, and sometimes

Nickel Bearing Eruptive 85

abundant, filling up the irregular interspaces between the other constituents, Highly titaniferous magnetite and apatite are also always present, but in small amount, while the pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite vary in amount, from occasionally disseminated grains, touch quantities as ensure the use of the mass as an ore of nickel and copper.

In addition to the norite and diorite, a more acid rock of granitic eid erection composition and prevailing gneissoid structure occurs, which cannot be Poder el separated genetically from the more basic portion with which the eruptive sulphides are more directly associated. This rock has usually been referred to as ' micropegmatite' a name first suggested by the late Prof. Micropegma.

i. H. Williams. There is no sharp line of demarcation between tite:

the acidic and basic portions of the nickel bearing eruptive, but the

change, though gradual, is usually sharp enough to enable a boundary Pa orb to be placed between these two types, with tolerable accuracy, Out- sharp line of crops of this rock are evenly banded or foliated, with a distinct strike "vision. and dip, usually porphyritic, weather a pale reddish or grayish colour sat and are frequently intersected by irregular and often intricate vein- characters of like, masses of quaztz, evidently of pegmatitic origin. On freshly exposed trarite surfaces, the rock is usually dack coloured, with abundantly disse-

minated, small, reddish or yellowish phenocrysts of felspar. Orthoclase Microscopical is often present in considerable amount, and, towards the outer determination edge of the mass, is the predominant felspathic constituent, but plagio- ee clase (cligoclase or oligoclase-andesine) is usually more cr less abundant. Mi-roperthite and microcline are also often present, but in subordinate amount. Much of the folspar is somewhat turbid owing to decomposi-

tion, Biotite is the prevailing ferromagnesian mineral and much

of it is 'bleached' and altered to chiorite. It is usually in small

irregular, tattered scales and plates, arranged in narrow, approximately

parallel bands, gently curving around and among th larger pheno-

erysts of feispar. The abundance of the biotite, and its frequent

alteration te chlorite, give the prevailing dark colour to the rock on Teenattion fresh surfaces. The transition type between the micropegmatite and ata the norite, shows a varying proportion of hornviende, which mineral, as tite and

a general rule, diminishes in amount in passing outward from the "™® norite, although certain bands of relatively greater basivity show ap

appreciable amount of this mineral, even at a considerable distance

from the line of junction. One of the most noteworthy points, in con-

nection with this gneissoid rock, is the prevalence and abundant deve Pesratono lopment of mieropegmatite or granophyre and also the fact that rar ase a plagioclase and quartz are most frecuently the component minerals granophyre

(1) Ann. Rep, Geol. Surv. Can. Vol. V, 1890-97, Part. F. p. 78.

8&6 Gkological Survey Of Canada

forming this yraphic intergrowth. The micropegmatite, together with the bisilicate material, chiefly biotite or chlorite, and sometimes hornblende and accessory epidote, ilmenite and sphene, form a groundmass,

Granophyre in which the comparatively large phenocrysts of felspar, chiefly plagio-

po aa chag clase. but sometimes also orthoclase and microperthite, are embedded,

aud quartz, The granophyre or micropegmatite very often stretches out, in various directions fron: a central portion or body, made up of well twinned and rather sharply bounded crystals of plagioclase. The effect of pressure is very noticeable in all the thin sections, not only in the strain'shadows, but also in the dislocation of the felspar individuals, and the abundant development of the fine interstitial quartz and felspar.

ea ly

ee On the first geological map, this micropegmatite was included with, ite to T . . : . berate pkgs and coloured as, a part of the Laurentian, the reddish colour, gneissic

e Fi fi

:

1p a

Laurentian. structure, and general behaviour, being the main factors which determined this classification.

Chemical The variation in the chemical composition, marking the transition

composition of from the norite to the micropegmatite, is well illustrated by a series of

types between an Jalker i i : ee analyses made by Dr. T. L. Walker (') from specimens obtained along

lite add norite the Blezard mine crossing. The specimens range from south to north,

by Walker. ¢om I to V. Analysis No. IV is by Mr. C. B. Fox, M. A. Z I il iil IV V : SiO, 99°00 5132 SCOT 87°76 3 TiOg 147 139 OTS 0-46 o ae Renee 22 O10 O24 06 O19 i Al, 05 16°32 1977 IH 12°86 1400 Beg 05.0555 oe Ont 20 2°80 Fe 0 . 1h 677 6 O02 401 51s Cad icy 68 S16 3°49 144 1°28 Mg 0 . 63 64 1 60 ool 1°06 Mn ; trace trace trace trace trace RG... 29 O70 2 02 3:05 119 Na, 9... 182 260 3°92 312 5°22 H, 0 0-76 1 68 OTs 0°76 161 Totals 9903 99°71 98°30 99°33: 160°29 Specific gravity 3°026 2°832 27788 re 2700

According to the present state of our knowledge, there are three

aby. main belts of norite, with which workable deposits of the various sul- Norite is one P P : os 5 continuous Phides carrying nickel and copper occur. Until recently, these were

peony oe believed to be entirely distinct and separated, but the later, more as formerly detailed geological examinations are tending to prove that these are supposed, ee e

(1) Quart, Jour, Geol. Soc. Lon, Vol. LIT, February, 1897, p. 56.

Nickel Bearing Eruptive 87

all portions of a geological unit, and all referable to one continuous mass, They have always been regarded as essentially the same in origin and mineralogical composition and Approximately, at least, of the same geological age. Two of these belts are not included on the accompanying map sheets and so far, none of the deposits occurring in association with them, have ever been operated as mines, producing ore for shipping and smelting purposes,

The most northerly of these bands known as the § Northern (yutiines of Nickel Range' starts from the old Ross mine (W. R. 5), near the oe line, between lots 5 and 6, on the line between con's, T{T and [V., of © vee the township of Foy, and extends in an east-southeast direction through the township of Bowell, where on lot 6, con. IT., it branches.

One offset runs southeast, into the townships of Lumsden and Morgan, where its limits have not been definitely ascertained. The main band, however, runs to the east, cutting across the township of Wissner, and crosses the Vermilion river, immediately north of Bronson lake. Trending still more to the north, it connects with the large area of basic cocks, occurring to the west of Wanapitei lake. This mass extends, for the most part, in a southerly direction, and, as far as at pre sent ascertained, is buried beneath the sand and gravel plains of the

eastern part of Garson and the western portion of Falconbridge. It is, Probability of

as yet, & matter of conjecture, whether this mass is continuous with "@timuity of horite beneath

the southern or main belt of the norite, which to the east of lot 3, in the drift cast

ee : of Garson, con. IIT., of Garson, is likewise covered up by the heavy mantle of " '"'"

drift. Itis probable, however, that this main belt is continuous

beneath the drift, as far, at least, as the outcrops of norite occurring on

cons. IV and V., of Falconbridge. It may be possible, with the assis-

tance of delicate magnetic instruments, to trace out this connection,

but this work will be difficult. and tedious, on account of the great Difficulties of accumulation of drift material, which is sometimes over 100 feet in tracing belt, depth.

A second important band of norite occupies an approximately inter- p.ya0i mediate position between the other two, and so may be referred to ag Nickel Range. the 'Middie Nickel Range,' although it is likewise known as the 'Levack Nickel Ranye,' while Walker refers to it under the name of the ' Windy lake sruptive.' According to present information, this band starts about lot 12, con. IIT., of the township of Trill, extends Ontlines. north and northeast through this township into Cascaden, ani crossing under Windy lake, yoes on uninterruptedly through the northwest corner of Dowling, to lot 2, con. IY , of Levack township. Little information is availaile in regard '© uhe geology of the intervening

RCO RR oT RR Tn

Abnence of information of area between Ross mine and Levack township.

Probable connection with Mein Nickel Range

Outlines of Main Nickel Range.

Width of main mass of norite

Copper Cliff mines offset,

Location of mines on this offset.

88 Gkological Survey Of Canada

stretch of country, between this point and the Ross mine, and it is possible that this gap may be filled in, by extending this norite range still further to the northeast. The area to the east and southeast is known to be occupied by the acid differentiate of the norite, (micropegmatite) so that a connection between the Levack and the Northern Nickel Range, is well within the limits of possibility. To the southwest, the Levack Range reached within two miles of the old Sultana and Trillabelle nickel mines, so that, in this direction also, a connection may be made with the southern or main belt of the norite. The celebrated Levack nickel deposits are developed along the northern contact of this band with the granitite-gneiss included as Laurentian.

By far the largest and most important band of norite, however is what is known as the 'Southern or Main Nickel Range', a portion of which has been described by Dr. Walker under the name of the 'Whitson lake eruptive'. Its southeastern limit, in all probability, consists of a comparatively narrow band of basic eruptive material, crossing the southern portion of Trill, and extending thence into the northeastern part of Drury township. Its possible connection in this direction with the Middle or Lavack Nickel Range, has already been discussed. From Diary, the band of norite extends eastward, crossing the southern half of lot 12, con. of Denison. From this point, it has been traced continuously, in a northeast direction, for distance of about thirty-tive miles, as far as lot 3, con. III., of Garson, where the exposures pass under the extensive accumulation of drift material. At the Victoria mines, the basic portion of the intrusive is rather less than a mile in width, but at the crossing of the Vermilion river, this width is increased to one mile and three quarters, while in the vicinity of the Creighton mine, the norite isa little over two miles wide. Through the townships of Snider, McKim and Blezard, the width of the norite is fairly uniform, averaging about one mile and a half gradually becoming narrower until Garson township is reached, where the basic portion of the nickel bearing eruptive, is scarcely half a mile in width.

On lot 2, con. IV., of the township of Snider, this main belt of norite sends off a narrow, dyke-like extension or off: t, in a southeasterly direction, on which are situated most of the mines of the Canadian Copper Company, at Copper Cliff. This band runs across the northeast end of Clarabelle lake, and crossing Lady Macdonald lake, it runs with unbroken continuity as far as No. 2 mine, where its further extension southward is covered up with drift. Mine No. 2, with its extensions to the north, mines Nos. 4, 5 and 6, are al! immediately associated with this narrow, dyke-like form, while the

Nickel Bearing Eruptive 89

HOES aveecrtayseasuicaeee"

wera

Lady Violet mine is located at the eastern junction of the norite with the granite, a short distance northeast of the point where it joins the main mass.

It is unnecessary to furnish similar details of the distribution of the Unnec mary micropegmatite or acid portion of the nickel bearing eruptive, but the ') details

ot distribu, n

area underlaid by this rock, is considerably in excess of the basic por. of Inleropes tion, as shown on the map.

Thiatite

The famous old Copper Cliff mine is a veritable chimney of ore, Character and occurring in connection with an isolated stock of norite, which comes Somes oa in contact with felspathic quartzites and green schist. The openings in the vicinity of the Ontario Smelting Works belong to three separate masses of norite, which are surrounded by banded tuffs and quartzite, It is difficult to obtain specimens from the small area of norite on which the Evans mine is situated, sulticiently free from the sulphide material, for purposes of examination.

The Little Stobie mine, Dominion, Davis property, Kirkwood and ¢;.,0:) Cryderman mines, are situated on the borders of the main belt of PR norite with green schist. The Stobie and Frood mines oceur in con- mines junction with comparatively small stocks or areas of norite, which are separated from one another, The Elsie mine occurs at the junction between norite, on the one hand, and green schist and hornblende por phyrite, on the other. 'he Murray mine occurs at the junction between the granite and greenstone breccias and green schists on the one hand, and the main band of norite on the other ; while the old Cameron mine, farther to the northeast, is found at the junction between the granite and the norite. The North Star and Creighton mines occur at the junction between the granite and the norite.

The various openings known as the Gertrude mine, are located along the junction between the main band of norite, and a breccia made up of the granite intrusive through the older greenstone and schists, The main shaft of the Victoria mines is at the end of a small offset, con- All deposits at nected with the main mass at the junction between the norite and the jee" the older green schists. Without exception, all of these immense bodies of mh' — sulphide material, a:e situated at the immediate contact between the rcs intrusive norite and the older rocks, in such a way as to indicate in

the clearest manner, their common origin.

MICROCOPY RESOLUTION TEST CHART (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2)

nN

rCRFEE EE

Ffee Eee

fF € Fe

— lll&

2s Ws, ms

Applied Image

1653 East Main Street Rochester, New York 14609 USA (716) 482 - 0300 - Phone (716) 288 - 5989 - Fax

Physical characters of olivine diabase,

Phenverysts of ' huronite'

Microscopical structure and composition.

Order of generation of mineral constituents.

90 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA (c.) LATER DYKES OF OLIVINE DIABASE.

The rock usually designated olivine diabase, and characteristic of what has been called the later dykes, is very uniform in mineralogical composition and structure. Hand specimens show a rock which is dark-gray, greenish-gray, to almost black, with spheroidal rusty weathering, which is very characteristic. In many instances, exposures exhibit a rude basaltic structure and are frequently porphyritic, with phenocrysts of yellowish or greenish labradorite, often an inch, or even more in diameter. The alteration of these phenocrysts produces the mineral 'huronite ', so named by Thomson. These dykes possess well marked selvages of fine-grained, occasionally glassy material (tachylite), and present every gradation between basalt and diabase. The thin section of the fairly coarse rock shows a remarkably fresh olivine-diabase, made up chiefly of plagioclase, augite and olivine. The plagioclase is the principal constituent and is generally quite fresh and glassy, although occasionally somewhat turbid, as a result of incipient decomposition. Being the earliest constituent to crystallize: it is in idiomorphic, well twinned, tabular or lath-shaped crystals, which have a marked ophitic arrangement. The extinction angles clearly indicate labradorite. The twinning is according to the albite law, but a combination of the albite and pericline law, is very common. Occasional individuals exhibit twinning according to the rarerbaveno law. The augite shows a very irregular or jagged outline, with characteristic imperfect or interrupted cleavages. It is reddish-brown to violet in colour, and very distinctly pleochroic. The olivine occurs in more or less rounded, pale yellow grains, and sometimes fills in the spaces between the felspar crystals, It is remarkably fresh, but occasionally shows decomposition to a deep green, compact serpentine (an. tigorite).

Apatite is very abundant, in the usual acicular prismatic forms, and the opaque constituent is probably ilmenite. Some of the thin sec tions are very instructive, especially as regards the order of crystallization of the various mineral constituents. Apatite was certainly the first to crystallize, as it occurs in sharp, well defined, elongated prisins which are embedded in, or pierce the cther constituents. The labr dorite has, in most cases, at least, crystallized before the augite, bi its relation to the olivine is not quite so distinct. In some cases, the olivine has the rounded outline it usually assumes when its crystallization is not interfered with, but often it may be found occupying the triangular interspaces between the felspar laths, or sharply moulded upon them. It appears taerefore, that the period of the crystalli-

Later Dykes Of Olivine Diabase 91

zation of the olivine, certainly overlapped that of the labradorite, although in general, the olivine is distinctly earlier. Most of the ilmenite, likewise, is earlier than the plagioclase, but occasional individuals contain crystals of olivine and plagioclase, showing that some of the ilmenite formed after the olivine and plagioclase.

A quantitative analysis of a specimen from the big dyke near Mur- Chemical . a y TO : Be pi analysis of ray mine, gave Dr, Walker (') the following results : lieing: ae diabase of Si0, Murray mine

Al,0, he 4h Walker,

Fe,0, 3.

FeO

MnO

CaO

MgO

K,0

Na,0

Tid,

P30;

Bad

Cu

Nil:

Cod — 00055 Loss by ignition .. 0:30

Specific gravity.. 3-01

Vy

SFE Rees asonieas

venga oases oma

These dykes of olivine diabase are distinctly later in age than the Kelative age rest of the associated rocks, They cut the greenstones and associated of dykes. micropegmatite, as well as the ore bodies themselves. They likewise cut the cuffs, breccias and quartzites, although one dyke was noticed, which did not reach the summit of the quartzites, but was cooled against the upper beds,

As a rule, most of these dykes are remarkably fresh and unaltered Asarule, rock and all of those mapped as occurring in the vicinity of the Murray a mine, are of this description. On the other hand, with the single ex- unaltered. ception of the large dyke which runs in a northwest direction near the Ontario Smelting Works, all of the others are much altered and decomposed, and thin sections prepared from these, cannot be distinguished

from the finer grained and more basic, altered facies of the norite. The

(1) Quart. Jour. Geol. Soe. Lon., February, 1897, p. 63,

Aitered varieties of diabasze at

Cpper Cliff.

Diabase at Copper Cliff resembles finer grained varieties of norite.

Significance of discovery of original uartz in iabase, and olivine in norite.

Diabase contains both nickel and copper.

Mode of occurrence of diabase dykes.

No local enrichment of ore bodies in vicinity of these dykes.

No constant direction.

92 Geological Survey Of Canada

boundaries between the bisilicates and plagioclase are not well defined, the latter containing scattered shreds and grains of hornblende and biotite. The plagioclase shows the same cloud-like arrangement of sub-microscopic inclusions, presumably of ilmenite. The hornblende is in small, strongly pleochroic individuals, and is very abundant. Biotite is also abundant, while the ilmenite is largely represented by sphene. The ophitic structure still remains, but is not so pronounced. Most of the plagioclase is quite fresh, but some of it is altered toa saussuritic aggregate. Quartz is fairly abundant, filling in small, irregular interspaces between the other constituents. Small grains of sulphide material are also disseminated through the rock. The occurrence of such a rock in dyke-like form, with the same mineralogical composition of the norite, indicates that these dykes at least, are later and differentiated portions of the norite, representing the dying efforts of the very pronounced and long continued vulcanism. The occasional presence of olivine in the norite of the Little Stobie mine, and the recognition of quartz in some of these later dykes, have supplied the links hitherto missing and necessary for a proper understanding of the relationship existing between these two rocks. As shown by Walker, in the analysis quoted of a fresh type, this olivine-diabase contains small quantities of copper, nickel, and cobalt, which the same author regards as original constituents of the olivine-diabase magma. The relations of these dykes to the various ore bodies through which they are intruded, show distinctly, that these latter had already attained their present dimensions, at some time previous to the intrusion of the dykes. For the most part, they have a fairly constant direction, but present frequent broad curvés and occasional faults. Two of the largest dykes met with, vary in width from 150 to 200 feet, and were traced with practically unbroken conti.uity, from the northwest corner of McKim township, southeast to Ramsay lake. Thereis no local enrichment whatever of the ore bodies, in the vicinity of the dykes, as has frequently been surmised. The influence occasioned by tlieir passage through these ore bodies is extremely local and very insignificant. In the vicinity of the Copper Cliffand Murray mines and the area intervening, many of these dykes have been encountered, and it has been found possible over this limited area, to accurately determine and map their dimensions and direction, and although the prevailing direction is perhaps northwest ana southeast, many of them occupy fissures with courses very widely divergent.

MINERAL OF THE SUDBURY MINING REGION 93 MINERALS ASSOCIATED WITH THE NICKEL AND Copper oF THE

Supsury Miyina Recion.

Pyrrhotite And Chalcopyrite.

The ore bodies, with which the nickel and copper are immedia- Ore bodies

tely associated, consist essentially of pyrrhotite (Fe, S,) which is — ge

by far the most predominant constituent, and chalcopyrite (Cu Fe pyrrhotite and

S,) usually in much smaller amount, and a varying proportion of © Bs A gangue, consisting mainly of the associated eruptive or its constituent silicates. The nickel present in the ore bodies is not, as so many have supposed, an essential constituent of the pyrrhotite, isomorphously replacing an equivalent amount of iron, but is mainly present,

at least, as a distinct and magnetically separable nickel-iron-sulphide known as pentlandite. This mineral is, as a rule, very intimately asso- Nicke ciated with the pyrrhotite, but occasional hand specimens from the Pritndite, lower levels of the old Copper Cliff mine, show arather intimate asso-

ciation of nearly pure pentlandite and chalcopyrite. The pyrrhotite

and chalcopyrite will be described more fully in that portion of the

bulletin, dealing with the composition of the ore bodies.

Pentlandite,

This mineral is usually very intimately associated with the pyrrho- Pentlandite tite, and is so finely disseminated through the mass of this mineral, pase altel that a separation can only be effected by very fine grinding. Though oe pentlandite itself is feebly magnetic, and in finely powdered form is pyrrhotite, attracted by an ordinary hand magnet, advantage is taken of the great difference in the magnetism of these two minerals, to effect their sep1- ration. It requires repeated trials to eleminate the Jact traces of the pyrrhotite, but this has been successfully done by Penfield, Browne and Dickson, and their analyses which are quoted give all necessary details Successfully of the chemical composition of this mineral, showing it to be very uni- seeereoniis form over the whole district. It is essentially the same as the original by Penfield pentlandite (eisennickelkies), analyzed by Scheerer, but contains more Dickson. nickel, and less iron and sulphur. Sometimes as at the Worthington mine, it ocr —_'n tolurably large pieces, which can he readily distinguished from enclosing pyrrhotite, but even these contain a conside- Pentlandite rable amount of disseminated pyrrhotite, so that material thus secured, eo a

rarely assays over 30 per cent of nickel. The mineral is very abundant fragments at

F ' .. Worthington at the Creighton mine, and can be readily recognized on account of its and Creighton

perfectly developed, octahedral parting. It is somewhat paler in co-

1 always

Colour of pentlandite.

Physical eharacters of pentlandite.

Chemical analyses by Pentield, Dickson and Browne.

Ratios of constituents of pentlandite.

94 . Geological Survey Of Uanada

lour than the pyrrhotite, varying from steel-gray to silver-white, and almost invariably breaks with flat surfaces, which are planes of parting, parallel te the octat:edron. The mineral, however, in freshly broken material, cannot readily be distinguished from the'equally fresh pyrrhotite, especially if the planes of parting are imperfectly developed. Exposure to the weather brings about a rapid change in colour to a peculiar pale bronze, yellow, which is very characteristic and quite distinct from the pyrrhotite.

The material obtained by Penfield (1) was crushed and sifted to a grain of from 1-2 mm. in diameter, a: the pyrrhotite was extracted by means of an ordinary magnet. T. . pentlandite, for analysis, was further carefully selected by hand-picking.

Similar, preliminary, careful preparation of mater:al was used by Mr. C. W. Dickson (#). The following are the analyses :—No. 1 (Penfield) ; 2-4, (Dickson) ; 5-9, (Browne) Analyses 5-7 inclusive, are stated to contain some pyrrhoti . as fine dust. Analyses 10 and 11, are by Scheerer of the pentlandite from Lillehammer. Analysis No. 2, is from Creighton mine ; No. 3, Worthington mine ; No. 4, Frood mine ; No. 5, Copper Cliff mine ; No. 6, Stobie mine ; No. 7, Evans mine ; No. 8, Copper Cliff mine (hand-picked) ; No. 9, Evans mine (handpicked).

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Nip sescccce 34°23 34°82 33°70 34°98 35°05 34°70 34°12 35°00 34°90 18°35 21°07 (87 Sere O'B8S 0°84 0°78 OBS... cr crcreecerersvvereveee seeeeeveeseees BG in seveexes 30°23 30°00 29:17 30°04 29°80 29°90 29°95 30°30 29 60 42°70 40°21 es nelassseene 33°42 32°90 32°30 33°30 34°35 83°90 35°43 33°50 33°55 36°45 36°64 8 a ere Pree ery eee eee) ee ca a a teh 1:16 1°78 Gangue O07 oend cot cn nas beaS eben see taaeshuweenenns Ont reeeeeee geeks

es a EE ——

99-42 98°56 95°95 99°17 99°20 98°50 99°50 98 80 98°05 98°66 99°70

The ratios in Prof. Penfield's analysis are S : (Fe + Ni) 1-044: 1-047, almost 1: 1, or that of a normal sulphide (Ni+ Fe) S. The ratio of the Fe: Niis 1: 1:32, while in that from Lillehammer, it is about 2: 1. Dickson remarks that the ratio of the (Ni & Fe): S varies from 10-91: 10 to 11:07: 10, and points out that this ratio 11: 10 is not accidental, but constant for all analyses of pure material. He therefore suggests, that the formula for this mineral be written (Fe + Ni) ,, S,o whica seems rather clumsy and an unnecessary refinement of expression of material, which, even when every precaution is taken, is

(1) Amer. Jour. Sc. (3rd Series) Vol. XLV, 1893, pp. 493-494.

(2) Trans. Amer. Inst. Min. Eng., Albany Meeting, February, 1903. (3) Eng. & Min. Jour., D.cember, 2nd 1893, Vol. LV{, p. 566.

(4) Dana, System of Mineralogy, 6th Ed. 1892, p. 65.

Minerals Op The Sudbury Mining Region 95

still not absolutely pure. The formula of the Lillehammer pentlandite is given as 2 Fe S+ Ni S. The ratio of nickel to cobalt in the Sudbury pentlandite varies, running from 40 to 42: 1, is worthy of remark,

as this proportion is almost identical with that found in the ore bodies,

A magnetic separation of tho nearly pure sulphides, forming the ore from the Creigk on mine, was made, by means of the Wetherill separator, the material thus used being crushed to different degrees of fineness, and graded by means of sieves, The original product showed Composition

'a sa Tray and magnetic an assay value of 1.20 per cent of copper, and 4.87 per cent of nickel, patation of with 2.49 per cent of insoluble matter, The very fine material gave the from Oneigh. cleanest separation, and some of that which passed through a 100. ton mine.

mesh sieve, was divided into three products which may be distinguished from one another as strongly magnetic, feebly-magnetic and nonmagnetic. The feebly magnetic product showed the presence of 30.41 per cent of nickel, and the non-magnetic 30.36 per cent of nickel. A complete analysis, and an ad justment of the various constituents, showed that the feebly magnetic portion consisted of chalcopyrite and pentlandite, in the proportion of 1 : 21, while the non-magnetic product showed these same minerals present, in the proportion of 1: 7,

Pyrite.

A sulphide which presents all the ordinary physical characters of pyrite, such as hardness, specific gravity, colour, lustre, and magnetism, is by no means uncommon in most of these deposits, and can generally pyrite at

be found when a special search is made for this mineral. Large cubical] Elsie mine. crystals of pyrite, are mentioned by Dr. Coleman, (1) as occurring in

fissures, with quartz and calcite, at the Elsie mine, but the assay of one

of these showed no nickel. Dickson mentions the fact that a uumber Nickel

of his samples from the Copper Cliff mine, were associated with scsi secondary quartz, calcite and millerite. Pyrite was also noticed Copper Clift occurring with pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite and danaite, at the Century ss Copper mine on the north half of lot 4, con. IV., of the township of Nick1. Graham. A determination by Mr. F. G. Wait of the Geological Survey, pare, Bale showed 0.49 per cent of nickel, with a trace of cobalt. Dr. Walker Copper mine, found what he regards as a true nickeliferous variety at the Murray (hemical mine, and has published a full description and analysis of the specimen. oer ot The following is the analysis under 1, and if the mineral be con- ferous pyrite

: . C F ; ' from Murray sidred as pyrite, in which part of the iron is replaced lsomorphously shine by Dr. by nickel, the explanation is given under II and ITI. Walker.

be (1) Ann. Rep, Bur. of Mines, Ont. 1903 p. 281. (2) Amer. Jour. Sc. Vol. XLVII, 3rd Series, April 1894, pp. 312-314.

H

car

sacs Ta

96 Geological Survey Of Canada

Nickel 4°34 Nickel 4°34 Nis, 9:12 Tron 39°70 'Sulphur 49°31 Pe : peg FeS, 83°49 Sulphur 49°31 Tron 39°70 § 98°90 J Fe,0, 1°02 Moisture '10 Oxygen (calculated). °28 Copper traces VCC Sbcaciihoc coucuma bocnee "10 Insoluble 5°76 EMBODIES Seca c cscs we enneg niece 5°76 Arsenic none Wothliniccrsoc es © hee 99°49

Nic

hearing pyrite A peculiar, grayish-green, bronze-coloured, non-magnetic mineral,

mine, was found by Mr. McVittie on the location where the Gertrude mine now is. The mineral occurred massive, with small crystals of magnetite, and specks of chalcopyrite disseminated through it ,in a streak about six inches wide, adjoining the granite. An analysis of the mineral, after removing the magnetite, gave Mr. Mickle (') the following results under I, while under IT, is given the proportions, omitting the insoluble matter and recalculating to 100.

Chemical I I analysis of Tron 27°28 41°48 a Sulphur 46-54 57°79 veraee Nickel 5:95 6°62 Mickle. Copper 0:10 0°11 Insol. 9°66 ers Total 99°53 100-00

Mr. Mickle regards this as an agregate made up of pyrite, millerite

and chalcopyrite, the composition, as given above, practically agreeing

with such a mixture. .A very similar compound is found at the old Beatrice mine (Davis property), on lot 1, con, IIT., of the township of

nite Rle-ard. After an analysis of this material, Dr. Emmens ( decided, ——— they the mineral was a new nickel-iron-sulphide, and propose. for it : .el bearing the name ' Whartonite'. The mineral is not homogeneous and is very : evidently a mixture. It has a peculiar bronze-yellow colour, is cellular, the cavities being lined with minute cubical crys'als, with an intermediate, finely, granular material, It was usually referred to by

(1) Ann. Rep. Bur. of Mines, Ont., 1908, p. 282. (2 )Ann, Rep. Bur. of Mines, Ont., 1892, p. 170.

ral, ine nepak the ing the

Minerals Of The Sudbury Mining Region 07

the miners as ' matte ',On account of

the resemblance to this artificial product. The chemical analysis hy

Emmens showed jt to contain (1).

Nickel 5:40 Iron 42:90

Sulphur 45°00 Insoluble 4:80

Total 98°10 Marcasite,

The mineral thus designated, is distinguished from pyrite, chiefly by Distinguishits silver white colour, which even weathering only deepens slightly pr Bina gig to a very pale, bronze-yellow. Samples of such material, submitted to Prof. Pentield, by Mr. C. W. Dickson, were considered by him as massive marcasite. The analyses conform to the formula, FeS,, and show

the presence of from 2 to 4 per cent ofnickel, probably as pentlandite, Dr, Marcasite

P ; ata : without nickel Walker mentions the occurrence of marcasite, inthe midst of the usual at Murray

sulphides at the Murray mine, but assays of this material failed to" show the presence of any nickel. Perhaps the most noted specimens which may be included under this name are those for which the name

'blueite' was proposed by Dr. S. H. Emmens('). The mineral has Blucite of

: : ummens is a metallic, somewhat silky lustre, ickelifer

while the colour is pale olive-gray weet inclining to bronze. The type specimens came from the Gersdorffite ™rasite. mine (lot 12, con, IIL, Denison), which, at the time, was worked under

option, by the Emmens Metal Company. The mineral also occurs on

the lot to the south (lot 12, con. TI.,) as, well as at the Totten mine

(lot 1, con. II., Drury), and at the Worthington mine (lot 2, con IT., Chemical

Drury). Dr. \immense' analysis showed the presence of 3:5 per cent of "o™position

of blueite. nickel with 38-8 per cent of iron, and 5:4 per cent of insoluble matter,

but the su'. , ver cent, calculated by difference, is evidently too high. At. ttite mine, the nickeliferous murcasite occurs in association ii lite, gersdorffite, pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite, in asmall qu. cutting a hornblende schist.

At the Worthington and the Totten mines this very white nickel ore occurs in the form of circular or oval patches, which are very conspicuous, embedded in the pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, and associated with rocky matter. An assay of a specimen from the Worthington mine, ty arash by T. L. Walker, showed the presence of 4:5 per cent of nickel. A nickeliferous

specimen was also sent to Prof. F. W. Clarke, chief chemist of the De eines

(1) Ann. Rep. Bur, of Mines, Ont., 1892, p. 170; also Jour. Am. Chem. Soc. Vol. XIV. No. 7.

(1) Jour. Ain. Chem. Soc., Vol. XIV., No. 7; also Ann. Rep. Bur. of Mines, Ont., 1892, p, 168

ater:

es er aula

era ana

say

seehitenenees oa a Pkg SRL ene agit: "1 pa etareetears rere

ed

corey

ites [tes

Pottgs i eM 28 De! a! aed

ke t a: aE E a

MR EEE AMAA hs Sh Anh ws aw adae EE ATI ORL oe Sea

re ne nnn

SP neammamns:

Probable mixture of

98 Geological Survey Of Canada

U.S., Geological Survey, and an analysis of this ore was made by Dr. W. F. Hillebrand, his results being reported as follows (')

Tron 38°36 Nickel 4°57 Manganese 0°10 Sulphur 45°11

Sulphuric acid 0°95 Carbonic acid 1°49} Calcium oxide 1:91 Magnesia 0:41 Insoluble 4°80 Water at 100° C. 0.55 Water combined 7? Loss and oxygen 1%

Total, ...98.25

A consideration of the above analysis, shows that it agrees very

marzasite and closely with the assumptior. that the nickel is present in the form of

pentlandite.

Millerite probable source of some of the nickel.

Hiei opper 1 an Beatrice mines.

pentlandite, disseminated through the marcasite. Prof. Clarke, in his letter, states. 'It seems to me that the material is a mixture, not a definite species. Your Sudbury minerals deserve an exhausive st 'dy, and the work would be well repaid.

Millerite.

The simple or normal sulphide of nickel is occasionally met with in some of the mines, and may be the source of some of the nickel of these deposits. Agreeably with its formula NiS, this mineral should contain, when pure, 35.3 per cent of sulphur and 64.7 per cent of nickel. Undoubted slender crystals of millerite were found at the Copper Cliff mine, in workings 150 fee' below the surface. Another specimen containing this mineral, associated with pyrrhotite, was obtained at the Beatrice mine, on lot 1, con. III., of Blezard township. Dickson mentions having found 'small bunches of hair-like crystals of this mineral, in the cavities of some radiating pyrite, mixed with calcite'. He regards the millerite as undoubtedly secondary, and probablv derived from preexisting pentlandite.

(1) Ann. Rep. Geol. Surv. Can., Vol. V., 1890-91.. Part S.8., p. 116.

t Calulated on the supposition that all the calcium exists as carbonate.

Shi arta itor saterp

SF allie anaes

MINERALS OF THE SUDBURY MINING REGION 99 Pouypysite.

This mineral occurs in asscciation with chaleopyrite, chalcocite, pyrrhotite and pyrite at the Vermilion mine, lots 5 and 6, con IV., of the township of Denison. It is steel-gray, massive, and exceedingly al able in the air. It has a specific gravity of 4.5. An analysis of carofully selected material,gave Clarke and Catlett the results under I, A good sample of the Vermilion ore, analyzed by Mr, Browne, after deducting 1.5 per cent of silica

ve the results under IT, evidently impure polydymite. (7)

I Tl Nickel 41:96 36°85 Tron 15°57 18°70 Sulphur 40°80 38°43 Copper 0°62 4:47 Silica 1:02

V

Totals. 99:97 98-45

These figures give approximately the formula Ni, FeS;, Neither cobalt nor arsenic could be detected. If we deduct silica, together with the copper reckoned as admixed chalcopyrite, and recalculate the remainder of the analysis under I, to 100, we get the following figures

Nickel 43°18 Tron 15:47 Sulphur 41-35

Total. ..100-00

In short, the mineral has the composition of Ni,S, with about one quarter of the nickel replaced by the iron, which agrees with Laspeyres, polydymite, of which it is doubtless a ferriferous variety. The polydymite from which the above was selected, came from a mass in which an

average of 35.39 per centc. 'rel and 5.20 per cent of copper had previously been found.

A specimen of the so-called polydymite, was presented to the writer by Mr. F. L. Sperry, at one time chemist of the Canadian Copper Co. The mineral at the time was known to be impure, but was the best sample which could be secured for the museum. The material was mainly polydymite, in a gangue composed of diorite and small quanti-

Association of Re vcrmite at

Permilion Tame,

Chemical composition of polydymite,

F. rtiula of poly ymite,

ties of quartz. Carefully selected material—which however it was Analysis of

(1) Amer. Jour. Sc., Vol. XX XVII, 1889, p. 572-374. : (2) Eng. and Min. Jour., Dec. 2, 1893. Vol. LVI, 566, i

polydymite and associated minerals by

johnston.

ee

oom

sretoane "opewmmeesaminamumittareenate same: ceemncewnetims

sores geen cones apne sineeatatnentqesncamn -sanenenm mma

prone

Pant mene

Discovery of sperry lite

Examination and deserip-

tion by Wells and Penfield,

Physical characters of sperrylite,

Chemical composition,

Formula,

Size of grains.

No iridium present.

100 Geological Survey Of Canada

found still contained a little intermixed gangue and chalcopyrite— was found, by Mr, R. A. A. Johnston to contain 40°80 per cent of nickel with no ecbalt.

Sperrylite.

Sperrylite was tirst found at the Vermilion mine in the gossan or lo se material, and was named after Mr, Francis L. Sperrry of the C. C. Co. by Profs. Horace L. Wells and 8, L. Penfield, of the ShetHeld Szientific School, who examined and described this new species('). The material as received, consisted of a heay, brilliant sand, composed largely of the sperrylite, but intermixed with this, a considerable number of fragments of chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite and some silicates could be seen. After the material was purified, it was fouad to contain some transparent grains which proved on examination, to be oxide of tin or cassiterite (Sn O,).

Sperrylite is isometric, simple cubes are common, octahedrens are exceptional, while the majority of the crystals are combinations of the cube and octahedron. Hardness is between six and seven, as it scratches felspar, but not quartz, The specific gravity is 10,602. The crystals have no distinct cleavage, but are very brittle, and break with an irregular, probably conchoidal fracture. The chemical composition, according to the mean of two analyses, was as follows :—

Arsenic 40:98 Antimony 0:50 Platinum 52:57 Rhodium 0:72 Palladium trace Tron 0:07

Cassiterite or oxide of tin 4°62

Total 99°46

The composition is therefore represented by the formula PtAs,, a small portion of the platinum and arsenic being replaced respectively by rhodium and antimony. The colour of the mineral was nearly tin-white, or about the same as metallic platinum. The fine powder is black. Nearly all the grains show2d tremely brilliant, crystal faces, though most of the crystals were " .entary in size, usually ,'; to s}oth of an inch in diameter.

The presence of an appreciable amount of iridium was expected by Professor Wells, but careful search failed to reveal even traces of this element

(1) Amer, Jour. Sc. Vol. XXXVIT, 18°. pp. 67-63

was ckel

hor aC, 'eld The sed able ates tain e of

; ;

att

ase

aii ies slp Aiemunlteasile. sit

Minerals Of The Sudbury Mining Region 101

Sperrylite is regarded as the source of the metals of the platinum Soueee f

3 A bs " Plitinum in group, which are invariably present in appreciable amounts in the

the matte bessemer matte, assays of the Copper Cliff and Victoria isines mattes showing from 0:-4—0°5 on. per ton. Wherever occurrences of this mineral have been examined, it is directly and intimately associated with the chalcopyrite, so that, mattes rich in copper, contain a large amount of platinum, while those containing very little copper, show a corres. pondingly small amount of platinum. In Dr, Walker's (1 ) wlysis of the bessemer matte from the Murray imine, the presence of iridium and osmium is noted in almost equal amounts, but in Pro as noted above, these metals were not detect', concludes from the absence of these elements, that there is another pace a mineral present, which contains the iridium, but although this is a possible, Dr. Walker considers that a more hkely explanation is that,

in some cases, part of the platinum in sperrylite, is replaced by the elements iridium and osmium,

f. Wells' analysis,

Niccolite,

This mineral, in intimate association with gersdorttite aud with (Geological

variable quantities of intermixed pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite and pyrite, *seciations of

niceolite, has been found in connection with the occurrence of two small 'stocks'

or intrusions of quartz-mica-diorite (altered norite), in the township of

Denivon. This diorite forms two small hills, which rise above the Localities surrounding country, which is underlaid by the slaty variety of th Wher found, tuffs or greywackes, these rocks surrounding the diorite on all sides,

One of these masses, known as the Macdonell or Gersdorflite mine is

situated in the southeastern corner of lot 12, con. IIT., of Denison

while the other, constituting what is known as the Hiram Robin son

property, 1s on the northeastern corner of the west half of lot 12, con, 'ineral

II., of the same township. The country rock, in the immediate vici: ity Sasa

of asociated is usually a more or less schistose diorite or hornt cuca schist, pro 'ck. duced by the shearing of the more massive diorite, .° hich most ot the hill is composed. The rock is made up, chiefly, of irregular crystals of hornblende, closely aggregated together, the few and small remain. ing interspaces being occupied by quartz and plagioclase. At the Gersdorftite mine, from which the first and finest specimens of this mineral, and the associated gersdorftite were obtained, they occur in a small vein, interfoliated with a chloritic actinolite schist, at the north side of the small area of diorite, shown on the map. The vein consists ¢; mstituents mainly of quartz, with a very small amount of felspar and calcite, with Of vein con-

taining nicco- (1). Amer. Jour. Se,, Vol. 1, 1896, p. 112.

Baron von Foullon Iridium and

5]

see

sa EE SMA St tar ad

odatocscebeiaaks SaSbtsascahebaaahasaas sles RED omaBaCaRASENS tamnasouansre?

Poel

102 Geological Survey Of Canada

grains and small disseminated masses of the sulphides already mentioned, the most abundant and conspicuous being the niccolite and

especially the gersdorflite. Composition This, when pure, is represente

No analysis of the niccolite was made. d by the formula Ni As arsenic 56:1,

of niccolite. of niccolite. 161 43-9 100-0. It usually contains a little iron and cobalt, also sulphur, while sometimes part of the arsenic is replaced by antimony.

Analysis of

The mineral occurs massive, and the peculiar pale, copp

er red is quite

niccoliteand gigtinctive. A sample containing niccolite and gersdorffite was

ig oa by

ir. Walker. submitted by the writer to Mr. T. L. Walke

r who found them too

intimately associated to separate for analysis. He therefore made an aaalysis of the two minerals together, which resulted as follows : (')

First rocognition of gersdortfite,

Physical characters of gersdorffite.

Nickel 20°87

Cobalt 0:64

Copper trace. Tron 2-43 Sulphur 10°60 Arsenic 26:04 Silica 26:70 Alumina 5:43 Magnesia

Lime ee ac oe

Total ... 100-00 GERSDURFFITE.

This mineral was first recognized in a small sample brought to the Geological Museum, in 1891, by Mr, Eagleson, who had obtained the specimen from Mr. Dan. O'Connor, of Sudbury, the owner of the Gersdorffite mine, where it had been found. The particulars of the associa. tion of the mineral have already been described under niccolite. When pure, the mineral is essentially a sulph-arsenide of nickel, with the formula NiAsS or NiS,, NiAs, sulphur 19-3, arsenic 45:3, nickel 35-4 100-0. Iron replaces the nickel, often to considerable amount, also sometimes cobalt. The following is the description of the specimen collected by the writer in 1891, prepared by Dr. Hoffmann and Mr. R.

A. A. Johnston.

Structure, for the most part lamellar, but occasionally granular, a few minute, fairly well developed crystals exhibiting the forms of the

"Th Amn. Rep. Geol, Surv, of Can., Vol. V. 1890.91, Part SS. p. 118. (2), Ann. Rep. Geol. Surv. Can., Vol. V, 1890-91, Part R, p. 22.

Minerals Of The Sudbury Mining Region 103

octahedron and cubo-octahedron, with the faces of t dominating, were also observed. Colour, tarnished blackish. Specific gravity included quartz) at 15°5°C., 6-231.

he octahedron presteel-gray, here and there (after correction for a little

The material upon which the analysis was conducted, although selected with all possible care, and, so far as could be seen, apparently pure, nevertheless contained, it was subsequently found, a very appreciable amount of quartz. Its analysis afforded Mr. R. A. A. Johnston Chemical the results given under I. Deducting the gangue (silica), and recal- @*Y*i8 of

—— by culating the remaining constituents to one hundred parts, we obtain Johnston.

the figures given under IT.

Aidsldtianses-wansneledeed SRE

Arsenic 40°31 Sulphur 14°34 Nickel 22-50 Tron 6°78 Cobalt 173 3 Copper 0:09 i Gangue (quartz) 13°55 j if This mineral had not previously been identified as occurring in Can- td ada. MORENOSITE, o the : This mineral, which is also known as " Nickel vitriol" is a hydrous, Guava d the & nickel sulphate (Ni SO,+7 H,0) sulphur trioxide 28-5, nickel of morenosite. Gers- # protoxide 26:6, water 44-9 100-0. It occurs as a greenish-white sg0cia- 2 and pale apple green incrustation on associated gersdortlite, niccolite, When 3 chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite at the Macdonell or Gersdorflite mine (lot Localities 1e for- 4 12, con. ITI, of Denison) ; also but more Sparsely as a greenish-white am 56 a1 35-4 . incrustation on some of the nickeliferous ore of the Worthington mine found. it, also : (Lot 2, con Ek, Drury)'. (1) It has also been noticed at the Wallace cimen : mine on Lake Huron. Mr. R. rs

Annabergite,

ae a Some specimens of gersdorftite, which had been in the drawers of a '

of the mineral cabinet for about a couple of years, were found to have underss gone a partial decomposition, with the formation of hydrous nickel ar-

(1) Ann, Rep. Geol, Sur, Can., Vol. VI, 1892 U3, BP

act R, p. 27,

te SS sé nbi-senceseerrteae obbesabeeetietimenrbreci err rete ree " at ;

#1

' # a A H

Composition and physical characters of hydrous nickel arsenate.

'Theoretical composition of cobaltiferous arsenopyrite or danaite.

Associations of danaite.

Physical characters.

Analysis of danaite by Johnston.

104 Geological Survey Of Cajada

senate. The material which came from the Gersdorttite mine, (lot 12, con. III., Denison), consisted of gersdorffite, with a few scattered particles of chalcopyrite. The nickel arsenate, which occurred both lining and filling cavities in the gersdorftite was, in the former case, in the form of botrycidal, globular, or mammillary crusts of a greenish-yellow colour, pale grass-green, and honey-yellow to brownish colours, and exteriorly of a sub-vitreous to vitreous lustre, whilst that filling the cavities was compact and amorphous, texture colloid, of a greenishyellow colour and waxy lustre, also occasionally, but more rarely, earthy, chalk-like and dull. (')

Danaite, (Coba Ltiferous Arsenopy Rite).

This mineral is a sulph-arsenide of iron (Fe As S), with part of the iron replaced by cobalt. Agreeable with the formula given above, it should contain, theoretically, arsenic 46-0, sulphur 19:7, iron 34:3 100:0. It is not abundant in the Sudbury district, and has only been recognized as occurring in two localities, and in both of these places it is found in association with the older diorites and hornblende schists. The first place in which it was found is on the north half of lot 6, con III., of the township of Graham, this lot forming a portion of what is known as the Russell location or property.

The minera! is massive, with a steel-gray colour. Intermixed with it, were small quantities of white, cranslucent quartz, some pyrrhotite, a little galena and a trifling amount of chalcopyrite. The specific gravity at 15:5° C. 5-988.

An analysis by R. A. A. Johnston of carefully selected material, is given under I. Deducting the gangue or silica, and recalculating to 100 we obtain the results under IT.

Arsenic 40°16 42-22 Sulphur 17°92 18°84 Tron 31:69 33°32 Cobalt 3°89 - 4:09 Nickel 0-88 0:93 Antimony 0:57 0:60 Gold trace. trace.

Gangue (quartz) 4°77

GATT ean ear 99:88 10000

(1) Ann. Rep. Geol. Sur. Can., Vol. VI, 1892-93, Part R, p. 7. (2) Ann. Rep. Geol. Sur. Can., Vol. V, 1890-91, Part R, p. 19.

Minerals Of The Sudbury Mining Region 105

This mineral also occurs in considerable quantity on the N. § lot Danaite of 4, con. IV., of the township of Graham, at a deposit which was being a, worked for copper, and known as the Century Copper wine. It is present in intimate association with pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite and pyrite, abundantly disseminated through a hornblende and biotite schist, and also through a pale grayish quartzite, which is embedded in the hornblende schist.

Smaltite,

This mineral so far as known, is rare in the Sudbury district, although Rec ignition it occurs in Jarge masses in the Temagami region, to the northeast. rade ee It is a cobalt diarsenide, CoAs.=arsenic 71:8, cobalt 28-2—100-0, by Kenrick. This mineral was observed by Mr. E. B. Kenrick, of the Geological Survey of Canada, in the form of minute crystals, with well marked octahedral cleavage, in association with chalcopyrite, from the township of McKim. (1)

Galena.

This mineral has been found at all the mines, wherever search was (alona always made for it. Itis the common sulphide of lead PbS=sulphur 13-4, lead beseotstiss 86°6,=100.0 ; usually contains alittle silver. It generally occursin thin ene Speny Seams penetrating the other sulphides. It may he the source of much of the silver found in all the mattes produced from the Sudbury ores. It shows the usually bright lead-gray colour, with distinct cubical cleavage. No analysis was made of this mineral in immediate

association with the ore bodies.

Chalcocite.

This mineral, also known as copper glance, has only been described Chalcocite in as occurring at the Vermilion mine, in Denison township. Its occur- with polyay: ence at this place is noticed by Mr. Johnston, in a specimen which mite at

° . . 4 : Vermilion was given to the writer by Mr. F. L. Sperry. This specimen consisted mle: of chalcocite and chalcopyrite, through which was disseminated some polydymite. Some of the fragments were coated with green carbonate of copper. Mr. Johnson found that the specimen contained 9:40 per cent of nickel with no cobalt. No chemical analysis of the chalcocite

was made.

(1) Ann. Rep. Geol. Sur, Can., 1886, Part I, p. 13.

shechinemet ne RT

Aon nie te chnktat thabaad Sora shaebeaies cmroctenh aja

Wbbiad i nmeb NESE teh 5s fLuieta pevbeweetite

Bornite occasionally occurs according to Dickson,

Titaniferous magnetite

an invariable constituent of the norite.

Magnetite of Murray mine.

Mass of magnetite weighing

5 tons found at Clarabelle

mine.

Cassiterite occurs asso: ciated with sperrylite.

Native copper found at Vermilion and Copper Cliff mines.

106 Geological Survey Of Canada

Bornite,

This mineral is mentioned as occasionally seen by Mr. C. W. Dickson. Some of the chalcopyrite, obtained at the Vermilion mine, which was greatly weathered, has a general resemblance tu this mineral. No undoubted bornite was, however, noticed by the writer.

Magnetite.

This mineral is an invariable constituent ot the norite, and is always more or less titaniferous. It is generally disseminated in minute grains through the ore bodies, but, as arule, in very subordinate amounts, Occasionally, small masses of titaniferous magnetite are associated with the pyrrhotite, and an analysis of such a mass, from the Murray mine, gave Dr. Walker, (') 18-34 per cent of titanic acid. The iargest mass yet noticed was recovered from the workings of the Clarabelle mine, where, according to Capt. McArthur, about five tons were found enclosed in the sulphides. This magnetite is readily attracted by the magnet, and contains grains of pyrrhotite and chalcupyrite, as well as small portions of a green silicate. (7)

Cassiterite.

The purified material from which the analysis of sperrylite was made by Professor Wells, of Yale University, contained as stated, 4.62 per cent of oxide of tin, in the form of minute transparent grains. These were carefully examined and pronounced to belong to the species cassiterite.

Native Copper.

Dendritic or leaf-l"ke forms, are occasionally met with, as at the Vermilion mine, where a few specimens of chloritic schist were obtained, showing native copper, developed along the planes of cleavage. L.P. Silver has a specimen of the diorite, obtained from the twelfth level of the Copper Cliff mine, showing a gocd deposit of leaf copper, which he considers must have been formed, by the reduction of the chalcopyrite: by reducing solutions leaching through the rock

(1) Quart. Jour. Geol. Soc. Lon., Vol. LITT, Feby., 1897, p. 52. (2) Ann. Rep. Bur. of Mines, Ont., 1903, p. 281. (3) Jour, Can. Min. Inst., Vol. V, 1902, p. 536.

Haeeye

Mineral: Of The Sudbury Mining Region Native Gold,

Samples of the ore obtained from the Vermilion mine contain wativ. gold at appreciable quantities of native gold, and specimens may be obtained Vermihon froth this mine, showing abundantly disseminated grains and strings of ; gold, often of large size. All of the mattes produced trom the Sudbury All the mattes ores contain gold, the percentages of this metal, varying in the bessemer appretinble matte, from strong tracks to 0.3 oz. per ton. The average amount ea a would be about 0.15 oz. of gold per ton, although Silver (') reports having found 0.75 oz. of gold, in a matte which contained 39.64 per cent of nickel and cobalt, and 42.75 per cent of copper.

odbc asda al skele sabe Phabache Nese gated

Graphite,

Dr. Coleman reports having found a few scales of graphite, in (raphite

the country rock, occurring on the dump at the Lady Macdonald mine. rete Dr.

Cubanite.

David H. Browne for some time chemist to the Canadian Copper Cubanite, one Co., at Copper Cliff, found this mineral, which is represented by the gee

formula Cu Fe, S, sulphur 35.4, copper 23.3, iron 41.3 100.0, in roasting

3 2 ; ticed b: the roast heaps, being one of the products formed during the roasting. Browne.

In addition to the above mi: cral varieties mention may be made of the fact that quartz, calcite, dolomite and ankerite are found in association with the massive sulphides, but these minerals are relatively very unimportant, and even at such deposits as the Victoria mines considerable quartz has to be added to the furnace charges on account of the basicity of the associated rocks, Nearly all of the gangue occurs as intermixed norite or diorite.

Composition of the ore-bodies,

ca

a]

The ore bodies, with which the nickel and copper are immediately (yy. bodies

associated, consist essentia!ly of a mixture of sulphides, in which pyrrho- — tite (Fe,S,), is, by far, the predominant constituent : chaleopyrrite is of pyrrhotite egiaey: : . and chaleoalmost invariably present, and usually in considerable amount, although pyrite. proportionately much less than the pyrrhotite. Ithas been conclu- Proved iv g ic i i Rate conclusively sively proved by means of themagnetic separations carried on by Browne, that the nickel cae occurs in the (1) Jour. Can. Min. Inst., Vol. V, 1902, p. 534, form of pen- (2) Ann. Rep. Bur. of Mines, Ont., 1903, p. 284. tlandite.

(3) Ann. Rep, Bur, of Mines, Ont., 1908, p. 284.

fii:

ae

Hy ,

Pentlandite usually very finely and evenly distributed.

Occasionally occurs in large spots and patches.

Nickel bearing pyrite.

Walker's belief that the nickel in Sh isomorphously replaces iron.

Other sulphides occur but relatively

unimportant,

Presence sd abundance of rocky admixture or gangue.

Other impurities present in ore bodies.

Relation of sulphides to one another.

Sorting by hand not practicable.

108 Geological Survey Of Canada

Dickson and the writer, that the nickel present in these ores is all contained in the pentlandite, although the first mentioned authority is still inclined to the belief, that the small amount retained by the magnetic portion or pyrrhotite proper, occurs in part, at least, as an essential constituent of the pyrrhotite. This pentlandite is usually very finely and uniformly distributed throughout the whole mass, although in certain mines as the Creighton, Copper Cliff, Evans and very noticeably the Worthington mine, it occurs in spots and patches, often as much as half an inch to an inch, or even more, in diameter, of fairly pure material. The relative abundance of this nickel-iron-sulphide, determines the richness, or otherwise, of the containing deposit. Pyrite also contributes to the formation of these deposits, and much of it is ni-keliferous. Present opinion varies somewhat in regard to the form in which the nickel is present in this compound, Dr. Walker's researches tending to prove, that this element replaces isomorphously an equivalent amount of iron in chemical combination, while others regard intermixed pentlandite as the source of the nickel. Certain other sulphides of nickel already mentioned and described, also contribute to the unusual richness of these deposits, but these are relatively much less important, and many of the occurrences, where such minerals are present, are, so far as known, of no commercial importance. A varying amount of gangue, usually of the associated eruptive, but occasionally also of the older green schists, greywackes and even quartzite, is always present. The percentage of such inter: nixed rocky matter is sometimes unusually large, asin certain portions of the Elsie and Murray mines, where material has been used in large amount, which consists of sulphides and rock in about equal proportion, while, in other instances, as at the Creighton and Victoria mines, the sulphides are so pure and massive that large quantities of associated norite have to be added to the furnace charge to act as a flux. Magnetite, and certain of the silicates, peculiar to the norite, usually more or less decomposed, such as hornblende, actinolite, serpentine or chlorite are almost always present. A comparatively small amount of quartz, calcite, dolomite and very occasionally crystals of tourmaline m: 'ybdenite and apatite are also found.

The pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite, are not, as a rule, so intimately commingled as to form a homogeneous mass, but each may be described as occurring in pockets, spots, bunches or threads, in the other. The chalcopyrite is not so closely intermixed with the pyrrhotite but tends to isolate itself rather in patches or spots, usually enclosing, but occasionally enclosed by the pyrrhotite. 1t is sometimes possible to separate considerable masses of chalcopyrite, assaying over 30 per cent of copper, or pyrrhotite, that will only show tracesofthatmetal. Inpractice, however, careful examination and trial have proved that the two minerals

The nds ca- 'ate Der, OWrals

MINERALS OF THE suUpRURY MINING REGION 109

are too intimately associated, to make sorting Although the chalcopyrite seldom occurs large and massive deposits of the latter occ copper. The first ore shipped from the ( from copper, that it was proposed to utili ferro-nickel, and this deposit was purchased by the Lake Superior raebdey Aisa Power Company, with this object in view. Analyses made of a large pyrite, mass of the Creighton mine ore obtained near the surface, show the

nickel to vary from 4.87 per cent to 5.31 per cent, with 0.72 per cent to

1.200f copper. The prevailing intimacy of association, however, of the Partial! pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite, will perhaps be better appreciated by men- tj. one tion of the fact that hand-picked specimens from the Evans, Stobie and mie Copper Cliff mines, collected and analyzed by Mr. Browne (! ), showed mines,

the presence of from 13.86 to 15.71 per cent of copper with a sutticient

quantity of intermixed pyrrhotite and pentlandite in the same, to assay

from 1.28 to 2.47 per cent of nickel. On the other hand, selected nickel

ore from Copper Cliff mine, with 8.12 per cent of nickel, contained only

0.80 per cent of copper, while similarly picked ore from the Evans mine

containing 5.36 per cent of nickel showed the presence of only 0.49 per Nickel and

cent of copper. In certain of the deposits, as for instance, at the main aie shaft of the Victoria mines, the nickel and

& by hand, atall practicable, free from the pyrrhotite, ur comparatively free from 'ertrude mine, was so free Masses of ze it for the production of PYtthotite

copper are almost identical pone hag in quantity, assays of a large number of samples, neglect ing the insolu- mines, ble matter, showing the presence of 3.66 per cent of each etal. At the Dominion, Murray and Elsie mines, the nicke! is usually nearly double anke a that of the copper. Thus, Mr. George Attwood, M. E., (2), at one time Copp. at manager of the Dominion Mineral Company, under date of:March 18th, peraice, 1891, stated that the 'kies' or metallic portion of the Blezard mine, aver, Murray aged 4 per cent ofnickel and 2 per cent of copper this result being the ressas ae average of a large number of assays, as also of the practical working of al the mine. About the same date, Mr. F. R. W. Daw, then manager at mine. the Murray mine, stated that an average of the ore smelted at this THC cence of ore contained 1.5 per cent'of nickel and 0.75 per cent of copper. Other assays Ses Murray of an average sample of ore from this mine, show 0.9 per cent of copper, with 1.5 per cent of nickel and 46 per cent of insoluble, or the equivalent of 1.66 per cent of copper and 2.76 per cent of nickel, in the PUTE Prponderan. sulphide matevie: Gertrude snd The Gertrude and the Creighton mines, and especially the latter are a deposits in which the nickel is often present in the ore in the proportion of 3 or 4tol. In the first years of the development of the m of the Canadian Copper Company, the nickel, and assays of specimens

ines Copper

. greatly in the copper was greatly in excess of excess in first

of raw ore, taken without selection ¥t@" of oper-

ation of (1). Eng. and Min, Jour, Dee. 2nd. 1893, Vol. LVI, p. BA, Sa gi (2). Anu, Rep. Geol. Surv. Can., Vol. V, 1890-91, Part F., p. 52,

occur Com par-

Proportion of nickel and copper in mattes from Dominion mine.

Analyses of matte Can. Cop. Co.

Percentage of nickel in the ore.

Amount of cobalt* present.

Gold, silver and platinum are present in appreciable quantities.

Amount of gold present in mattes.

Amount of silver present in mattes.

110 Geological Survey Of Canada

from these mines, showed a range in copper from 4:03- 9:98 per cent, with an average of 6°44 per cent, while the nickel, in the same specimens, varied from 1:12 per cent to 4:21 per cent, with an average of 2-38 per cent. This preponderance of the copper was maintained for some time, for an average of two samples of the blast furnace matte, taken 22nd February, 1889, and the 2nd March, of the saine year, showed copper 26-91 per cent and nickel 14:14 per cent. About the same time, the Dominion Mineral Company produced mattes, containing from 18 to 20 per cent copper and 24to 26 per cent nickel. At the present time, however, this condition of affairs is reversed, and two specimens of this matte, analyzed by Mr. Donald Locke, of this Department, showed 14:53 per cent and 14°69 per cent of copper with nickel 26:34 per cent and 28:17 per cent, respectively.

The nickel present in the pyrrhotite of the Sudbury District, varies usually from 2°25 per cent to 5°50 per cent, the lower figure being characteristic of such deposits as the Stobie, Murray and Klsie mines, while the latter is approached, and at times, exceeded by the ore of the Creighton, Victoria, Blezard, Copper Cliff and Evans mines. Small specimens are occasionally met wiuh which contain as high as 30 per cent of nickel, as at the Worthington mine, but such material is only obtainable by careful hand-picking, at either the Worthington or Creighton mines. These ores contain appreciable quantities of cobalt, gold, silver, and metals of the platinum group. Cobalt is almost invariably present, but in most of the assays of the ores, which have been made, it is included with the nickel. The cobalt is usually very uniform in amount, in the proportion of 1 to 40 or 50 of the nickel present. The amounts of the rarer elements such as gold, silver and platinum are, usually so small, that the proportions of these can be best determined by analyses of the bessemer or higher grade mattes. Analyses of this product, which are available, containing about &0 per cent of combined nickel and copper, contain from 0:10 to 0:20 oz. of gold with an average of probably about 0°15 oz. to the ton of 2,000 lbs., although L. P. Silver (1) obtained as high as 0°75 oz. of gold, ia the high grade matte, ofthe Orford Copper Company, containing 39-64 percent ofnickel and cobalt and 42°75 per cent of copper. Locke, of the Geological Survey, shows that in tais same matte, containing 40-37 per cent of nickel and 24:95 per cent of copper, only 0:10 oz. of gold per ton is present. In the matte produced by the Mond Nickel Company, containing 41:88 per cent of nickel and 37°37 per cent of copper, this same chemist found ,!, of an oz. of gold.

The silver in the ore is still more variable, as Locke found 2°5 oz. to the ton, in the Orford Copper Company's matte, and 4°87 oz. to the

— (1) Jour. Can. Min. Inst., Vol. V, 1902, p. 534. (2) Aun. Rep. Bur. of Mines Ont., 1900, p. 218.

MINERALS OF THE sUDBURY MINING REGION 111

ton, in the matte produced by the Mond Nickel Company. J. W. Bain's (?) analysis shows 5°] oz. to be present in the O Company's matte. L. P. Silver shows that 5-30 oz. are present in each

ton, while Ulké states that 7 oz, of silver are present in this same

matte. The platinum, as already mentioned, is directly associated with Porcenaage of the chalcopyrite, and therefore, should be found in mattes which are — fe relatively richer in copper, Locke found that the Orford matte

contains, 0-44 oz. per ton of metals of the platinum group, while the

Mond Nic<el Company's matte, contains 0-4 oz. per ton of these same

metals. OUlké mentions that the platinum and palladium, in about

equal amounts, together made up about 0:50 oz. per ton, while L, P.

Silver has secured the same result.

rford Copper

Beis ccf ib abel ibdeiassltaiadtltta

Nickel and Nickel and Copper in Sudbury Ores, rid ole

Sudbury ores,

si

iebAald cade ot tha

Nickel. Copper.| Nickel Authority, '& Copper.

Pe

8°82 Can. Copper Co, 9°93 " 10°44 1" 8°92 " 9°76

11°00

lu VW

25°03

6°46

5°85

9°02

15°20

3°99

16°90

2 Copper Cliff m 3 "

S8zas

9:

9: 2:

" (picked copper ore)

bee ae

"

t

( "

8 Evans mine (mixed ore) 8a Evans mine,

9 Evans mine

" "

S¥sE

1 " (picked copper ore) 12 Stobie mine (mixed (iy tinge 12a Stobie mine,

13 Stobie mine (

"

ye

ae

17 No. 2 mine (picked nickel ore)

18 " picked copper ore)... .

19 No. 2 Extension (picked ni. ore). .

20 No. 3 mine (Frood mine) (picked nickel ore)

21 No. 4 mine

9)

23 Creighton

JT ne Die ale abe he Om tone OS HD 0 He ht

ol

7 |Geol.Surv. Dept.

8°00 {Mond Nickel Co.

ze

6°25

6°00 |C.W. Dickson.

17°43 |T. L. Walker.

6°00 |Dom. Min. Co.

2°25 H.H. Vivian&Co

vs

Worthington mine..

sas RSs

"

. " Sm egeas ni. ore), 32 Blezard mine (metallic portion)... array mine ;

Py de $3 G0 ony 29 oo

Bss

Analyses by F, L, Sperry.

Analyses by D.H. Browne.

Analyses by Canadian Copper Co,

Analyses by C. W, Dicksom,

Analyses by DonaldLocke.

Analy y TM i cis,

Analysis by T. L. Walker.

ialyses by sominion Mineral Co.

112 Geological Survey Of Canada Explanations,

1. Average of nine analyses, made by F, L. Sperry, of raw ore taken without selection, from the Copper Cliff, Evans and Stobie mines, of the Cunadian Copper Co., in November, 1888. la. Average of Copper Cliff mine ore, for year 1890, (Ann. Rep. Geol. Surv. Can, Vol. V, 1890-91, Part F, p. 51.)

Analyses, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, are by David H. Browne, chemist to the Canadian Copper Company. (Eng. and Min. Jour. Dec. 2r 18933, p. 566).

Analysis 8a. Average of Evans mine ore for the year 1890. (Ann, Rep. Geol. Surv, Can, Vol. V, 1890-91, Part F, p. 51.)

Analyses, 4, 7, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, are from the catalogue of the mineral exhibit of Ontario, at the Pan-American Exposition of 1901. pp. 33 and 35.

Analysis 12a. Average of Stobie mine, for the year 1890. (Ann. Rep. Geol. Surv. Can. Vol. V, 1890-91, Part F, p. 51.)

Analysis 30, is the result of a number of analyses of average samples, by Mr. C, W. Dickson, (Trans. Am. Inst. Min. Eng., Albany meeting, Feby., 1903).

Analyses 24 and 25, are by Mr. Donald Locke, of the Geological Survey Department, Ottawa, of material obtained within a few feet of the surface.

Analysis 27, is the result of an average of a large number of assays ot samples of . w ore, from the Victoria mines, as supplied to the smelter, by T. M. Paris, the chemist. The insoluble amounted to an average of 1-1 per cent.

Analysis 28, is the average of the raw ore, for July, 1902, by T. M. Paris, chemist to the Mond Nickel Company. Insoluble, 17:2 per cent.

Analysis 29, is the average of the raw ore for September 1902 by T. M. Paris, chemist to the Mond Nickel Company. Insoluble, 13:9 per cent.

Analysis 30, is the result of an analysis of the pyrrhotite, from the Worthington mine, which contained a Jarge amount of pentlandite, by T. L. Walker. (Ann. Rep. Geol. Surv. Can., Vol. V, 1890-91, Part

An' 32, according to Mr. George Attwood, manager for the Dominion Mineral Company, is the average of the results of many hundreds of assays of the " kies" or metallic portion of the ore of the

r. M. cent. 02 by

m the te, by Part

yr the many

f the

Blezard mine,

H. H. Vivian & Co.

1:65 per cent of copper.

NICKEL AND COBALT IN sUDRURY

Iso the practical working of tl (Ann. Rep, Geol, Surv. Can. Vol. V,1

Analysis 33, is the avera Murray mine, according to Mr. F. R, W. The " kies

mine ore contains on an ave

ge percentage

or metallic

Nickel And Cobalt In Ores From Sui

Locality, Tnsol,

1.—Location W, A (W. side Lake Wanapitei). 40

2.— Boucher's mine,

N.E. side Lake Wanapitei . ,,, 25

3 --Neelon Town: ship, Lot 12, Con, olka Sie

4. — Boundary line bet. Districts of Algoma & Nipissing, 2 miles N, of Gumsden Tp... . .,

5.—Lorne Town -

op. Lot 11, Cor

- Small proportion 6,—Lorne Town- BR ere: ec 33 7.—NairnTownship Lots 1 & 2, Con, PENG cemistins te Sinall pro -

portion , 8.—Drury Town-

ship, Lot 3, Con.

nae el age? Trifling amount. (Little. 201 on %- Denison Tewnship, Lot 6, Con. . Ripe nee 12'5 None. 155 None (1:7 !

es ere tions for ' 7

Stall quantity 2°00 None

Present, {2°57) te

Small quantity|3°10 Trace,

BES e eS des ... 2°70 None

Trifting amount. 1°95

Small amount.1°57 —,,

None, 1°95 Trace.) ..

Ores 11

¢ mine on a large seale, 890-91, Part F, p. 52.)

of the ore sinelted at the Daw, the manager for Messrs

portion of the Murray rage of about 2:75 per cent of nickel and

District,

: Metal parti

Niin

Authority,

3°33 R. AL A. Johnston, 209,

3:10 "

270 F, G.AWair,

R.A. A, Johnston,

a + eee

Mestopitisatieerte

Analyses by H. H. Vivian Co,

psseess sees

presse wwe

pane

Determina-

Posie Gareeranaressenacstnug

er

nickel and cobalt in Sudbury ores by Dr. G, Cc. Hoffmann and Assistants,

: 292 " 2°36 Trace. |3° 02 " 11.—Levack Town ship, Lot 7, Con One a Hadas vate i None, " 4°13\None. 4°18 12.—Levack Town i ship, Lot 3, Con Ramen eee 18°5 Very small 13.—Ross mine, W. amount. 1°96; Trace.(2°40, R., 5, North Nic-

kel Range. ...

Hl i 16°5 'Small amount. !2°75\None 3° 2f

Ne eh cbt

Sail een heen: snevinleetme setenbngsaenin

ue

J it

De seriptions of speciiniena m whieh determina: tions were conducted,

Composition of rrhotite not constant,

114 Gqkological Survey Of Canada

Explanations.

1. Association of a somewhat coarse granular pyrrhotite, with a small quantity of chalcopyrite, in greenstone. 2. An intimate association of chaleopyrite and pyrrhotite, in a

gangue of greenstone,

3. A somewhat coarse granular pyrrhotite, associated, with small quantities of chalcopyrite, from what was then known as the McCor mick mine,

4. Pyrrhotite, in association with small quantities of dark-coloured greenstone,

5. Pyrrhotite, with a trifling amount of chalcopyrite, with greenstone,

6. Pyrrhotite, with a little chalcopyrite, with greenstone.

7 Pyrrhotite, with a small proportion of greenstone.

8. Pyrrhotite, with a little chalcopyrite, through which was disseminated a trifling amount of a quartzose gangue.

9. A somewhat coarse granular pyrrhotite, through which was disseminated a stnall amount of quartz.

10. A somewhat coarse granular pyrrhotite, through which was disseminated a quartzose gangue.

11. A very coarse granular pyrrhotite, free frou gangue.

12. Avomewhat coarse granular pyrrhotite, with a very small amount of chaleopyrite, in association with greenstone.

13. A coarse granular pyrrhotite, with a small amount of chalcopyrite. The gangue Was readily discernible.

These analyses, 1 to 13, were done in the chemical laboratory of the Geological Survey Department, by Messrs R. A. A. Johnston and F, G, Wait, assistants to Dr. G. C. Hoffmann. (Ann. Rep. Geol. Surv. Can. Vol. V. 1890-91, Part R, pp. 41-44 (Nos 7 to 19).

Tue Suppury PyrRRHOTITE.

The composition of pyrrhotite, a: shown by a large number of analyses, is not constant, and although repeated trials have been made by various chemists and mineralogists, to obtain a formula which would be satisfactory, and representative of this mineral, -heir attempts so far have been attended with only a fair amount of success,

is

nt

ae

ohitestsecsay

Babess seat as fas

"J

pe isetscad i s/ di)

wate

pete

SME HOLL oh aenet

Composition Of The Sudbury Pyrrhotite )

It has, therefore, been the custom to express the composition of Formula for pyrrhotite, by the formula Fe, S,,., the available analyses, collected !¥'thetite. by Lindstrom in 1875, and by Habermehl in 1879, show'ng a variation of Fe: S 1: 1, 1902, corresponding to Fe, S,, to L: 1.0610 which agrees with the formula Fe, , S,;. Habermehl, from a mean of 14 determinations, ten of which were ecsentially identical, showed that the Bodenmais pyrrhotite contains 60,57 per cent of forming closely to the formula Fe. S_, the theoretical composition of which would require 60,40 per cent of iron. This material was obtained on portions separated successively from the fine powder, suspended in water by, a strong magnet. Doelter, by artifical means, produced a compound closely resembling

iron, thus con-

. if not identical with the natural pyrrhotite, the analysis of which agreed with the formula Fe,,8,,

This variation in composition has suggested the possibility, that Variationin pyrrhotite is not really a detinite species, in a mineralogical sense but of ieekenis rather, a@ mixture in varying proportions, of perhaps several closely suggests a related compounds, Such a view was regarded as also supported hy Lar seme the wide range in the Specific gravity of the mineral, (3,98 to 1.80) as well as, observed differences in the possession of certain physica] properties, especiaily noticeable in regard to its maynetism Some specimens exhibit this property in such a feeble manner, that o ly the finer powder is attracted by the magnet, while others are so intensely magnetic, as even to exhibit the phenomenon of polarity

Careful consideration of all the facts available, suggest, that much, pix repancies at least, of the discrepancies in composition, can perhaps be better rewcite explained, on other grounds. Thus, although it is known that, a co-. explained on 8: vable number of th analyses, were conducted on material whieh Eee ECU, had been selected with great care, and using every known precaution to ensure a pure and homogeneous product, by far the larger number of determinations were of impure, often intermixed material, Besides, the methods of anaiysis were not always above reproach, so that errors constantly occurred, not only in the determination of the sulphur, but also of the iron, In addition, even with the possession of the requisite knowledge of analytical methods, as well as skis in their manipulation 1);4 it is usually extremely difficult, if not impossible, in all cases sufficiently homogenecus material, on which to base

iculty of

, to obtain obtaining Mu : LOMO ZeneOUs a formula, which material,

would be thoroughly reliable and representative.

If we regard pyrrhotite as a sulphide, intermediate in chemical compr

sition between the normal sulpbide FeS and the disulphide FeS, it is possible to obtain every gradation of material showing a range in the iron content, from

63°61 per cent, to 46-60 per cent, while the sulphur te eorrespund, &1

116 Geological Survey Of Canada

Range in would show a gradual increase from 36°39 per cent, to 55°40 per cent. oF aii There is, however, a wide gap between Fe; S, with iron 60-40 per cent and sulphur 39:60 per cent, and Fe 8, with iron 46°60 per cent and sulphur 53.40 per cent. Those analyses, however, which have evidently been conducted with the greatest care, show a variation in formula frov Fe,, 8,, with iron 61.60 per cent and sulphur 38.40 per cent, to Fe, 8, with iron 60.40 per cent and sulphur 39:60 per cent. These determinations are as uniform and accurate as could be expected,

from material so manifestly impure as pyrrhotite.

Difficulties of A satisfactory and reliable analysis of Sudbury pyrrhotite is, per-

ae " haps more than usually dificult to obtain, owing to the very intimate

paar deen association of various closely related sulphides. In the first place, it

hotite, was the generally accepted view, that the nickel really replaced isomorphously, an equivalent amount of iron, and was thus an essential

constituent of the pyrrhotite, whereas, it is now a well ascertained fact,

that by far the greater proportion of the nickel, at least, occurs as a

distinct and separable nickel-iron sulphide. Many, however, still

cling to the belief, that a small portion of the nickel may exist in a

state of chemical combination, but such persons can find little support

oe and for this view, in the fact, that, by repeated use of a magnetic separator

separation of and with material sufficiently comminuted, it is possible to remove

pentlandite almost the last trace of nickel, from a compound, which originally con-

: tained from 2 to 5 per cent of this element, while the isolated nickel-iron-sulphide or pentlandite, is usually pure enough for analytical purposes. The process is, however, tedious and repeated trials are

necessary, before the pyrrhotite or pentlandite is obtained of the degree

eeeeainte eee or nin eemeemrn

a:

sore

omer

St Prat

of purity desired. . Pacnaelat In addition, other sulphides, mainly chalcopyrite, but sometimes also chalcopyrite. pyrite are present, the former aimost invariably accompanying the pyrrhotite, and all of these are so intermixed with one another, that very fine grinding, and the assistance of magnetism is necessary, before a satisfactory and complete separation can be effected. Such a dis-

sociation, however, may be conducted at the same time as the trials for the elimination of the pentlandite are proceeding, while this latter mineral, which is .itself feel.ly magnetic, can, in turn, be separated from the copper and iron pyrites, which do not possess the property of magnetism, in any sensible degree. The chief difficulty, however,

Magnetite encountered in the purification of the pyrrhotite, arises from the fact ida ect that a small quantity of magnetite (Fe,O,), often amounting to not

auth nite chief Jess than 1 per cent of the whole, is almost invariably present. C. W.

1 sulty. . .

ove Dickson, after a number of experiments, found, that by treating the sample with dilute (10 per cent) solution of nitric acid, the pyrrhotite

Character And Composition Of Chlacopyrite 117

could be largely removed, while the magnetite was but little aflected. The separated sulphur was removed by means of bromine and carbonbisulphide ; and after several treatmeuts, the residue of magnetite was obtained pure, and the iron was estimated by titration, The nature of these operations, as he remarks, involves the possibility of some loss, especially as the amount of magnetite is comparatively small, but, on the whole, the method answered very well, The greater number of

the analyses indieated that the pyrrhotite could be represented by the formula Fe,S,, while two or three others worked out to Fe.S_. and

Fe Sio. The first mentioned formula nay be regarded as the most probable for the pyrrhotite from the Sudb iy District. He likewise mentions the interesting fact, that a trial of a specimen from Rossland, B.C., showed it to he represented by the same formula (Fe 8, ).

The pyrrhotite is always massive and anorphous, showing all grada. tions of texture from very finely to very coarsely granular, the coarser varieties possessing well marked cleavages in two directions. As may be seen by a reference to the analyses, there is little or no foundation for the popular belief, that the coarsely crystalline varieties are rela. tively poorer in nickel, than those which are finer grained. Good crystals are extremely rare, and although occasional fragments are found which are apparently bounded hy crystal faces, such planes are really the direct result of cleavage. Perhaps the only authenticated crystal of pyrrhotite, was obtained by Mr. G. R. Mickle, from a man working in the Worthington mine. Mr. Mickle thus describes it: 'The crystal is evidently a hexagonal prism showing strongly marked basal cleavage ; two of the sides are intact and portions of two others remain, The dimensions are 1,°5 inches, or 32um., by 4 inch, or 13m. ; the weight 27-4 grains; and an analysis of a very small fragment from the crystal gave 2-3 per cent of nickel.'

The colour of the pyrrhotite is a bright steel-gray on fresh fracture, quickly weathering to a deep bronze-yellow, often, however, tarnished or iridescent.

Chalcopyrite,

1 . copper contained in the ore is all obtained from chalcopyrite, the common sulphide of copper and iron, (CuFeS, sulphur 35-0 per cent, copper 34°5 per cent, iron 30°5 per cent=—100-0). It is always massive, with the usual deep brass or y:llow colour, As usual, this mineral is very subject to tarnish, and beautiful iridescent specimens can be obtained from the ore heaps, or scattered around the works. The composition of the ore varies greatly, as may be seen by a reference to the analyses, and according to the preponderance of either the pyrrhotite or chalcopyrite, the resulting furnace product or

Methods or removal of Inaynetite,

Formula for Sudbury pyrrhotite,

Formula for Rossland pyrrhotite,

Physica properties of pyrrhotite.

Description of Mickle's erystal of

pyrrhotite,

Colour,

Theoretical composition of chaleopyrite,

Colour,

i] t Bu Hq Ld ;

Mines of Canadian Copper Co. first operated for copper.

. Discovery of

presence of nickel.

Dr. Peter's, doubted if Sudbury mines could be worked profitably for copper alone.

Determinations of nickel, copper, cobalt &c. in Sudbury pyrrhotites,

118 Geological Survey Of Canada

matte is relatively richer or poorer in nickel or copper. The mines of the Canadian Copper Company, as the name implies, were first operated for their copper contents and it was not until considerable work had been done that nickel was discovered to be present in the ore. A large shipment of ore had been made to New York, and a chemist there who was making a volumetric determination of the copper con. tents, by the potassium cyanide process, was struck by the great variation in his results, which led him to make a more minute examination of the ore, when he found that nickel was present. The ore has now become of more value on account of its nickel, than its copper contents, and Dr. Peters himself, greatly doubted, if the mines would pay to work for copper alone.

Nickel And Cobalt In Sudbury Pyrriotites.

' ) )

a Lovality Taact| Ca. (Ri: bac) Bo tien] a eee , , : a es iat i a Pyrrhotite.

H ° / 1. Elsie mine (a) 2 00\Trace.| 2°40; 0°06). [seas 2°46 Y ee wv (b) 345) on De TOrOO roececnciic rises 2°44 3. Stobie mine (a). ) 1°50 4 eit] (thal eecales ecancd 3°05 " Pte utils) heres 4:00 2°05; 0°65) ; 215 & No. 3mine(a) .. 0°40) un SS O66 ee be iy 2°40 6 ou (BY eigs- Gash 500} ot 2°34) 0°06) cee 2°48 7. Mount Nickel 2°20) S00: OF OF] oe och vanes 3°06 8. Copper Cliff No. 4 mine (ae re 11008 3°24) 0-06) 3°30 9, Copper Cliff No. 2 mine [bye Ee ee OEE 3°70; 0°08... leat 4°00 10. Copper Cliff No. 5 Potts tam Ce) eg yam eee re Wi " B47) (COR ocx cjecnss 3°50 11. Creighton mine (a)...) 0 8 So ou EEE OSLO, ca tithe canes 4:00 12. " nw (b)...]. O50! on Ort Otis ck ateerarns 2°32 13. Gertrude mine (a) , 5°00, S08 1G tie oe 4°05 14. SaaS A SRESS Mle 3°61! 0°001...c0cfc-s.-. 4:00 15. Victoria mine (a) , O50) on 2 OCT 3°40 16. " vw (b) 0°40; 3°14. 0°08 a 3'20 16a, Aba. 3700) 250) Sop en tee 00} BB 00) acacia 17. Levack Township .. SootuEeaee ae BOs daa oer se 2°88 13. Wisner ee 4100 4 by ene ss 2°32 19, Creighton mine (a)... 2°28) O72) 5'BL 34°28... 20. " o (b1.245 $4) 220, 482i... BEB 2e Ace wean wa wende. 21, Copper Cliff (7th level) Bro ontaceee ee amu mas peste 0°00 11°00 38°01) 50°40 11°00 22, Copper Cliff (7th level) a sence gs Umit se acre 0°00 4°62 38°58) 55°77! 4°62 23. Stobie mine (a). 0°00, 2°75 35°35, 58°00 2°75 24. " TE Sree Nene rea 0°00| 2°15) 36°10) 57°00 2°15 95, Evans mine (a). ... ../Trace. 9°02 ) 39°28) 51°50 9°02 26, " een ees Perry ie! en at: Were 40°18) 56°00 3°82 27. Copper Cliff mine... 7°75 Trace.!| 3°40: 0°175) siete =Oe, INE OOS 28. Cryderman mine 2°96) 4°46 O'174 0... eee Co=0'18, Ni 460 29, Cochrane mine... . 11°10! 0°10}. 3°52) 0°146) Co=0'16, Ni3'96 30. Little Stobie mine. 2°70,Trace.; 4°06 0°165) Patty Co=0°17, Ni4'li

hs —)

ba

pats iveriye

ee)

HbA a Aaa

Nickel And Cobalt In Sudbury Pyrrhotite Explanations,

Analyses 1-18 inclusive, with the exception of 16a., were made by Mr, C. W. Dickson, (Trans. Amer. Inst. Min., Eng., Albany meeting, Feb, 1903) in duplicate or triplicate, to insure the greatest possible accuracy. These were made to ascertain as accu rately as possible, theaverage nickel and cobalt contents, of the general run of the pyrrhotite, from the whole MMethoan region. The pyrrhotite was coarsely crushed, and the mineral picked pert for out as pure as possible, under a lens, when necessary. From the mas- samples, sive varieties, good samples were easily obtained, but, in other cases, the pyrrhotite was so intimately mixed with chalcopyrite and rock, that it was very difficult to obtain satisfactory samples, some rock always adhering to the sulphide. The results obtained, show, that the percentage is fairly constant over a wide area, The pyrrhotite includes both fine and coarse-grained. In the case of the coarse grained varieties, where the nickel m'neral pentlandite can often be recognized, this Explanation was caref: ily rejected, as far as possible. But the ditliculty of s ara- ra brie tion accounts for the fact, that some of these varieties show less nickel than the finer grained ones, although the former are usually considerably richer. Had the coarse grained samples been treated in their original condition, the results would have been more uniform. These analyses, therefore, represent the nickel which is most intimately

associated with the pyrrhotite, and does not appear as particles of pentlandite,

1. Coarse pyrrhotite, with a small amount of chalcopyrite and rock : Description of 2. Compact fine-grained pyrrhotite, with a small amount of rock ah: Patani Massive, fine-grained pyrrhotite ; 4. Pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite, in © diorite ; 5. Pure, coarse pyrrhotite ; 6. Fine-grained pyrrhotite ; 7, Massive pyrrhotite ; 8. Coarse, pyrrhotite ; 9. Massive, fine grained pyrrhotite ; 10. Massive, fine-grained pyrrhotite ; 11. Mavsive, Suegrained pyrrhotite ; 12. Coarse pyrrhotite ; 13. Massive pyrrhotite ; 14. Massive pyrrhotite; 15. Massive, fine-grained pyrrhotite ; 16. Coarser than No. 15, but with more chaleopyrite ; 16a, Analysis of ore by Mond Nickel Company ; 17, Massive pyrrhotite (Tough and Stobie's property) ; 18, Coarse, massive pyrrhotite, from the Nor: hern Nickel Range ; 19 and 20 are analyses by Mr. Donald Locke. Analyses 21 to 26 inclusive, are of ore selected for purposes of magnetic concentration, by Mr. David H. Browne. Analyses 27 to 30 inclusive are by Mr. M. F. Connor of this Department, and were of hand picked ore, as free as possible from chalcopyrite and gangue. All of the specimens were of pyrrhotite, of medium-grain, with the exception of that from the Little Stobie mine, which was a very coarse cleavable variety.

Deposits are not veins,

No regular walls.

Irregularity of distribution of ore.

Shape of ore bodies,

Three main types of occurrence,

Marginal deposits,

Offset

deposits.

Deposit occurring with small isolated masses Of norite.

120 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA MODE OF OCCURRENCE OF THE SUDBURY NICKEL DEPOSITS.

Most geologists, at least, who have examined these deposits in detail, are agreed, that they are not true fissure veins, and although, at times certain sloping surfaces are obtained, which seem to have a uniform inclination and limit the distribution of ore in their direction, yet, it seems certain, that there are no regular wails, in the miner's sense of the term, and at bovh sides of the deposit, the enclosing tock is impregnated, more of less, with pyritous matter. Although mining is thus rendered somewhat difficult and uncertain, on account of the absence of the walls, and irregularity in the distribution of the cre, 89 that there is very little means of knowing in what direction to drive the levels, this uncertainty is usually more than compensated by the extent and massiveness of the deposits, whi n found.

The ore bodies are of irregular, oval or pod-shaped outline, and all agree in having their longer axes to correspond very closely with the direction of the foliation of the enclosing rocks. The shapes and dimensions of the ore bodies of the International Nickel Compivy's mines at Copper Cliff, are accurately shown on the accompanying large scale maps. There are three main types of these ore deposits in the Sudbury Mining District.

t. Those which occurat the southern border of the immense body of hypersthene-gabbro, or norite, which reaches + 'hout interruption, from Drury to Garson townships. Under this ' .sion, are included the Ger trude, Creighton, North Star, Tam Carter, Lady Violet, Elsie, Murray, Cameron, Little Stobie, Mount Nickel, Blezard, Beatrice, Kirk. wood and Cryderman mines.

2. Those which are developed in connection with offsets or dykelike forms of the norite, extending southward from the main mass, and which are intruded into the older rocks, almost at right angles to the planes of foliation and bedding. This would embrace such mines as the Victoria, Clarabelle (No. 6), No. 4, Lady Macdonald (No. 5) and No. 2, and the extensions of No. 2 mine.

3. Those which are associated with smaller, and at present, completely isolated bodies of norite. These separate masses of the nickel bearing eruptive, are so closely identical, in mineralogical composition, structure and behaviour to the parent eruptive, that they are probably connected with it, in some way, at a distance below the surface.

The original Copper Cliff, No. 1 and its extensions, Evans, Frood (No. 3) and Stobie mines are all examples of this last mentioned class.

The first mentioned division of deposits, are all situated at the immediate contact between this huge mass and the older rocks, into which

Nigeiyea

MODE OF OCCURRENCE OF DEPOsIts 121

it is intruded. The intrusive n impregnation of the older green schists consisting, sinall, dyke-like forms, or veins of sulphide planes of schistosity, while, Letween the ore-body

ature of this contact is well shown, the Deseription of ' a Orie Rariinl hese tor the most part, of Marginal type : a oe of deposit, material, injected along the : on the other side, the line of separation and the norite is even more 4 phide m iterial gradually tad

eccasional disseminations,

tcertain, the sul-

ing out, until it is only represented by

To the northwest, this basic

rock shows a Differ Passage into the

OMe

peculiar and characteristic tien of norite usually referred to as the Levack or Middle Range (W

affairs, is reversed, and we

gradual differentiation or e P i Into Lieropeg.-

type of gneissie granite, ' nieropegmatite On inatite.

indy lake eruptive), this

tind the deposits

of the norite, while its differentiate, the

southeast. This same condition of

condition of at the northwestern margin Inicropegniatite lies to the aHairs obtains on the Northern 'es In contact with the older granites side, while

Nickel Range where the norite con ta)

and green schists on the north, the Inicropegmatite under. lies the area to the south,

The Worthington and the Ve

rmilion mines are the only depos which have been developed, h

Its Worthington aving no visible connection with the and Vernilion main mass of norite already noticed, As

page, the Worthing.on

tines not Com. nected with

, . . Inain body of arrow neck of actinolite set :

has been shown on a previous Mine occurs on a n diorite, which is, without doubt, the altered representative of the older norite. To the southwest and east, this norite is directly connected isic eruptive material. learned, no large deposit of ore w and the small amount of

decomposed v

with a much larger mass of b; As far as can be as encountered at the Ve norite found, resembles

ariety of the older type of this rock,

rmilion mine, very closely, the

Rounded hills of fossan, indicating the presence of the pure and unaltered ore beneath, nuity, for miles along the line tions of the offsets and isolate associated, are also of

more or less Significance of extend with almost unbroken conti- occurrence of of junction, while by far the larger por- iaiias

d masses, with which the ore-hodies are

& preveiling brownish colour, from the de position of the abundantly disseminated sulphides. This S8s8an Explanation has resulted, as usual, from the alteration of the pytrhotite and chal- pa aie copyrite, and the formation of hydrous oxide of

prevailing brownish colour

com-

iron, which gives a to the upper portions of the deposits. This covering of iron oxide is sometimes as much as six feet in depth, although usually it is only two or three feet, gradually merging into the unaltered ore beneath. The depth to which this depends largely, of course, on the length of time the uncovered, and thus exposed to pr which the green forest and overly

gossan extends Depth of deposits have been sossan. rocesses of weathering. Soiae, from

ng soilhav hut lately been removed,

rabepn Set iit ii

122 Geological Survey Of Canada

show little or no iron oxide, while others like the Murray mine which have been exposed to the action of the weather for years, exhibit an extensive covering of this characteristic decomposition product. From Gossan from the Elsie mine, in a northeasterly direction, past the Murray mine as aor erg far as the boundary between McKim and Blezard 'townships, a consider. able belt of rock occurs at the immediate margin of the norite, so heavily charged with sulphides, that its weathered outcrop at the sur Gossan at face is covered with this gossan. At the old Copper Cliff mine, as well one 3 as at the Creighton mine, this overlying gossan is very wide spread mines. and deeply impressive. oper a of In most cases, these ore-bodies show a brecciated character, large a angular or partially rounded blocks, of almost barren rock being ming!ed with the ore. Some of these horses, as they have been called, are made up of the material derived from the wall rock, against which the pyritous matter cooled. Their presence, in this connection, is no Explanation doubt due to the chattering of the invaded formation, at their contact nin cht with the plutonic magma, In fact, they form an illustration, on a small scale, of the phenomenon of 'overhead stoping', so fully described and explained by Dr. R. A' Daly.(') In other instances, however, this comparatively barren material is of norite but such inclusions are seldom sharply defined from the sulphide, exposures showing a gradual transition from one to the other, while the blocks themselves are generally more or less plentifully impregnated with the prevailing sulphide. No great No great depth has yet been reached by the workings of any of depth reached by marginal deposit work- ig at the Blezard mine, which has only been sunk a distance of 172 feet

sas while those of the Murray and Gertrude are 160 and 120 feet deep' respectively. On the other hand, the diamond drilling undertaken at the Creighton, is stated to have proved the existence of this phenom. enally large body of nickel ore, to a depth of at least 400 feet. This

the mines of the marginal type of deposits. The deepest of the shafts

Open pit at wonderful deposit of pyrrhotite has been worked, mainly, as a large

een open pit, measuring 150 by 200 feet, and extending to a depth of 62 feet. All of these deposits dip to the north and northwest at an angle varying from 30° to 70°.

Depth of Of the mines belonging to the second group of those developed along

offset deposits. the offsets, the two most imporcant are the Victoria mine and the No. 2 mine, of the International Nickel Co., at Copper Cliff. The Victoria mine, of the Mond Nickel Company, with seven levels and extensive slopes, has reached a depth of 557 feet. Tle No. 2 mine has

(1) Amer. Jour. Sc. Vol. XVI, 1903, p. 108.

hich tL an rom e as ider- a) surwell read

large eing 1 the s no intact on a desces, such sures locks h the

ny of shafts 2 feet deep' en at

2>nom-—

This large of 62

angle

along d the

The ls and ne has

&

'

di.

bse ee

Vonebauea a 4 SERA dna le aah

es Hh i

bad

"

Aadet MA

He

Satins ie

afforded a large amount of ore, being wor ked, f large open pit, measuring about in width, and with a depth of

The original and famous Copper Cliff mine h as a chimney of ore, ay eraging inw section, through the shaft, while at ries from 30 to 210 feet. doned, except for pumping purposes was sunk to feet, on an incline of 40°, while shaft No, 2 place, starts from the third level, at face, and continues at an angle of 7 the ore body, to the 14th le

the workings hav

The question, as to how these abnormally la material, acquired their present position and dir a fruitful topic for speculation and covery, Fortunately, however, only two theories ditications. have been advanced, in formation, and which may be

1. That the sulphides are directly of igneous or the differentiation of a gabbro or norite magma, its margin in obedience to Soret's prine the minerals being in accordance with

2. That these ore bodies are altogether

The extreine advo

Or

a

ORIGIN OF THE SUDBURY ORE DEPOsITs

Origin Of The Ore Deposits,

as often been, referr: idth from 50 to 100 feet in the cross Copper Clift right angles to this direction, it va- The first or old shaft, now in !

veloped in connection with a pe, has an inclination of 65°, and, although, Stebie mine. e only reached a vertical depth of 250 feet, yielded a larger amount of ore (415,000 tons).

rge masses of sulphide tensions, has furnished ter of much

or the most part asa 0 fect in length, by 100 to 150 feet 217 feet.

ore body,

ge part abanadenth of over 500 . 2, or the uew shaft to take its

a distance of 150 feet trom the sur- 7°30', or approximately parallel to Copper vel (depth 1,058 feet. ) The ore body of the Stobie mine, de small isolated mass of norite,

Depth reached

Clif mine,

ath of

it has

than any other mine in the district

Origin a mat-

. ? " , speculation discussion, ever since their first dis-

and discus-

, With some minor mo- sien.

explanation of the manner of their Two principal

summarized as follows :—

cates of either theory, seek to ignore the the other in forming these ueposits, as they exist those who originally held that these ore of magmatic segregation, failed to mention, or possibility, that those deposits, were, in any w sence of these heated solutions, which to and in all cases immediately follow hand, those, who cons der

all plutonic action.

of secondary and AQUEOUS Ky. origin, occurring as replacements along crushed

at present. Ss were the immediate product ignore certain at least emphasize the ay, influenced by the pre. @ certain extent accompany,

theories,

igin, the products of Tensotia being segregated along °tigin. iple, the order of formation of Fournet's series,

lary o1

and faulted zones, aqueous

origin,

share of Katreme

rn , advocates of Thus, both theories

evidence.

On the other these deposits as of secondary origin, in seek-

ing to explain the source of the metals, although they acknowledge as

d to Description of

slits Seearas tected

Spier sctgar eestor iim

Tis dlit itch teens rte, secemearet de coeeeenenete ometeerieet eee ea

mass

EMTS LT TE a

) Ste

; a ad EY : A

tae id

First statement inregard te origin of these sulphide

deposits,

Maginatic differentiation although in the main the true explanation is not the only contributing cause to the formation of these ore deposits.

Prof. Kemp regards igneous rocks as original source of ore,

Present opinion in regard to

fused magmas,

124 Geological Survey Of Canada

a fact, 'that the universal association of these ores with o.entially similar rocks is also striking' and again 'that the norite, (o. gabbro) has an intimate connection with the development of th. o:°s cannot be doubted, but in just what way they are related is not clear', still at the same time, they nullify any effect which might be produced by such information. by a statement, to the effect, that 'an appeal must be made toa more distant source of the metals, probably minutely disseminated in the rocks through which the depositing solution passed.' (7)

The writer, who was one of the first to attirm a direct igneous origin for these Sudbury ores, giving independent expression to precisely similar views, which about the same time were stated, in much more detail, by Professor J. H. L. Vogt, of Christiania, Norway, realizes the fact that, in the first endeavour to fix definitely, the responsibility for these unusual occurrences, too much emphasis was perhaps given to the idea of magmatic differentiation, as in itself, giving an adequate explanation of all the phenomena witnessed. This can only be excused on the ground that, this doctrine as applied to ore deposits, was an entire innovat on, and its strongest atirmation, was at first, very necessary in order to effect its recognition as a previously ignored, though important factor, in the development of ore deposits. More recent and detailed examination of the various ore bodies, has shown that while the first hypothesis of a segregation of these sulphides, directly from the magma, is in the main, the true explanation of their present position, other agencies, which are usually grouped together under the name of secondary action, have contributed rather largely, to bring about their unusual dimensions.

As Professor Kemp remarks, (7) 'increasing experience leads us to look with especial favour on the igneous rocks as the original source of the ore, whose widely disseminated, although, when considered in comparison with their mass, whose small percentages of all the metals, except the invariably abundant iron, suggest to us original stoves for leaching. We are also attracted to them, as a source, because without doubt, all other rocks must be ascribed to them in the last analysis ; because they are so often in close association with ores as mined, and because, above all, they are the natura! stimulators of those heated solutions, to which we can, with most reason, attribute the results.'

At the present day, fused magmas are regarded as more or less complex solutions, which, by reason of their high temperatures, obey the same laws in the order and method of their solidification, as those which govern the crystallization from ordinary solutions, of a simi-

(1) Trans. Amer. Inst. Min. iung., Albany Meeting, Feb., 1903. (2) Min. Industry, Vol. TV, 1895, pp. 756-757.

eee 2th

Fe.

3 let ae ils has

Origin Of The Sudbury Ore Deposits 125

larly heterogeneous composition. rocks, under the microscope, r

order in the generation of the component ininerals is always observed,

which is closely followed, in the cooling of any body of wagma, Thus, Order of in a gabbro or norite magma, the oxides of iron anc sulphides of iron, nickel and copper, zircon and apatite are the first to p Sis ee Aa bs crystailize. These are followed by che ferromagnesian silicates, olivine, microscope, hypersthene, biotite and diallage. The pl

pany or immediately follow the erystalli coloured constitue

A study of thin sections of igneous

eveals the fact, that a certain definite

k ceneration 1 titanium, the component

agioclase may antedate, accomzation of one, or more of the nts, depending on its basicity, riably the last to form, filling up all th

One of the main laws, governing the

While quartz is inva- e irregular interspaces remaining.

crystallization from a solution, or an igneous vagina, is known as Soret's prince

dissolved matter is concentrated in the coolest part of t. solution, magmas.

Gravity, temperature and pressure are also important factors, but these have not yet been deeply investigated.

Laws govern.

i cord) oh , ng erystaliple, according to which, the beatae of

Perhaps one of the most significant de. graphic gevlogy, has been the reco homogeneous molten Inass, tends t

elopments of modern petrognition of the fact, that an originally

© So separate or split itself, upon cooling, as to ultimately produce rocks of varying composition, 'This fact, Definition of . Ce, a at a tena Beanie , Magmatie difbearing so intimately on the genesis of igneous roc ks, has caused the Yermitiation, formulation of the hypothesis known as magmatic differentiation. The hypothesis may be briefly described as the divi

sion or differentiation of 4 more or less viscous mag

ma, or fused mass of rock, into chemic mineralogically diverse parts,

different types of rocks. nection, to enter into any

ally and which on cooling, yield correspondingly It would be manifestly unwise in this condetailed explanation of this ve accepted hypothesis, as the conditions attending the consolidation of a length. large body of vagina, are now believed to be much more complex than

at first supposed. Moreover, our knowledge regarding these and the several processes whic

Unnecessary

: ee to discuss ry gene rally hypothesis at

conditions, Our know- h ] Beata lved Cee 2 ledge still

are no doubt involvec y IS SOV incomplete, incomplete, that no full or satisfactory e

of this phenomcaon.

ague and explanation can yet be offered All geologists of repute are, however, a the main fact, that magmatic differentiation fui nishes the only reason geologists able explanation of most of the observations made in connection with &tecd on

general any extended exposure of igneous rocks. hy pothesis,

greed on

Applying these principles to the geological rela gabbro or norite, and the associated sulphide de facts seem to furnish

tions of the Sudbury Sutbury ora

posits, the subjoined bodies mnainly unanswerable proof that the hypothesis of a ponreanc

Segregation of these ore bodies, directly from

the magma, is, in the main, the true explanation of their position,

a

peers amconnereemencenet sate scehanatnataiel tadaemetenacieienne iaeamamedniadmeneniandinadaiminel

cecpmepccneenicimhetminemese niet siebinetennntnnnietnt

sabecdnafecverassen miiecenenns es be

eager eee rerenerararnrsmmrercrecseaettie*s

Deposits all oceur at the margin of the norite,

Sulphides more sharply defined against the walls of the intrusion,

Deposits always found in intimate connection with norite.

Fahlbands quite distinct in origin and nickel contents,

sulphides in older green schists and tuffs contain much smaller amounts of nickel,

126 Grological Survey Of Canada

1. The deposits, without exception, all occur at the margin of the gabbro or norite, the rock itself in immediate association with the ore being finer in texture and relatively much more. basic in composition, than portions further removed from the contact. There is a very gradual increase in the basicity of the gabbro, outward from the micropegmatite, although a rather abrupt transition takes place in the immediate neighborhood of the contact. The sulphides are alzo finer grained near the contact, while further away, they becomecoarser grained, (')

®, The sulphides are always much more sharply defined against the walls of the intrusion, than on the inner side towards the main mass of the gabbro, the transition in this direction showing a more gradual decrease in the amount of ore in the rock, as the contacts are left This phenomenon, as has been mentioned, is explained by the fact, that the sulphides in obedience to Soret's principle, become concentrated towards the cooling surface of the mass.

3. These deposits are always found in such intimate association with the norite or hypersthene-gabbro, that we are forced to the conclusion, that the ore bodies stand in svine genetic relation to this plutonic igneous rock, This is not only true in regard to the Sudbury District, but is also the invariable association of precisely similar deposits, found in Norway, Sweden, Lombardy and Penns) lvania. The importance of geological studies, in connection with ore deposits, is emphasized by the fact, mentioned by Adams, that although, in these several widely separated countries, the pyrrhotite deposits, associated in the manner described, with the gabbrus, are so rich in nickel, the celebrated Fah! bands of Norway, which are bedded or apparently bedded deposits, consisting of heavy impregnations of pyrrhotite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, etc., but occurring in gneisses and schists of various kinds, contain hardly any nick:l, hundreds of analyses showing the nickel and cobalt contents, to range from 0:1 to 0:5 per cent, and what is still mor remarkable, the same is true of the similar Fahlbands, associated with our Laurentian in Canada, so far as these have been examined, In these, the pyrrhotite and pyrite is present in large amount, and is often associated with coppe. pyrites, but only a very smail quantity of nickel and cobalt, ranging from faint traces to 0:16 per cent, occurs inthe pure sulphide material. In addition, pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite and pyrite occur sometimes, in promising quantities, in the older green schists and tulls of the Sudbury District, but even the richest of these deposits, were shown by analyses, to ccntain a much smaller amount of nickel, ranging from 0:45 to 0-96 per cent, in the pure pyrrhotite.

ét} tdart, J Geol, Sac, Lon., Vol. LIL, 1897, p. 52. (2) 'On the Igneous Origin of Certain Ore Deposits,' Montreal, 1n94. p. 17: also, Ann. Rep, Geol. Surv, Can., Vol. VI, 1822-98, part J.

the ore ion, lual 1a iate ned wt®)

the nass dual left fact, ated

with sion, onic trict, ound ance "d by idely inner Kahl osits, yrite, ntain robalt more eo ABER often nickel p pure occur 1 tufts 7 were

inging

Origin Of The Sudhury Ore Deposits

4. Pyrrhotite, chaleopyrite and pyrites are all ordinary constituent sulphides ininerals of the normal norite, and are, at times, comparatively abundant @ omlinary

even in exposures situated some distance from the contact,

thary

We may constituents readily obtain, at any of the mines, specimens which exhibit every

of thorite,

gradation in the amount of these sulphides present in. the roe k, from

the ordinary type of norite, with occasional disseminated pyritous matter, to what lias been referred to hy Vout, as 'p.

cent of pyrrhotite, while portions of some of the de posits,

matter,

The sulphides are, undoubtedly, of primary origin, and vn masllee' of the minerals to crystallize out from the original mag

wit

grains of the

hotite gabbro or norite' with from 5 per cent to 50 per cent, or even 0 per

Oecurrence of

are made of "pyrrhotite. practically pure seesabintibe and chalcopyrite, with little or no gangue

norite

are among sulphides

undoubtedly

y oof primary

sometimes even antedating the iron ove, in wmeh the 'Y are occasionally origin.

completely enclosed. They occur in very much the same way as the Similarity of

iron ore, embedded in, or in the immediate vicinity of the varic

coloured constituents. In fact, individual grains can only

us

he dis tinguished from one another by their colour in retleeted light. This

rode of courrence of sulphides and Prete cores,

intimate association between the iron ore, not only occurs in the

normal norite, but even the ore bodies themselves, 'specially those of the

North Range, which almost invariably contain titaniterous magnetite

often in appreciable quantities. Occasionally, considerable masses of

arrence of

. . ° . large . magnetite, sometimes several tons in weight, are encountered in the tee uuwes

working of the mines, which a : completely enclosed in the sulphide

of mnagnetite,

material, while this iron ore itself contains disseinin: ated wrains of the

pyvites, in addition to certain decomposed silicates be 'longing to th norite, The relations which obtain between the sulphides and t norite, are closely analo; ous to de 'posits of magnetite, oce urring in ec

nection with certain basic igneous rocks in central ( Ontario. In thes deposits, the magnetite is the abundint ore, while the sulphides are

usually present in subordinate amount, The enclosi ing rock, usua

he he

ay

lly

Resomblance to iron ore deposits of

e central

Ontario,

shows much more alteration, than in the case of the horite associated

with the Sudbury sulphide deposits.

. The transitional type between the normal norite and the richer gulphides ae of the pyrrhotite-norite, furnishes unmistakeable idence, that ; ais pti ahah

Evidence that

rh ed during

in these cases, at least, the sulphides were formed during the cooling cooling oi

and erystallization of the norite magma, and that they were ve ry little

affected by any second: ary action. The only effe ts of pne amatolytic or vein action noticed, consisted in the more or Jess complete alteration of the pyroxene minerals, while much of the plagioclase is surprisingly

fresh and glassy. Although, most of the rock matter associated the ore bodies is more or less decomposed, the alteration is not o

ith

ne

horite Mmiayrma,

pease one ssid Beds eH

s2pegpe or

Slate

7] E

:

Sphenange crete

ty

Alteration not of extreme type. Occurrence of fresh represen tatives with high content of sulphides,

Least altered varieties often found in vieinity of mines.

Fournet's seTIES

Explanation of order of formation of sulphides.

Percentages of nickel, cobalt and copper in nickeliferous rocks of Norway.

Browne has shown that differentiation Takes place in pot of matte.

Proofs of solution of sulphides in eruptive magmas.

128 Gkolog' "\L Survey Of Canada

extreme type, which © be expected if the whole of the deposits resulted from sec 4 ., action, The writer's collection of rocks contains specimens of the pyrrhotite norite, sometimes containing as high as 10 per cent of the sulphides, from most of the principal mines, which are so free from alteration, as to permit of the precise identification of both the orthorhombic and monoclinic pyroxenes, The rocks in the immediate icinity of the ore bodies are not, therefore, as generally deseribed, so made up of secondary minerals, as to thoroughly obscure their original composition and structure, but, on the contrary, the least altered representatives of the norite, may readily be obtained at, or in the immediate vicinity of any of the mines.

7. Fournet has shown, that sulphur, when dissolved in a molten magma of silicates, shows atlinity for the metals in the following order : copper, nickel, cobalt, iron, tin, zine, lead, silver, antimony and arsenic. The small percentages of copper, nic'el and cobalt, present in th original magma, unite with the sulphur, and thus become concentrated in any sulphide of iron which separates, while any tin, zinc, lead, silver, antimony or arsenic, present in the magma, is not so concentrated,

8. Vogt (') mentions, that if we were to distribute the whole metal lic contenis of the ore deposits, through their respective mother rocks, in Norway, these would have the following percentages : nickel, 0-03 per cent to 0-13 per cent; cobalt 0-005 per cent to 0-017 per cent : and copper 0-015 per cent to 0:05 per cent. No attempt has been made to calculate these perceniayes, with regard to the Sudbury Dis trict, but the above results are just about what would lwo ex; ted from our knowledge of the nickel contents, generally, in the basic silicates of rocks.

9. One ditticulty which has often been urged against the direct deveopment of these deposits from a state of igneous fusion is, that it woul: be impossible to obtain such large and comparatively pure concentrations of the sulphides. Mr. David Browne (2) has shown by numerous analyses and diagrams, that in a pot of matte the nickel tends to con centrate towards the centre, while the copper is much richer at the o er margins. This is exactly the experience in mining. ' These obser vations', Prof. Kemp remarks, 'are extremely important, showing as they do the migration of metallic matter even in so viscous and quickly chilling a mass as a pot of matte.'

10. Vogt believes that eruptive magmas may keep dissolved even very considerable quantities of sulphides, supporting his belief by the

"Why Min. Industry, Vol. EV, 1895, p. 748, occ a (2) School of Mines Quarterly, Columbia College, July 1895, p. 297 ; also Min. Industry Vol. IV., 1895, p. 762.

eon Dis ted

sili-

eveyuld jtrirous con the bser gas

ckly

Aven ry the

Min.

Origin Of The Sudbury Ore Deposi. 129

fact, that basic blast furnace slags usually hold from 3 to 5 per cent of sulphides, especially CaS and Mus ; likewise, the basic ferriferous slags from copper, nickel and lead smnelting may ecviain from 4 to 6 per cent FeS and the basic zinc slags even 6 to 8 percent ZnS. Sandberger separated the dark silicates of many rocks and proved them to contain copper, nickel, cobalt, lead, tin, antimony, arsenic, bismuth and silver.

11. Galena, zine blende, and compounds of arsenic and bismuth are Compounds

. P : er f lend arse either completely wanting or present in very insignificant amount, 0") a rare

12. The remarkable scarcity of boracie and fluoric minerals 8d Secondary other secondary products which usually attend any pronounced or long an ral bd source, continued vein action,

13. 8 condary quartz, calcite and dolomite are oceasionally present, (Quartz, coleite

in appreciable amounts, but the prevailing scarcity of these minerals, at peepee, most of the deposits, has always been a subject of remark, and the first "bundant. mentioned mineral has often been brought from considerable distances,

not only to line the converters, but also to add to the furnace charges,

even at such mines as the Victoria, whore secondary quartz is relative-

ly perhaps more abundant than at any other deposit in the district,

14. Platisum, usually, at least, in the form of sperrylite, is found in Occurre small quantities, at all of the deposits. Such an occurrence seems to be area alse closely related to the native platinum and osmiridium metals, in the ineous

. oe . r origin, altered basic olivine rocks of the U rals and elsewhere, ws

nee of

15, The deposits are singularly uniform in chemical and mineral- tUyiformity in ogical composition, and their monotonous character, in this re: pect, hag Composition of been frequently commented upon. careful study of the analyses will serve to further emphasize this fact. This peculiarity holds good, not only with regard to the Sudbury deposits, but applies with equal force to those of Norway and elsewhere, wherever full details of composition are available. The characteristic minerals of this 'world Occurrence group,' as it has been called, is everywhere the same. yrrhotite, with ihe generally from 2 to 4 per cent of nickel and cobalt, although occa- micseat ad sionally reaching as high as 10 to 11 per cent of nickel, pyrite (in Norway relatively rich in cobalt), pentlandite, together with some chalcopyrite, and some of titaniferous magnetite are always present in the norite or gabbro. The nickel minerals polydymite, millerite, etc., are also often present, but only in very subordinate amounts,

deposits,

16. Bree 'iation, which is so frequently characteristic of these deposits, Breceiation, is an almost c istant feature of eruptive contacts, resulting from the characteristic

nature of detaching of material from the containing walis, The frequent angular eruptive contacts.

Many of these views previously stated.

Trend of some modern work seeks to ignore full signitieance of association.

Classification of eruptive ore deposits by Vogt.

Transition between Vogt's subdivisions,

Researches of Fouqué and Michel-Leévy.

Fused magmas always accom: yanied and immediately followed by superheated waters and vapours,

130 Geulogical Survey Of Canada

character of these blocks is due to their imperfect assimilation by the fused basic magma, in which they have been floated off.

These are some of the main points, which may be urged in support of the hypothesis of magmatic differentiation, as explanatory of the origin of these Sudbury ore deposits. Many of them are not new, and have been stated in more detail by Vogt, Adams, Kemp and others. They are introduced, in the present instance, as the trend of some of the more recent examinations seeks to ignore the full significance of the intimate genetic relationship which exists between the norite and the ore bodies, affirming that secondary causes or replacement are alone and directly responsible for the present position and dimensions of these deposits.

Vogt, (1) in his classification of eruptive ore deposits, divides them into two chief groups. 1. Deposits formed by ' magmatic differentiation'; that is by the concentration of some metallic parts within the still fluid eruptive magma. 2. Deposits formed by processes subsequent to the eruption or 'after actions' as they have been sometimes called ;—that is by pneumatolysis, fumarole action, hydrothermal agents and the like, directly consequent on the eruption.

The trend of modern geological investigation, seems to emphasize, more and more, the fact that no really sharp division exists, as indicated by Vogt's subdivisions but that processes, which at the two extremes are manifestly very widely divergent in their effects, are so intimately associated, in time and manner of operation in nature, that the resultant product cannot, with any degree of propriety, be attributed wholly to either group of processes.

Thus, although the researches of M. Fouqué and Michel-Lévy, have clearly shown that diabase and kindred basic eruptive rocks may be artificially reproduced from a simple state of dry fusion, it is equally certain, that no extended intrusive process, produced by natural causes, is ever unaccompanied by a greater or less abundance of superheated waters and vapours, as an integral portion of the fused mass. As a general rule, these heated solutions are relatively much more abundant in the case of the acidic magmas than those of more basic composition. It is thus obvious, that all igneous action is both accompanied and, in a more extended manner, immediately followed by more or less pronounced vein or pneumatolytic action (secondary causes), and certain rocks and mineral occur:cnces may be representative of the various

(1) Zeit fiir Prak. Geol., 1893, pp. 4-11; 125-143 ; 257-284 ; also 1895, pp. 145-156 ; 367-370 5 444-459 ; 465-484.

Origin Of The Sudbury Ore Deposits 13]

transitions between what has been termed aqueo igneous fusion and igneo-aqueous solution. The abnormally large amount of original or primary quartz, so uniformly distributed throughout the Sudbury norite or gabbro, has been repeatedly menti and commented upon by the various geologists, who have ex? nine shes rocks in detail under the

microscope. It thus naturally rollows, that ih; agencies grouped

together under the name of soy; 'ry action, 'vould be much more actively effective in connection \.:h the ove boc.es and other segregations resulting from the eruption of sucu rock, than with the ordinarily less quartzose or basic varieties of such rocks. 'The manner of formation of these ore bodies, as thus indicated, is much more complex than was at first supposed. There can be no doubt, however, that much of the sulphide material was introduced simultaneously, as an integral portion of the same magma, along with the other minerals of which the norite or hypersthene-gabbro is composed. There can, moreover, be little doubt of the abundant presence of heated solutions and vapours, which were capable of dissolving out, and under certain conditions, of redepositing these sulphides. Such agencies certainly began their work before the whole magma had cooled, bearing their heavy burdens of sulphide material, most of which was obtained from the magma in the immediate Vicinity, to occupy the various cavities and fissures as fast as these were formed. The whole of this action was practically completed before the intrusion of the later dykes of the olivine-diabase which are now regarded by the writer, as the end product of the vulcanism to which the norite masses owe their intrusion. In certain of the deposits, the various hydrochemical agencies accompanying dynamic action have been more active than in others, as at the Victoria mine, and some of the Copper Cliff mines, but in others, as for instance, the Creighton mine, magmatic differentiation has been the main and almost sole principle, determining and favouring the development of this the largest and richest sulphide nickel mine in the world. The enunciation, in the first place, of the simple doctrine of the direct igneous origin of these ore bodies and their intimate relationship in this respect, to certain bands of norite or diorite, served an excellent practical purpose, in directing and controlling all the earlier prospect. ing work,

After all, however, the origin of these ore deposits is largely a matter of theory and opinion, and Strong arguments may be adduced in Support either of the view, that they are the direct result of magmatic Segregation, or that the sulphides were brought up in a state of solution from considerable depths, to replace certain portions of the rock, or to fill up spaces caused by structural weakness. The real practical side

Signiticance of occurrence of abundant primary quartz,

Manner of formation of ore bodies much more complex than at first supposed,

Concentration of ore completed before intrusion of diabase dykes,

Magmatic differentiation at Creighton mine.

Origin of ore bodies a matter of theory and opinion.

Re

ccalate

(hades aiguneasanenen sneered Leteensascantondhaabinetnld

Pik b u # i t i t

132 Geological Survey Of Canada

Outlining of of the geological investigation, consisted in the outlining of the immense norite of great masses of intrusive norite or gabbro, with which the nickel and copper

wractical : ' ; importance. deposits of the region are alone associated.

Magnetic Separation Of Nickeliferous Pyrrhotite.

Farly separa- The application of magnetism, either to free the pyrrhotite from imella sg purities, with which it is so frequently intermixed, in order to obtain a inagnetism. homogeneous and pure product, for analytical purposes, as well as to effect a separation of the nickel present in the pyrrhotite ores, is by no means a novel idea, and many experiments have already been undertaken with this end in view. In 1879, Habermehl succeeded in dividing the Bodenmais pyrrhotite, into magnetic and non-magnetic portions respectively, using fine powder, suspended in water, by a strong magnet. The magnetic portion thus separated, by successive trials, furnished a product which was so homogeneous and uniform, that ten out of fourteen of the determinations for iron content were essentially

identical. Magnetic In 1890, T. J. McTighe (') applied magnetic separation in the ethers treatment of the nickeliferous pyrrhotite of Canada.

Aiconta In July, 1892, Mr.Thomas A. Edison, in applying for a United States

pent tee iad patent, embodying the same principle, gave the following explanation

of pyrrhotite. in support of his claim. 'I have 'discovered that when magnetic pyrites, called " pyrrhotite," is nickeliferous, as it usually is, to a more or less extent, the nickel is distributed generally throughout the whole body of the pyrrhotite, but certain crystals are. pure pyrrhotite or magnetic pyrites, while other crystals have some of the iron replaced by nickel and sometimes by cobalt, and that the crystals, containing the nickel or cobalt, are considerably less magnetic than the pure pyrrhotite.'

In the same year, (1892), Dr. S. H. Emmens (2) carried on certain

Magnetic al iggy magnetic experiments on material obtained from the Gap mine, Penna, Enmens. and Sudbury, Ont. These were undertaken, not only for the purpose

of testing the accuracy, or otherwise, of the theory of the replacement of a portion of the iron by nickel in pyrrhotite, but also to arrive at a more accurate expression of the composition of pyrrhotite, by means of a formula. The practical side of the question was not ignored, and a

(1) Ann. Rep. Bur. of Mines, Ont., 1802, p. 164; also Jour. Am. Chem. Soc., Vol. XIV, No. 10.

(9) Ann. Rep, Bur. of Mines, Ont., 1892, pp. 163-166 ; also Jour. Am, Chem. Soc., Vol. XIV, No. 10.

ates tion etic nore hole e or d by the rrho-

rtain

nna, pose ment ata ns of nd a

, Vol.

. Soc.,

Magnetic Separation Of Pyrrhotite 133

statement of the relative abundance of the separated portions is given, with their respective contents of nickel.

Dr. Emmens mentions that he obtained his material from a mine Methods of near Sudbury, but does not specify the precise locality. He also neglects tent oe to give ne-essary details of the composition of the ore selected, except Dr. Einmens, that the gangue formed 10:7 per cent of the whole. In regard to the preparation of the material for purposes of separation, he states that the sample was very finely powdered, and carefully separated by means of amagnet into three grades, namely, 'magnetic', 'feebly magnetic' and 'non-magnetic'. The magnetic and non-magnetic grades were then submitted to analysis, resulting as follows, after deduction of gangue.

ae Composition of separated Division of total nickel contents, products,

sa Analysis. 'y

Feebly Non-

Magne- agne- i si : Earnetic. Magne Analysis.

tic.

Magnetic Feebly Nonportion, magnetic. magnetic,

43, / J

i

A short time after (1893), David H. Browne (! ) contributed the most MaAgnciis valuable article on the question of the magnetic separation of these experiments ores which had yet appeared, showing the existence of a rich nickel- a iron-sulphide, almost identic Nemical composition with pentlan. dite, which formed the non-1: portion of the separation. In the same article, Mr. Browne quest © . ..ut only the validity of Dr. Emmens Browne's conclusions, as 'hasty generalizations from insutlicient premises ', ag cde but points out, that 'he has never yet found the non-magnetic residue results, of the analysis Jiven by Dr. Emmens.'

The material selected for experimental purposes by Mr. Browne, source of consisted of carefully hand-picked nickeliferous pyrrhotitite, from the meatnat a Copper Cliff, Stobie and Evans mines, altogether free from gangue, Browne. and with no copper, or at the most "dy traces of this metal. He mentions that the samples were crusucd to pass a 60-mesh sieve, experi- Preparation of ment having shown that a very fine powder did not yield such perfect -oegannede separations. The following tables show, in brief form, the results obtained :—

(1) "Engineering and Mining Journal ", Dec. 2, 1893. page 566.

'

SRR mre rear ae no mene Hume ERMINE KORE FHS eH

oiaiinenesineartiaasnaaiil eoeesdenanntiadamemnalanaenitiicadanaetind

cosubeontintensetmamumesseamwenenedat attest ssn imate,

oes eaqpecrmnnprynnemat

Percentages and composition of separated products.

Magnetic

Judson.

Samples

obtained from

Copper Cliff.

Percentages

and composi-

tion of the separated portions.

134 Geological Survey Of Canada

Copper Cliff Mine, (Seventh Level.) Picked Nickel Ore,

Nickel in

Nickel in ae Analysis of total yy, : uP Non- oo Magnetic os Se Magnetic. Analysis. magnetic. Analysis. pytrho- men ie landite. 4°62 35°05 : e) nn'70 ps 4 2 80 Ne 00 66°00 38°58 34°35 STOBIE MINE, PICKED NICKEL ORE. Ni.. . 2°75 408 215 er gor 34°70 pr Fe 53-001 12 L75Z :4 57-00 27825 l 1999 i) YS" UK Ss. 35°35 36°10 390 : EVANS MINE, PICKED NICKEL ORE. Cu. os 1.4... trace 0 00 ( 0 1. eee Bi 8 Pe 3°82 on 34°12 an:arn veo Re eee 51°50 S4°04 1 56-00 os 96 29°95 '2 47 64°53 SS) aaah aaa see (40°18 (35-43

In 1900, Mr. J. N. Judson, of the Wetherill Separating Compary, work by J..N. carried on an extensive series of experiments, an abstract of the results, accompanying Mr. C. W. Dickson's paper, on 'The Ore Deposits of Sudbury, Ontario'. (') The material experimented with, consisted of nearly pure pyrrhotite from Copper Cliff, containing by analysis, nickel 3:14, copper 0:42, iron 49°78 per cent. acurrent strength of one ampere, on material crushed to 30-mesh, 90°11 per cent of the total samp'e was magnetic, and this contained 2:46 per cent of nickel or the equivalent of 70-58 per cent of the total nickel in the original pyrrhotite, and 0:22 per cent copper, or the equivalent of 47-48 per cent of the total amount of this metal in the original sample. The remaining, non-magnetic portion, former~ 9°89 per cent of the total sample, contained 9-33 per cent nickel and 2°21 per cent copper or 29°42 per cent and 52:52 per cent of the total of these metals, respectively, in the original sample. The other trials, with

The results showed, that with

(1) Trans. Amer. Inst. Min. Eng. (Albany Meeting), 103°.

MAGNETIC SEPARATION OF PYRRHOTITE 135 samples of the same material, crush showed 86-22 per cent wos magnetic nickel.

to pass a 60-mesh, at ¢ amptre, and contained 1-92 per cent of The remaining 3:78 per cent or comparatively rich nickel ore, but the losses in the magnetic portion were so great, that he concluded that a commercial separation, by means of magnetism, was out of the question,

During the winter sessions of 1901-1902, and 1902-1903, Mr. C. W, Dickson, a post-graduate student at Columbia University, carried a series of experiments, by means of magnetism, in order to determine, as

non-magnetic portion was a

hear as possible, how much of the nickel occurs as a separate mineral, and how much, if any, replaces iron, and also to ascertain the composition of the nickel mineral,

A number of representative samples of pyrrhotite were ground to pass through 100 mesh, and the non-magnetic portion was removed, completely as possible, by repeated treatments with a small horseshoe magnet. The nickel present in the original samples, is given under I and that, of the magnetic concentrates, under TT,

In the second experiment, the original samples were

and the magnetic portion

coarsely crushed, was sized between 40 and 60-mesh, then freed, as well as possible, from non-magnetic material, crushed between 60 and 80 mesh, and again concentrated By successive treatments. the mineral was finally reduced to fine powder. The ultimate was then assayed for nic'.el, and as shown under TIT, the muck reduced in quantity, but not entirely eliminated,

In the third experiment, to see if it was possible

product

nic .el was

to still further reduce the nickel contents, a number of samples were very carefully prepared. They were coarsely crushed, and the purest mineral sele

This was crushed to pass through 10 on 20-mesh, and the

material rejected.

ted. finest Ail the non-magnetic portion was eliminated, and the concentrate was then crushed to 20 on 10-mesh, the finer part being again rejected. The operations were repeated until the ore was finally ground in an agate mortar, the non-magnetic part being very carefully removed each time. 'Ihe nickel in the final concentrate is given under

Ev.

I It.

Location. INi&Co Ni Description of sample,

1. Elsie mine 2. Stobie mine oes 3. Frocd mine : : 65 ¢ 4, 06 ae é '70

Fine-grained pyrrhotite.

rset 1" Medium " Coarse 4 " 70 ss 45 Fine

Massive py .

'i rained pyrrhotite.

Magnetie varations by C.W. Dickson.

Preparation of inacerial,

Exhaustive trials to eliminate last traces of nickel from pyrrhotite,

Composition of original sample and separated portions,

136 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA Nickel does As stated by Mr. Dickson, the results show in the most conclusive — manner, that even in the lower grades of pyrrhotite, the nickel is not

pyrrhotite. present, as replacing part of the iron in the pyrrhotite, but exists as a separate mineral. The fact, that all the nickel could not be eliminated by the methods used, does not indicate, that even the small amount that remained was an essential part of the pyrrhotite, as several factors enter which render its complete removal practically impossible. In

Explanation the first place, the nickel mineiul is very intimately associated with

of presence of the magnetic pyrrhotite and even a minute adhering fragment of

nickel in

magnetic the latter, will cause it to be carried over with the magnetic por-

portion. : : : : : :

™ tion. It must also be noted, that the nickel mineral itself is slightly magnetic and in the form of a fine powder, is attracted by even a small magnet.

Magnetic The magnetic experiments, in connection withthe present work, were

y by y . oa . . ' , . Se belne carried on by Mr. W. M. Ogilvie, B. A. Se., by means of a Wetherill

pee magnetic separator of the ordinary type, in the mining laboratories of McGill University, the authorities, with the recommendation and approval of Dr. J. B. Porter, having kindly placed the machine at the disposal of the writer, for a considerable period, during the winter of 1901-1902. The samples selected, consisted of the richer grades of ore in use at the different mines. Such samples were obtained from the Creighton, Victoria, Cryderman and Mount Nickel mines, the Toughand Stobie property, in Levack township, and the Cochrane property, near

Selection and Blue lake, on the Northern Nickel Range. It is to be regretted, that the location of

pia chemical analyses could not be undertaken while the ex periments i amples.

were in progress, as otherwise much more important results could have been obtained. The voltage of the current employed was 110 and the Strength of strength of the current was varied according to the magnetic permea- — bility of the different samples. The least magnetic of the material, was that obtained from the Creighton mine, and with such material, a current as high as 15 ampéres was employed, while the pyrrhotite from Creighton the Cochrane property, on the Northern Nickel Range, was so strongly

mine ore least Faynetic, that much weaker currents had to be used, the greatest

magnetic. ; reaching a strength of only 1.5 amperes. Preparation In the cuse of the Crei_hton mine, the original sample weighing 36

of material for

separation pounds, was divided into two products, according to the size of grain

obtained by crushing. The first product was obtained by passing the powdered mineral through a 40-mesh sieve, and catching it on a 100- mesh sieve, this part weighing 21 pounds. The second product, 15 pounds, was made up of the finer material which passed through the

Lier RY

Magnetic Separation Of Pyrrhotite

100-mesh sieve. The coarser phase of the original sample gave the Composition following analysis, insoluble 2.28, copper 0:72, nickel 5-31 and tek age sulphur 34.28 per cent. The composition of the finer material was, Creighton insoluble 2:49, copper 1:20, nickel 4:87 and sulphur 34°67, Each of "™ °" these two original samples, was divided into three equal portions, and

subjected to magnetic currents of 15, 3°8 and 15 amperes respectively,

By means of the magnetic current, each of these three portions was Percentage of

again subdivided into three grades, which may be designated as pa ele products.

'magnetic'; 'feebly magnetic' und 'non-magnetic'. The coarser material showed that the magnetic portion varied from 86:3 to 90-2 per cent of the whole sample, with a loss of 2:4 to 9-7 per cent in handling, which loss, however, could be over come, while the feebly mag-

netic portion contained from 4:2 to 8-6 percent, and the non-magnetic

from 1:3 to 2-7 per cent: In the finer material, the magnetic portions

varied from 74-6 to 78-3 per cent, the feebly magnetic from 2:3 to 10-9

per cent, while the non-magnetic varied from 4.1 to & per cent. The

loss, in the case of the fines was very great, owing to the dust adhering

to the belts, the percentages of such loss varying from 9:2 to 11-4 per

cent. Assays of all the separate products from the Creighton mine Assays by were made by Mr. Donald Locke, who for a short time was attached oe a to this Department as assayer and metallurgist, but certain unex-

plained discrepancies in the results, will prevent, at present, the publication of all the details of the chemical investigation. In this connection, however, it may be sufficent to state thata very rich nickel

ore was always obtained, the greater part of which was contained

in the feebly magnetic portion, although a small proportion was carried

over into the tailings or non-magnetic portion. The loss, however, in Loss in the magnetic portion, amounting to from 40 to over 50 per cent of the eereice tax total nickel present in the original ore, was too serious to bedisregarded. mectiscates be In addition to the nickel present, the magnetic part also contained

from 28 to 48 per cent of the total amount of copper present in the Division of original ore, while from 16 to 18 per cent is contained in the feebly (rrr magnetic part, and the remainder 1s carried over with a large propor-

tion of the gangue into the non-magnetic residue, which is really a

very rich copper concentrate, some of the assays showing as high as

28°38 per cent of this metal. The proportion of gangue present in the separation of non-magnetic residue, generally amounts to about one-third of the total &@8v°: product.

The best separation is effected on the fine material, although the ping material presence of dust must be avoided, as this clings to and fouls the belts. pe tela The stronger the current, the greater the proportion of nickel remaining separation.

in the magnetic portion, while, at the same time, a!:hough the total

poten ttinatta tee fae ta 4 ee

!

lb t 1

138 Geological Survey Of Canada

amount of nickel present in the feebly and non-magnetic portions is less, the assay value of such products is much higher, and some of these, which were examined in detail, consisted almost wholly of pentlandite, with intermixed chalcopyrite. Thus, the feebly magnetic Composition product of the fine material, obtained by using a current of 3-9 amperes

pelea with only one trial. showed, on analysis, the following composition, portions insoluble 5:81, copper 1.52, iron 30-41, nickel 30-01, sulphur 33°56

per cent. Knowing the composition of the pentlandite and chalcopyrite, and distributing the above constituents in their proper proportions in these minerals, we find that this product consists of chalcopyrite a and pentlandite in the ratio of 1: 21. In the same way the nonand chaleopy: Magnetic product obtained by using a current of 1:5 amperes on this fine rite, material and from which most of the gangue had been removed by means of hydraulic separation, showed, by analysis, the following com- Composition position, insoluble 2.66, copper 3:58, iron 3001, nickel 30°36 and

of non- 29.09 ™: . :

magnetic sulphur 33-77 per cent. This product is made up of chalcopyrite and

portion, pentlandite in the proportion of 1: 7.

Percentages In the Victoria mine's separation, the ore was much more strongly

of separater : redluctsin Magnetic, and the currents employed were only 0 2 and 1.5 amperes, agit The magnetic portion varied from 86-4 to 90.6 per cent on the cvarser

mine ore. material, while with the fine material, using a current of 0-2 and 1:2

ampéres, the magnetic part varied from 71-4 to 86:7 per cent. The feebly magnetic part never exceeded 2:1 per cent and in one case was as low as 0*D per cent. No assays of these products, however, have been made, as the results obtained in the case of the Creighton mine, although of great scientific and practical interest, demonstrated rather clearly that under present conditions, an economic and commercial separation of these ores is out of the question.

Cryderman The Cryderman mine ore is also more magnetic than the Creighton

oe mine, although less so than the Victoria. The original sample, on

than that which the experiment was conducted weighed 30 pounds. This was from caer: ' ° ; . R ' ae va Creighton. divided into two portions, according to size, one portion consisting of

crushed ore whieh passed throngh a 40-mesh and was caught on a 100- mesh sieve and finer material consisting of ore which passed through the Preparation 100-mesh sieve. The current used had a strength of 0-2, 1°5 and 4 ampepuna res respectively. The magnetic portion of the coarser product varied of separation. from 75 to 85:6 per cent, the feeble magnetic from 2 to 7:7 per cent Percentages and the non-magnetic from 1:9 to 2:3 per cent. There was no loss Sere using the 0-2 and 1-5 ampéres current but wit! the 4 ampéres current the loss was 4:8 per cent. With the finer material the magnetic part varied from 65-6 to 71°8 per cent, although the loss of 10°9 per cent

a

Magnetic Separation Of Pyrrhotite 139

belongs very largely to the first mentioned amount, The feebly magnetic part varied from 1:6 per cent to 17'2 per cent, the latter amount being obtained with the 4 amperes current, while the nonmagnetic varied from 6:3 to 28:1 per cent.

The magnetic separation of the ore from the Nickel Mountain mine y ati was effected by using currents having a strength of 15, 3-8 and 13-5 Nike amperes respectively. The original simple weighed 63 pounds. The Mountain magnetic part of the coarser product (through 40-mesh on 100-mesh), "0": varied from 91:2 to 92:5 per cent with losses of 0:9 and 2-3 per cent Percentagen respectively, the feebly mag e from 41 to 4:4 per cent, and the Chr acute non-magnetic from 1:2 to ¢ 8 ent. The losses varied trom 4 to 5-7 per cent and are accounted tv vy the fact that the fine material has a great tendency to stick to the belts, Also the cross belts were given

their maximum velocity to effect the best separation,

The original sample from the Levack property (Tough and Stobie's), Magnetic

. . separation of weight a

bounds was crushed in the same way as the above, and (y'favich, ore,

the me, currents used hada strength respectively of 0:2, 1:5 and

3S amperes. The magnetic portion varied from 92:5 to 96.3 per cent,

with losses belonging chiefly to this part of 1:9 to 2:5 percent, the feebly Percentags s magnetic from 1.3 to 3-8 per cent and the non-magnetic from 1°3 to 2:5 react a ss per cent. With the tine product, the magnetic portion varied from

91-6 to 93:8, with a loss in one instance of 1:9 per cent, the feebly

magnetic from 1+] to 2:1 per cent, and the non-magnetic from 5:2 to

6°3 per cent,

The pyrrhotite from the Cochrane property on the Northern Nickel Magnetic Range is very strongly magnetic and the current used had a strength of arlene O'2 and 1:5 amperes. The magnetic portion of the coarser product Mikal hanes. varied from 85:3 to 89 per cent, with a loss of 1-4 to 2:8 per cent, the feebly magnetic to 4-8 per cent and the non-magnetic trom 4°83 to 10.9 per cent. With the finer material, the magnetic portion varied from 77.7 to 83 per cent, the feebly magnetic from 0-8 to 4:1 per cent and

the non-magnetic from 15-2 to 18-2 per cent.

The various factors which enter into the construction of the Wetherill Wetherill magnetic Separator suggested, at the the outset, that by its i ore aie employment, it might be possible to accomplish separation on a commercial basis, which, at the same time, would be much more thorough and complete, than any previously recorded attempts, making use of different types of hand magnets Thus, it was possiblejon this machine, Various not only to vary at will the strength of the magnetic current, to be ne oer used, but also to make any required adjustment in the distance between the two magnets, while, at the same time, the speed of the

140 Geological Survey Of Canada

Expectations belts was under complete control. With these refinements or aids to om are efficient separation, it was hoped to make such a thorough division of the products, that the nickel present in the magnetic portion would constitute such a small proportion of the whole, as to render this product of no commercial value, and thus, at one simple operation, get rid of about 80 per cent of practically barren ore. At the same time, it was believed that the feebly and non-magnetic portions would contain

by far the larger proportion of both the nickel and copper.

Trials disap: The preliminary trials of the Creighton mine ore, and assays of the

page and separated products were disappointing, as they showed most conclusiao far of no es . . . great prac: vely that an efficient and economical separation by thi- method was

tical impor-

tanve impossible. It was, therefore, considered unwise to analyze the pro-

ducts from the other mines,although the main facts in connection with these separations have been mentioned. Dickson and About the same time, Mr. GC, W. Dickson published the results of — ee his magnetic experiments, which gave further emphasis to this concluamas re sion. Mr. Dicksen's final utterance on this subject, published in 1903, a commercial also contained a summary of Mr, J. N. Judson's results, to which refeimpossibility. renee has already been made, all tending to show that the removal on

a commercial scale of the nickel from the pyrrhotite, by magnetic

bt ite

methods, is, in the !'.:'+ of our present experience, an impossibility. On the other hand, the shat al! of the nickel cannot be eliminated from the pyrrhotite, does not prove that even the portion remaining, occurs as a replacement of an equal am unt of iron, in chemical combi- Sulphide nation. Examination under the microscope, reveals the fact that even intricately the smallest grains of sulphide material, are often made up of intricate alent " intergrowths of chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite, which minerals, moreover, ee can be distinguished from one another by the use of retlected light. microscope. Such an intimate relationship, doubtless, obtains in the case of the pyrrhotite and pentlandite, al.hough this could not be proved, as these minerals cannot be separately recognized under the microscope. In addition, a large proportion, at least, of the pentlandite, is itself feebly

magnetic, and this is apt to remain with the pyrrhotite.

DitKiculties of 'The difficulty £ obtaining an absolutely pure product, even of minpier rg Lap erals of widely different magnetic permeability, is well known to all magnetic who have carried on experitnents in magnetic separation, so that it is att not surprising, that the magnetic portion of the separated sulphide, always contains an appreciable amount of nickel. In the light of our present experience, it is safe to say that the nickel is doubtless present as very minute grains of pentlandite embedded in or

adhering to the grains of pyrrhotite. The fact that material originally

+d LOCATION OF DEPOSITS BY MACNETIC METH ' 141

containing 5°31 per cent of nickel, with the application of a current Proof that all of 1.5 amperes on material crushed, to only pass through a 40-mesh ' Lela sieve can, at one aperation, be separated into a magnetic product bentlandite, containing only 148 per cent of nickel, while this, in turn, by successive

grinding and magnetic treatment, can be ultimately forced to give a

product which contains less than 0°50 per cent of nickel, is in itself

sutlicient proof, for regarding all the nickel in these Sudbury ov s as

occurring in the form of a distinct sulphide, chiefly pentlandite. With

all of the foregoing results we may well pause and repeat with Dickson In there a tric the question, 'Is there sucha thing asa true nickeliferous pyrrhotite?' os net hig and we might even extend it and ask, is there such a thing as a true pyrite? nickeliferous pyrite? The matter is still open for further investigation,

although at the present stage, the 'onus probandi' rests with those

chemists and mineralogists, who are still wedded to the old idea. A

most convincing proof might be possible, by repeated magnetic

treatment of some of the masses of pyrrhotite occuring in central More experi Ontario, which are known to contain from 0-05 to 0-23 per cent of rik poles nickel. Any enrichment of the feebly magnetic or non-magnetic pro- esac Pred

duct obtained from the separation of such material, would no doubt

furnish the most wmple proof, which even the most skeptical would be forced to accept.

Location Of Pyrrhotite Deposits By Magnetometric Measurements,

The magnetic permeability of pyrrhotite early suggested the employ- proay employ ment of magnetic instruments, to determine the location of valuable sng ie dip

- . : P Z a : x needle to

deposits of this nickel bearing sulphide in the Sadbury District. ALL jocate pyrrho- a : . ° ' tite deposits the eavlier measurements, however, were made by means of the ordinary j), Sudbury dip-needle and the observers were content to obtain such data as would District. enable them to form a rough judginent of the approximate area underlaid by rocks containing more or less of the inagnetic pyrrhotite, although this mineral might be so sparsely disseminated as to be of no economic importance.

In 1901, however, it was decided by the Mond Nickel Company, to pstensive inaugurate a more extensive and elaborate system of magnetic survey- ta & ing, not only in examining the properties they had already purchased, Mond Nickel but also in determining the probable value of other nickel properties COmPary: which were known to be in th + market. It was realized that such delicate instruments as the Thalen-Tiberg magnetometer, in the hands of ex- Employment perts who had been trained in the Swedish methods, would yield data of Swedish

. . Instruments in regard to the location and extent of workable deposits of pyrshotite gud exerts

eee UIE TD EROEAREI lese -ame en 4 eo PEELED NF CIE orem BREET

142 Geological Survey Of Canada

which would enable a very close estimate to be formed of their commercial value, Karly in the spring of 1901, Messrs. Karl Kojer and crik Nystrém, mining engineers of Stockholm, Sweden, and pupils of

Mayne ti

Tiler god the well known Professor Nordenstrom were engaged. Mr. Kojer only

Nystrom. stayed about a month, but Mr. Nystrom was employed for the greater portions of the two seasons of 1901 and 1902, in making detailed mag netic surveys of various mining locations and mines in this district. Most of the lots in the vicinity of the main shaft of the Victoria mines were thus minutely examined, and later, other properties such as the

ie ton Murray, Lady Violet, Mount Nickel, Beatrice and Cryderman mines

surveyed, were also similarly treated. A magnetic survey was also made of the Cochrane property on the Northern Nickel Range. It is impossible to get the details of the results of this work, as the maps which were prepared with great care, are the property of the Mond Nickel Company, the information being regarded as of a confidential nature.

Relative The value of such work, however, when properly undertaken, is

ee eh beyond all dcubt, although, considerably more care and expense is

of pyrrhotite. necessary, than is the case with magnetite. Speaking roughly the magnetic permeability of magnetite is about five times as great as pyrrhotite although this latter mineral varies very greatly in this respect. It is, therefore, imperative, that the lines along which the

Methods magnetic observations are made, should be correspondingly closer a in together. In most of the detailed work undertaken by the Mond surveying. Nickel Company these lines were only separated by intervals of 20 feet,

while, in some special cases, where fuller information was desired or

necessary, a distance of enly 10 feet intervened between the various

phon 7. observation stations. For some time, commencing in 1902, Mr. Thomas vomas A. vee : i d :

Edison and A. Edison carried on rather extensive magnetic surveying In the area

Pathe att between Sudbury and Wanapitei lake, with a view of discovering new

deposits of nickel ore. The efforts of the several parties engaged in

this work, are stated to have met with a considerable degree of success,

as on the strength of the information obtained, various mining locations

Magnetic were applied for. Messrs. J. A. Robert and G, F. Kay, have also

surveys made 5 Se - oes

by Robert and conducted magnetic surv eys under the auspices of the Lake Superior

Kay for Lake Power Company. The publication of Dr. Haanel's report (1) 'On the

Superior ; 5 F : . :

Power C Location and Examination of Magnetic Ore Deposits by Magnetometric : g po y Mag

Measurements' should stimulate this method of inquiry, not only in

Report by Dr. connection with these pyrrhotite deposits, but also as regards our

Haanel. magnetic iron deposits. It is the only detailed account of the Swedish

(1) Published by the Department of Interior, Ottawa, Canada.

P ;

1 ance

Classification And Genesis Of Nickel Ores 145

. method which has yet appeared inthe English

language. With the Use uf i exception of magnetic observations to assist in the veologieal Hkpping, ; stint ' 4 ¢ chiefly, of the iron formations and Associated rocks of the Lake aes Hod y 4 Superior distr et, details of which are furnished by Prof. H.-L Smyth 34 . no very extensive use of Inagnetic instruments has been mace 7 in any other country outside of Sweden. The Swedish instruments . may be obtained from J, Fr Berg, instrument maker, Stoel holin, and Wher s are the most perfect and suitable for the work, which have yet been 2 seb nts 5 manufactured, All necessary descriptions and information in regard . peleaak 5 to their operation be obtained by consulting Ur. Haanel's work . which he hopes may be of service to the mining profession. h CLASSIFICATION AND GENESIS OF NICKEL ORES. : d 1] Mineralogically, the ores of nickel may be divided into eight classes, Mineralogical

as follows: 1, Sulphides ; 2. Arsenides and sulph-arsenides ; 3. sulph- © tsstfeation

of nickel ores, antimonides ; 4, Sulpho-bismuthides ; 5. Tellurides, 6, Silicates : (ft

as Oxides and Salts ; 8. Carbonates,

is

Many of the nickel minerals, included under these divisions, are un- y, gt's claasi-

a Important in an economic sense, and Vogt (') has shown that all of . neo Mi Heke, Ofes

" those which are commercially valuable, fall naturally into three main into three

f ropes

groups, '

r 1, Ores containing arsenic and antimony, with or without hismuth, Orea contain-

d such as niccolite, gersdorttte, chloanthite, &e. facet ' hey .

t 2. Sulphide ores (without arsenic), as for example, nickeliferous Sulphide ores

es pyrrhotite and pyrite, pentlandite, polydymite, millerite, ec.

- : 3, Silicated nickel ores, such as genthite, yarnierite, &e, Gittoatos'ad

ree ' 2 3 ' nickel, a rhe arsenides and sulph-arsenides, belonging to the first GrOUP, OLCUP princi W

principally in veins, as for instance, the old and well known metalliferous lvealities

n lodes of Saxon and Hungary; Mine la Motte and Bonne Terre, in Mis* orsenida-ores

8, souri ; the Gem mine in Fremont county, Colorado ; the Macdonell or found.

1S Gersdorttite mine, in the Sudbury District, Ont. ; and the recently dis-

30 covered deposits near Haileybury on the west side of Lake Timiskaming,

or Ontario.

2 By far the largest deposits, belonging to the second group, are the (4,).¢ jocali-

nickel-copper sulphide ores, of the Sudbury District, in Canada, which aan sea : mn are the subject of the present bulletin, but Norway has, for many years, are found. 5

. operated, on a large scale, precisely similar concentrations. Other ee

sh

— (2) Trans. cieeatnae Min. Eng. Vol. XXVIL pp. 640-709. (1) Zeit fur Prak, Geol., 1893.

preneee eueaescey

bocetat hots hs

bat # Hi H

ragies

Where nickel silicates occur.

Geological associations and origin of arsenides and sulph-arsenides of nickel.

Sulphides, direct result of magmatic differentiation, moditied by some secon dary action.

Geological associations of silicates of nickel,

Mode of occurrence of silicates of nickel,

Explanation of occurrence of 'chert fragments.

144 Geological Survey Of Canada

closely related ore bodies have also been worked as mines, as at Varallo, in Piedmont, Italy and at Lancaster Gap in Pennsylvania. The deposits which have been partially developed and worked, near St. Stephen, in the Province of New Brunswick, Canada, are also apparently of the same nature. The most celebrated and extensive of the deposits, representative of the third group, are those of New Caledonia. Important bodies, however, of similar silicates, are known to occur, and have been developed, to some extent, near Riddle's, in Douglas county, Oregon, and near Webster, the capital of Jackson county, in western North Carolina.

The veins of the first group occur, either, penetrating, or in intimate connection with eruptive rocks of the peridotite or gabbro type, and are generally found in the more decomposed or altered portions. These basic igneous rocks, as is well known, contain appreciable quantities of nickel, as a normal constituent. The extremely rich nickel ore, contained in these vins, has therefore, evidently been derived from the leaching out of the nickel from the neighboring rock, during certaia processes of alteration, to which it has been subjected.

The method of formation of the sulphide deposits of the second group, typified by the Sudbury deposits, has already been discussed at length, and the conclusion reached, that they are the direct product of the differentiation of a basic igneous magma, modified, to some extent, by processes, which are usually grouped together under the designation of secondary action.

The silicates of nickel are always confined to areas underlaid by intrusive masses of non-felspathic basic magnesian rocks, of the peridotite family, the several varietal forms of which are distinguished from one another by the names of dunite, saxonite, websterite and eherzolite These rocks are always more or less decomposed to a serpentinous material, so that the type of rock with which these deposits occur, is usually described as serpentine.

The ore rarely crops out at the surface, but is covered with a thick mantle of decomposed material, from which most, if not all, of the nickel has been leached, to be concentrated in places a few feet lower down. This covering or soil is very highly ferruginous, with occasional large 'chert' fragments lying about. These pseudo-boulders of so-called chert, are considered a favourable sign, in prospecting for the ore bodies, for they invariably indicate the presence of the peridotite beneath. They really represent residual portions of the peridotite, which escaped the wholesale decomposition, on account of their being held together by an intricate series of quartz veinlets, the interstices of which are

Classification And Genesis Of Nickel Ores 145

occupied by only partially decomposed peridotite. The surface mantle

or soil usually varies fro 1 nothing, up toa few feet, when it gives place, gradually, to a loose, brownish material, representing the decomposi-

tion of the peridotite 'in situ.' This usually shows abundant, but Nickel small and intricate veins and veinlets of the greenish silicate of nickel oe and magnesium, often with abundant scales of chrome mica. Tn pla-

ces, irregular fissures and cavities, often of considerable size, are occu-

pied by rather pure silicate material. This brownish, loose material

gives place, in turn, to a brownish, soft, friable rock, tilled with smaller

but harder and rich veinlets of the nickel silicate, while this, again, is replaced further down, by the unaltered peridotite, which, it is believed will contain little or none of the silicate concentrations,

Analyses of the associated dunite or websterite, from the North Ca- Determinarolina occurrences, show the undecomposed rock to contain, from 0-15 Resa to 0°35 per cent of nickel oxide, while the saxonite, in which the Oregon Sicapern occurrences are developed, contains, according to Diller, 0:10 per cent ciated with of nickel oxide, while the olivine itself, of which the rock is mainly com. "cated ores, posed, contains 0-26 per cent of nickel oxide. This is a very usual occurrence, and the undecomposed peridotite of New Caledonia often con-

tainsas high as 1 per cent of nickeloxide. Similar rocks, from the Eastern

Townships of Canada, show the presence of 0:15 to 0:26 per cent of oxide of nickel, without cobalt while the associated chromic iron ore also contains 0-22 per cent of oxide of nickel, with distinct traces of cobalt, It is almost impossible to collect any of the brownish material, resulting from the decomposition of these peridotites, without finding an appraciable amount of nickel present. It appears certain, therefore, Origin of

silicated ores

that the nickel has been leached out of the surrounding rock, and aeaiawer,

redeposited along with silica and magnesia in all available eracks and interspaces. The peridotite is always readily decomposed under ordi-

nary conditions of atmospheric decay, the magnesia being the first ingredient to be carried away in the form of a carbonate. This is followed by the silica and nickel, which is redeposited at lower levels

and in suitable places. The result of such an origin, will be the Comparaoccurrence, at these several localities mentioned, of comparatively tages shallow deposits, their downward extension, depending almost entirely

on the depth to which decomposition has proceeded. On the other

hand, the ease with which many of these deposits may be mined, and Attractive the large amount of comparatively rich and desirable nickel ore, "eposits which may be thus secured, make them particularly attractive.

Ores of nickel of world wide distribution but rarely of economic importance.

Vein deposits of Saxony and Hungary.

Nickel ores in Sweden, Finland and especially Norway. Nickel in Scotland, Ireland and Wales. Nickel in Russia. Nickel in J.S.A. Nickel at Mine la Motte. Nickel in Colorado,

Nickel in California.

Nickel in Connecticut.

146 Geological Survey Of Canada Distribution Of Nickel Ores.

Ores of nickel are much more evenly and abundantly distributed over the whole world than is generally supposed, but in only a few countries are the deposits of such dimensions, as to warrant their development as working mines, and, at the present day, the mines of New Caledonia, and those of Sudbury produce almost the whole of the world's supply of nickel.

Small quantities of the arsenides and sulph-arsenides of nickel are found in association with ores of silver, lead, bismuth and cobalt, in the well known veins of Saxony and Hungary. As a rule, however, this nickel may be regarded as a by-product obtained in the refining of these ores, and alth: ugh valuable, it forms a comparatively small proportion in comparison with the other metals present.

Nickel also occurs in Sweden and Finland, and the famous deposits of Norway, for many years produced a comparatively large proportion of the nickel of the world. Nickel is also known to occur in Scotland while the serpentines of the west of Ireland, and those of Cornwall, a' contain a little nickel associated with them.

In Russia, nickel has been reported from Rewdinsk and Zangl The most celebrated deposit of nickel in the United States is a Gap mine, in Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania, but this mine suspended operations in 1891. The domestic production of nickel in the United States is, at present, all derived as a by-product, from the treatment of the lead ores, which are found in the mineralized portion of the sedimentary limestones at Mine la Motte, Missouri. Very rich nick2l ore has been found in the 'Gem mine' in Fremont Co., Colorado. Nickel minerals are also known to occur at other localities in this state, as for example, in the hornblendic rock near Salida, associated with copper, and also in small quantities, in some of the ores froin the Leadville region. The occurrence of nickel has also been reported from several places in California, At the Kelsey mine, in Los Angeles county, nickel and cobalt are found in the form of arsenates, together with silverglance and native silver, in a fissure vein, in close relation with a dyke rock, probably diorite. The associated ores contain 7 to 15 per cent cobalt, and 2 to 3 per cent nickel, and 1,000 to 1,400 ounces of silver per ton. (') Nickel also occurs at the cobalt min's near Chatham, Connecticut. Some important bodies are known to exist in Nevada but these have not been extensively developed. Nickel ores are also

(1) Proc. Col. Sei. Sve. A. TV, 189% 98, pp. 419-20.

Nickel In Canada 147

reported from Idaho, Arizonz. and New Mexico. Rich ores of nickel Nickel in also occur in the copper district south of Lake Superior. The most Arixona, New important deposits of nickel ore at present known to exist in the United Mexico. States, are the silicates of North Carolina and Oregon, to which more

detailed references will be made.

In Canada, the distributio; of the nickel deposits occurring at Sudbury, have already been desci.bed, but important bodies of similar sulphide material are also known to occur, and have undergone preliminary development at St. Stephen, New Brunswick. Other occurrences oie ay arc reported from British Columbia, and the Province of Quebec, but Stephen, N.B. these are at present of no economic importance, In Newfoundland, rich nickel ore has been found in considerable quantities at the Union mine, at Tilt cove, in Notre Dame bay. Australia, New Zealand, South Now Caledo- Africa and Chili, all contain deposits of nickel ore, but New Caledonia rome seal is the only formidable rival with which Sudbnry has at present to of Sudbury, deal.

Nickel In Canada.

The Wallace mine, about a mile west of the mouth of the Whitefish Nickel first

river, on the north shore of Lake Huron, is of historic interest, as being ea ve the first place in which the presence of nickel was recognized in Canada, Wallace mine. Tt was first opened as a copper mine, in 1847. During the season of

1848, this location was visited by Mr, Alex. Murray, Assistant Pro.

vincial Geologist, who reported on the geological associations and pro- Description of

bable extent of the deposit. (!) This occurrence has also been described baie lan gy

by Mr. C. W. Dickson as consisting of pyrrhotite, pyrite and chal. W. Dickson. copyrite, occurring at the junction of two small dykes of mica-diorite,

which are intruded into the surrounding quartzites. The mining de.

velopment work undertaken did not reveal any large body of ore, and No large body

of ore.

although a considerable amount of copper ore was encountered, in assotion with a rich arsenical ore of nickel, the occurrence of the latter in very small veins, adjacent to the southern wall of the mine, did not 41, encourage extensive mining operations, and the mine was accordingly abandoned. soon abandoned. The material, obtained by Murray, in 1848, was handed to Dr. Hunt for analysis. This specimen, weighing forty- Descript.on five ounces, is described by Dr. Hunt, as 'a steel grey arseniuret, the ed mtn species of which I have not yet determined, with iron pyrites and pro- ates as ee SS ——— 1848,

(1) Rep. of Progress, Geol. Surv. Can., 1848-49, pp. 42-45; also pp. 61-64; also Geol, of Canada, 1863, pp. 59-60, 506, 695, 737 ; also Min. Res. Ont., 1890, pp. 24, 67, 91 and 97,

(2) Trans. Amer. Inst. Min. Eng. 1903.

10}

aA

148 Geological Survey Of Canada

bably some arsenical sulphuret of iron.' The analysis of the whole mass, when powdered, gave the results under I. The first five substances Character and Making 59-30 per cent of the ore, are separated, as corresponding to the Sg metallic portion of the mass, although, it is probable, that a portion of ore of Wallace the iron is derived from the gangue. The cobalt equals about three — parts in a thousand of the weight of the nickel. Removing the gangue,

and re-calculating the remainder to 100, we get the results under II.

fronses ie ees 24°78 41°79 Nickel (with a trace of cobalt) 8:26 13°93 Arsenic (mean of two deter-

minations). ++++++- 3°57 6:02 Sulphur 06+ cree 22°63 38:16 Copper. eeereeeeree 0:06 0°10

59°30 100.00 Bili0a: ihc cca ss kare ees 28°40 Carbonate of lime 4:00 Magnesia ..-+- seers 4°40 PA FuininG@ avncc se vem esos SBya 40°01 99°31 3

Description Two ores of nickel are described by Dr. Hunt, (1) as occurring 'in x ie ot vein, cutting a bed of amygdaloid, on Michipicoten island, in Lake niccolite and Superior. The first of these is a brittle, massive ore, associated with Een quartz and having a brilliant metallic lustre and a colour varying from island, tin-white to bronze-yellow. Its hardness is 5 and its specific gravity

varies from 7°35 to 7°40. The mineral is variable in composit*on.

The results of four analyses were as follows : °

I II lil IV Arsenic 37°36 PRY A re GCL Copper 44°70 30°81 27°60 10°28 Nickelsttecs neues 24°55 27°29 36°39 SIVGR ale. ieee eles 0:25 Oe seca ves TEGtAE ace siajarcs 99:09 100°28

1) Geol, of Can.. 1863, pp. 506 and 737.

Nickel In Canada 14.

The above variable results are due to the material analyzed, consisting of a mixture, in different proportions, of niccolite (nickel 44°1 per cent and arsenic 55-9 per cent) and domeykite (copper 71-7 per cent and arsenic 28-3 per cent).

The second ore, said to be from the same mine as the preceding, Description of occurs as the gangue of native copper and native silver, which are anil tapered scattered through it in grains. The material is amorphous, greenish- ir me a yellow or apple-green in colour, with a waxy lustre and a conchoidal nickel of fracture. It is very soft, polishing under the nail, and falling to pieces Michipicoten when immersed in water. It is decomposed by acids, and is found to be essentially a hydrated silicate of nickel. Under T, is an analysis of one specimen dried at 212° F. Under TI, is an analysis of another specimen dried at a higher temperature. It contains, besides, traces of cobalt and copper, and appears to be identical with nickel-gymnite or genthite. Under III, is a partial analysis of a specimen, which

contained small disseminated grains of the native metals.

35°80

Protoxide of iron.. Lime Magnesia

Alumina

traces Silve: oe ae re erie traces

The arsenide of nickel (niccolite), has also been found at the 3A Niccolfte in mine, on lot 3 A, of the township of McGregor, in the District of ecg tf Thunder Bay, Ont., where it occurs in somewhat large, nodular grains : and.bunches, together with native silver, of a similar form, freely disseminated through a gangue of cale-spar, with some quartz. (')

Nickel is seldom or never absent from the magnesian rocks of the ae . . . . avickel] in Eastern Townships, in the Province of Quebec, and the various S€TPeN- hasic magnetines, steatites, diallages, actinolites, ctc., always contain smal! quan- j0" —- tities of this metal, rarely, however, more than two or three thousandths, Quebec.

It has never yet been fc :nd in any considerable quantities, although

(i) Ann. Rep, Geol, Surv, Can. Vol. V, 1890-91, Part R, p. 47.

Nickel from Montreal river.

Orford Nickel mine.

150 Geological Survey Of Canada

the chromic iron ore from Ham, gave, on analysis, 0°22 per cent of oxide of nickel. (1). Dr. Harrington also found a small amount of nickel, in the serpentine, brought by Dr. Bell, from Pigeon lake, on the Montreal river, Ontario. (?)

Mining for nickel was, at one time, carried on at lot 6, con. XII., of the township of Orford, in the Province of Quebec, but operations had evidently been suspended for a considerable time, before the year 1883, when Mr. Willimott visited the locality. (3) The presence of nickel at this locality, had been known for a long time but the deposit had not been opened up as a mine, until! long after its discovery. The

Description of location, known as the Orford Nickel mine, was developed by means

deposit.

of two small shafts, sunk on what appears to be a large calcite vein, enclosing small transparent green crystals of chrome garnet, and often penetrated by long filaments of pyroxene, of a greenish or yellowish colour. The chrome garnet also forms large granular masses, holding

Occurrence of 8Paringly disseminated, small, brass-like grains and crystals of millerite.

millerite.

Mine abandoned before

Nickel from Joliette Co., Que.

Nickel bearing pyrite at St. Jerome.

Pyrite with nickel aad cobalt at N.

ue largest crystals, however, are generally found penetrating a beautiful cleavable variety of calcite, and often exceed three inches in length. The houses, mining buildings and smelting furnaces were abandoned in 1883, with the exception of one house, which was occupied by a caretaker.

A sample of iron pyrites, from the eleventh concession of the Seigniory of Daillebout, J oliette Co., in the Province of Quebec, yielded Dr. Hunt, 0:55 per cent of oxide of nickel 0°43 per cent of nickel) mixed with cobalt. (°)

A carefully picked sample of iron pyrites, occuring on lot 163 of the cadastral plan of St. Jerome, P.Q., was analyzed by Dr. Harrington and found to contain copper 0.05 per cent, cobalt 0.22 per cent and nickel 0.10 per cent.

Dr. Hunt mentions that a bronze-coloured, impalpable variety of iron pyrites, in irregular, ceniform or globular masses, which occurs

Burgess, Ont, With copper pyrites, in the township of North Burgess, Ont., gave him

on analysis, 3.47 per cent of cobalt and 2.21 per cent of nickel.

(1) Rep. of Progress, Geol. Surv. Can. 1853-56, pp. 485-474; also Geol. of Can. 1863, pp. 507 and 614.

(2) Ann. Rep. Geol. Surv. Can., 1876-77, p. 483.

(3) Rep. of Progress Geol. Surv. Can. 1880-82, Part G.G. p. 5.

(4) Geol. of Can., 1863, p. 728.

(5) Geol. of Can., 1863, p. 506.

(6) Rep. of Progress Geol. Surv. Can. 1876-77, p. 482.

(7) Rep. of Progress, Geol. Sur. Can. 1863-66, p, 217.

Nickel In Canada 151

Dr. Adams ana'yzed a specimen of pyrrhotite, associated with a Pyrthottte little chalcopyrite and sphalerite, with a small amount of intermingled p. ery : chlorite, from Pic island, Lake Superior, and found it to contain 0.562 Lake

Z Superior. per cent of nickel and 0,138 per cent of cobalt,

Dr. Hoffmann analyzed a specimen of iron pyrites, from wondonderry, Pyrite with N.S., which he found to contain 0.144 per cent of nickel and 0,813 Bickel at

a Londonderry, per cent of cobalt. (2) N.S.

Nickel has also been met with in British Columbia, at various localities, associated with pyrrhotite and other sulphides. Gersdorttite Occurrence of has been observed, in the form of small octahedral crystals, distribut: d Pe ae through specimens which show an intimate association of massive B.C. pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite, from the Columbia-Kootanie property, Determinaone mile and a quarter northeast of the town of Rossland. The whole hao gs sample which weighed 6 lbs, 10 ozs. was analyzed by Mr. F. G. Wait (°) who found it to contain 0.65 per cent nickel, with traces of cobalt

Considerable interest has been manifested in the deposits nickeli

ferous pyrrhotite occurring near St. Stephen, N.B. These deposit st, Stephen

were first visited and described by H. P. H. Brumell. Dr. R.W paid gia Ells, who visited the localities, where these ore bodies occur during Brumell,

the summer of 1903, has furnished the following description. (5)

The nickel bearing rocks of St. Stephen were specially examined, Description and found to consist of never intrusives, instead of the Lau entian SSE z granites, as at one time supposed. The rocks are chiefly of the gabbro of St. Stephen, type, which have penetrated and altered a series of black and gray — as Satie slates, the age of which has also been a matter of much doubt. They were, at one time, supposed to be of Silurian age, but from the absence of fossils, this point has never been fully determined. As developed about the head of Oak bay, it was supposed, that here, they might be the equivalents of some portion of the primordial of the St. John area, but this point also has never been determine by fining fossils. On Rae ok necked the geological map of the district, they ate provisionally coloured bearing rocks Cambro-Silurian. They apparently underlie, conformably, the sandy acta

(1) Ann. Rep. Geol. Surv. Can., 1880-82, Part H., p. 15. (2) Ann. Rep. Geol. Surv. Can., 1874-75, p. 14 and Vol. V, 1890-91, Part R. p. 48. (3) Ann. Rep. Geol. Surv. Can., Vol. IX, 1896, Part R, p. 15, 16 and 3s,

(4) Ann. Rep, Geol. Surv. Can., Vol. IV, 1890-91, Part SS. pp. 112-114; also Vol. X, 1897 Part M. pp. 27-30.

(5) Summ. Rep. Geol. Surv. Can., 1903, pp. 156-159.

taseestrenieer

—

savAaR A EOIN AL

ea a 1 PMA Bot cn ha a

t

aeatentic ah (PPI nbpnte inl

]

:

Hie Hi

Alteratiion of associated rocks,

Nickel occurs in pyrrhotite at St.Stephen, N.B,

Todd and Carro!1 mines.

Mining development work at Todd mine.

Mining work undertaken at Carroll mine,

Openings near edge of gabbro mass.

152 Geological Survey Of Canada

slates, which are regarded as Devonian and which occupy the northwest portion of the county, and on this basis, their age might be Upper Silurian.

They are extensively altered in many place:, changing into mica and chiastolite schists, but these alterations are purely local, and caused by intrusions of the gabbro masses. They resemble, in certain points, pre- Cambrian schists, but not as a series. Further detailed examinations for fossils, will be required, to finally settle the question of their true horizon.

The nickel near St. Stephen, occurs in pyrrhotite, as at Sudbury, but the associated rocks are of a very different geological horizon from those of the latter district. The pyrrhotite is found !n gabbro masses, which cut a series of siates, and have altered these extensively along the contacts. The mineral occurs, apparently, in pockety masses, which are probably quite local in character. The ore is found at a number of points, but attempts at mining for nickel have been made chietly at two places, on what are known as the Rogers and Hall farms. The former is usually styled the Todd mine, the latter the Carroll mine. :

On the Rogers farm, considerable work, mostly of an exploratory nature, has been done. A shaft, 12 x 12, has been sunk for 24 feet, and three trenches have been cut, with depths ranging from three to eight feet, the principal one being rather more than two chains in length, on a course of 8. 54° W., magnetic. In this trench, the ore is exposed for a little more than 30 feet along the line of excavation, the rest of the cut showing partly mixed ore and partly rock. The width of the ore body was not ascertained, as suflicient development work has not been done to decide this point.

On Hall's lot, (Carroll mine), several shafts have been sunk, one of 77 feet, one of 14 feet and one of 12 feet. In addition, a bore-hole with a diamond drill, was carried down from the bottom of the deepest shaft, to a further depth of 163 feet. From information obtained from Mr. J Carroll, the first 40 feet of the main shaft was in ore, but from that point, to the bottom, the ore was mixed with rock.

The formations at this place are practically the same as on the Todd area. The openings are apparently near the eastern edge of the gabbro mass, since altered slates are seen in close proximity.

An examination of the specimens collected from one of these deposits, about three miles north of St. Stephen, was conducted by Mr. R. A. A. Johnston, (1) who gives the following description.

(1) Ann. Rep, Geol. Surv. Can., Vol. V., 1390-91, Part R, p. 39,

Nickel In Canada 153

'The material consisted of pyrrhotite, through which was dissemi- Description nated a little copper pyrites, and a very small amount of quartzose st eta analysis o

gangue. A partial analysis gives the results under I, or calculated on ore from St.

the material free from all gangue, under IT. pa

Nickel 1-72 1.82 Cobalt 0°16 Galt Copper 0°31 G39

Pyrrhotite, in associatior. with chalcopyrite, and a little magnecite, in Association of a gangue of greenish-gray serpentine, obtained from Thompson's farm, Wp St. Stephen, was partially analyzed by Dr. F. D. Adams. The analysis from pyrrhotite constituted approximately, about one fourth, by weight, of on : the whole. The pyrrhotite, carefrlly freed from the associated minerals, was found to contain, nickel 0-923 per cent, and cobalt 0394 per

cent.

Partial analyses, by Mr. M. F. Connor, of this Department, were made of specimens, selected by Mr. R. A. A. Johnston, from both the Analyses of Todd and 'the Carroll properties. The specimen from the Todd mine, paAD ate ge consisting of nearly pure pyrrhotite, with a small proportion of inter- mines, mixed chalcopyrite, and with about 10 per cent of gangue, gave nickel 1°38 per cent, and cobalt 0-21 per cent. The specimen from the Carroll mine, which was almost pure pyrrhotite, with very little chalcopyrite, and less than 5 per cent of gangue, gave nickel 1:35 per cent and

cobalt 0:21 per cent. St. Stephen

ore of lower It will thus be seen, that the ore is of lower grade than that gene- age ie

rally met with and mined at Sudbury, so that, for the present, at any Sudbury,

rate, unless large bodies are encountered, these deposits will not be

able to compete with the much larger and richer deposits of Sudbury. ermine The rocks, at all these places appear, to be very similar in character' °f pyrrhotite.

and consist, for the most part, of a gabbro, varying from fine to some.

what coarse-grained. The presence of the pyrrhotite, is indicated by No Wadd Anes

masses of gossan at the surface, and in places, the ore is largely mixed ed contact or

with rock. There does not appear to be any well defined contact of "te

the ore body with the adjacent rock, and but little indication of a

vein structure is visible. Outside of the ground covered by the tren- eiauseune

ches and pits, the surface shows th gossan cap at a number of points, of gossan.

with a thickness ranging from a few inches to several feet. From the

fact that this capping shows at several places, east of the main trench,

on the Rogers farm, it is probable, that masses of pyrrhotite will be

found over a considerable area, but probably, in many, cases, so mixes

(1) Ann, Rep. Geol. Surv. Can, 1880-82, Part H. Zp. 16.

k

i: H

a

Diamond drill operatious recommended,

No very definite information yet available.

Pyrrhotite at Moore's mill,

Nickel at Calumet island, Pontiac Co. Que.

Mode of occurrence and geological associations.

Cowen mine deposit.

Partial analysis of ore obtained from E. P. Cowen.

Other nickel bearin sulphides at Calumet Island.

154 Geological Survey Of Canada

with rock, that careful separation would be necessary after mining. The existence of these ore-bodies could be best proved by judicious boring with a diamond drill, The areas of gabbro are limited, and appear to rise, in dome-shaped masses, through the slate formation, at a number of places. In the present state of development of the district, but little information of a definite nature can be given as to future values.

At the location near Moore's mill, while the gabbro is seen at different points, the pyrrhotite appears to Le disseminated in a mass of altered schistose slates. The ore here is, apparently, also of e 'ow grade, and the extent of the deposit not large.

Another locality, where mining for nickel has been undertaken, is on lots 11 and 12, range IX., of the township of Calumet (Calumet island), Pontiac county, in the Province of Quebec. (') The ore is mostly a pyrrhotite, containing both nickel and cobalt, The associated rocks are diorites, that cuta series of grey ani rusty gneisses and crystalline limestones. A large knoll of the diorite, rises to the south of the ore bed, which has a thickness of about twelve feet, and between it, and the diorite mass, is a band of crystalline limestone. The ore itself is associated with another band of diorite, that appare:tly traverses grey gneiss, the latter being seen beneath, or to the north of the ore deposit. On the river, a short distance to the south of this mine the formation is mostly a crystalline limestone, and the intrusions of diorite and granite, in this rock, can be readily seen. The band of pyrrhotite at the Cowen mine, dips to the south, at an angle of about 50°. A shaft has been sunk to a depth of about forty feet, and crosscuts have been made, to test the wicth of the deposit.

A compact massive pyrrhotite, through which was dissemir © 1 small quantities of quartzose gangue, handed to Dr. G. C. Hoffms:... by Mr. E. P. Cowen, was partin'ly analyzed by Mr. F. G. Wait, ving the results under I. The gangue constituted 4:30 per cent, by weight, of the whole ; so that, neglecting this, the pure sulphide would give the results under IT.

Gui ign st 12. 888% 4067, Cah ok Oe He hd see ee ge SO

A quartz-amphibrtite, carrying a somewhat large quantity of pyrrhotite, some pyrite small quantity of chalcopyrite, and a very little zinc blende, was obtained from the southeast half of lot 6, range II, of

(1) Ann. Rep. Geol. Surv. Can., Vol. XT, 1898, Part A p. 119,

Nickel In Canada 155

the township of Calumet. The pyrrhotite, freed from all gangue and associated minerals, was found, by Mr. F. G. Wait, to contain nickel 1°48 per cent, with no cobalt. ('),

Cobaltiferous lillingite (diarsenide of iron), occurs on lot 16, conces Cobaltiferous sion XIV, of the township of Galway. The specimen was received by se dag Dr. Hoffmann, from the late Mr, J. B. Campbell, on July 21, 1888, ("),

The mineral, which was associated with a mall quantity of pyrrho- Association tite, and a little white translucent quartz, was massive and exhibited a only in parts, and that but very indistinctly, any approach to crystal. lollingite, line structure. Colour, steel-grey ; lustre, metallic : brittle ; fracture uneven ; streak, greyish black ; specitic gravity, after correction for a little included quartz at 15:°5° C., 7-028.

An analysis by Mr. R. A. A. Johnston, of carefully selected material, ¢).ieal afforded the results under I. Deducting the gangue (silica), and re-cal- fuilicarie by culating the remaining constituents to 100, we obtain the results under J slnston,

'78 1:69 This mineral had not previously been identified in Canada, and, if found in quantity, would be of economic importance.

The discovery of cobalt, nickel, arsenic and silver ores, on the west Cobalt, nickel, side of Lake Timiskaming, Ontario, was made public in November, arsenic and 1903. The deposits were discovered during the building of the Timis. nals naming and Northern Ontario Ry., the road bed of this new government railway running almost over the top of the first of the deposits discovered. The deposits lie five miles south of the village of Hailey- ,ake Tomisbury, which is 106 miles north of North Bay, and 333 miles north Sourrene of of Toronto. At the time of Prof, Miller's (3) visit, from whose des- deposits, cription the present information is obtained, four veins or deposits ¥xamination had been located, in the vicinity of a small body of water, known as iar

(1) Ann. Rep. Geol. Surv. Can., Vol. X1, 1898, Part R p. 39, ie

(2) Ann. Rep. Geol. Surv. Can. Vol. VI, 1892-93, Part R p. 19 and 43. (3) Eng. and Min. Jour., Vol. LX XVI, Dee 10, 1903, pp, 888-889; also Canadian Mining Review, Dec. 31st, 1903.

Pa ik Sad

anki: "eA

sea asad Delt: AMR at eames sera

nn

ii NG ie lk soba:

FoFoh abies io donned

ab enim Pciiastt Pia ly

fy f

oeeameemmeyy eee roenntn perme

Epesansccteim cee smists brett Ma sae

oS

oe

Teoeation of Ch promite, Veins eut l pper Hurenian rocks,

Presence of basis eruptives stispeeted but not recog nized,

Strike of veins. Location and fasociation of vein No. 1,

Ores consist principally of niccolite and smaltite with much native silver,

Presence of annabergite and genthite, Mode of occurrence

of native silver,

Order of generation of component minerals,

Vein No, 1

made up of

maltite and niccolite,

Com position of ore.

156 Geo Ical Survey Of Canada

Long lake, lying about haif a mile south of the southern boundary of lots 8 and @ cor. of the township of Bucke, All of the veins cut through th slace and slate conglomerate, of the Upper Huronian, The presen oi lykes or sheets of the darker coloured eruptives was suspected, they were not definitely recognized, The slate and slate referred to, cut t! om tically. The strike of the veins Nos.

ate havea slight dip, and the veins 1 and 3, is approx rtheast and southwest, that of 4, is east

and west, that of 2 id southeast.

Vein No. lies ea ot ilway track, at the edge of a swamp,

about a quarter of a ff the ead of Long lake. It has been uncovered at three ) i ow yards of one another. Medium-grained, da ate, is found on one wall, At the widest opening, .): " yw 'dth of over 6 feet, but the vein matter is more or less sixed 5 sk. The ore consists of niccolite or the arsenide of nick: ', and the diarsenide of cobalt, together with much native silver. On wei uered surfaces, the vein matter is coated with the beautiful decomposition product, erythrite (cobalt bloom). The green nickel stain (annabergite?) is also seen on sc surfaces, but is usually masked by that of the cobalt. Nickel silicate (gentnite) may also be present, The secondary mineral arsenolite (As,0,) also occurs. Native silver, in leaves, films and fine threads, and moss-like forms, is intimately associated with the nickel and cobalt minerals especially with the niccolite, as well as in cracks in the rock and in the calcite veinstone. In weathered portions of the ores, the silver shows distinctly. One sheet, composed chiefly of silver, had a thickness of nearly 0.375 of an in. and a diameter of about one foot, The silver appears to have crystallized earlier than the niccolite, which has been deposited around it. The smaltite has formed still later than

the niccolite.

On location No. 2, which lies about half a mile southwest of No 1, the ore body is distinctly vein-like in form. The ore is a mixture of smaltite, and probably some closely related arsenide, such as satHorite (Co- As, ); and niccolite. It was found to have the following composition :

/

ti Il. UL. IV. Cobalt 16:8 16°76 1980) 1-70 Nickel 70 6-24 456( 7 [ron 6:3 ee 6-20 &:89 Arsenic 69-0 66:60 60°30 63°55 Sulphur 3°57 4-09 538 Insoluble 0-9 races 2-40 0-60 Water ace eases :

Nickel In Canals '7

Analysis I. was made by O. S. Jamea; TH. and If]. are of ave rave

samples collected by WG. Miller, the former from the Uppermost opening, the latter from the middle or main opening the analyst being A. G. Burrows. ft was evident that ITf, was somewhat

seeiaasaaiinaiebeieaee aes a TTT eT

weathered, as it showed considerable cobalt: bloom, Analysis PV, is by Dr. J. Waddell. Lt represents a specimen collected by Prof, Nicol This specimen was not taken like [f. and IIL, with the object of determining the average composition of the vein. Prof. Nicol states that a qualitative analysis showed the presence of ssnall amounts of copper and lead, and the. once of antimony, bismuth and vine,

This ore body, unlike the others examined, carries so silver, in the parts so far discovered. Three openisgs have been made ¢. he vein, over a length of 300 feet. The massive ore has a width ! inches, but vugs in the wall rock, 2 feet or mo from the vein, are filled with cobalt bloom. The walls, which are well defined, are of slate and the vein is almost perpendicular, lying on the hillside. about 7 feet above the level of Long lake, and a few hundred yards east,

Ore body No, 3, lies at the southern edge of Long lake, about half Ciarseter a mile southwest of No 2. It is very similar to No. 1, consisting of Nv 3 Sein native silver, smaltite, erythrite, and, in all probability, niccolite,

Vein No. 4, is about half a mile southeast of No. 3.) The vein, y3 Ser

averaging not more than % inches, cuts a perpendicular bare cliff, facing Huds i VAPACTS

the west, nearly 70 feet high. The vein is weathered aw ay, leaving aof vein No

crack in the face of the cliff, in some places, or 5 feet in depth. Thin leaves of silver, up to 2 inches in diameter, were ingon the ledges, and the decomposed matter was cemented together by the metal. It wa found impossible to get a fresh sample of the ore, with the harwuer, the vein being so much decomposed, The weathered specimens, howev: in addition to the native silver, containec erythrite, and the unalter: ore will be found in ail probability to consist of smaltite and niccolite, in addition to the silver. Across a distance of & inches, a distinet banded structure was noticed, and there were 12 or 14 layers of o1 lying parallel to the walls. A sample of the much weathered ore from vein No. 4, which appeared to contain less silver than most the samples collected, was found by Mr. A. G. Burrows to have the following percentage composition : Siiver 16°60, cobalt 3 $1, nickel 142, arsenic 16°79, gold none. This ore is brownish to yeifow'sh in colour, and has an earthy appearance. Its colour is due to the presence of several decomposition products, the oxides of iron, cobalt and nickel. A small amount of cobalt bloom is present. At the bottom of the

elf the vein eutsthin banded, dark ce ur greenish, at times, almost ) y '

Occurrence of heterogenite and asbolite.

Recognition of dyscrasite and chloanthite hy Prof. Nicol.

Occurrence of simaltite and erythrite west of Rabbit lake.

Active pros: pecting for nickel after discovery of Sudbury deposits,

Numerous assnys made by Ceological Survey Dept.

Analyses wrformed by Messrs R. A. A. Johnston and F. G, Wait.

vy

158 Geological Survey Of Canada

black slate, which has a slight dip. The slate passes gradually, as far as could be discovered, from the steep character of the cliff, into a coarse breccia-conglomerate, in the upper part. The fragments in the conglomerate, consist of quartz, slate, granite and other rocks,

On some of the native silver specimens, there are small, black, speroidal masses, with little lustre. These appear to be the hydrated oxide of cobalt (heterogenite). Some of the deposits, on the silver, resemble asbolite. The carbonates of cobalt and nickel are also probably present.

Prof Nicol, of the Kingston School of Mines, who afterwards examined the matecial collected, recognized the silver antimonide, dyscrasite, in association with the native silver of No. 1. He has also definitely determined the presence of chloanthite, (arsenide of nickel). It is associated with the niccolite, and also occurs rather free from cobalt, in some of the nodular masses,

Sma!tite and erythrite, have also been met with in small quantities, associated with the basic igneous rocks, to the west of Rabbit lake, so that the whole area, where such rocks occur in the Timiskaming and Temagami districts, should be carefully prospected. Although the width and extent of these veins, may not be very great, the character of the ore is such as to mike them a distant economic possibility, at the present ruling prices of the metals contained in them.

OTHER ASSAYS FOr NICKEL OF THE SULPHIDE ORES IN CANADA.

Since the discoveries of the highly nickeliferous pyrrhotite of the Sudbury Mining District, there has been very active prospecting for simi..< sulphide material. Numerous specimens, from all parts of the Dominion, have come to the laboratory of the Geological Survey Department, for assay. The material, thus submitted, has been examined, and partial analyses have appeared, from time to time, in the reports of the Section of Chemistry and Mineralogy, which, besides, appearing as separates, are included in the various annual volumes. It has been thought advisable to tabulate these results, arranging them according to provinces, All of the analyses have been conducted by Messrs. R. A. A. Johnston and F, G. Wait, assistants to Dr. G. C. Hoffmann, the chemist and mineralogist to the Geological Survey. These analyses are in addition to those which have been already quoted, on previous pages of this bulletin.

Partial Analyses Of Nickel Ores In Canada

Partial Analyses Of Nickel Ores In Canada.

Locality.

1 Clarendon, Fronte 2 Lot 10, con. EV;, Creighton, Algoma 3 Schreiber, (2. miles west of) Thunder

4 Same locality.

5 Darlington Bay, L. of the Woods... ..

6 (K. 4 lot 18, con. LLL, Dalhousie, Lanark Ce ieee noe

7 Lot 15, con, A. An glesea, Addington Co...

way, Peterborough , + See 9 7 Uti, con. LV., Gal-

way, Peterborough

Galway, Peterborough Co

s. end lot 16, XIV., Galway, Pe-

terborough Co

Ontario,

Cangne.

60°09 16°00 N me, 10°00 20°00

Present,

Oo

12 Lot 16, con. XV, oe

Galway, Peterbo rough CO... sos 13 Galway, Peterbo rough Cu -. Mf Lot 1, con. XT, Som erville, Victoria Co 1D Somerville, tia Co ... moe 16. N. part of Vietoria Co

17 8. KB. shore) Vermilion lake, Nipissing Dist...

faint traces oot

fai. tr.

Ood

18 Lot 6, con. 1., Hyman,

Algoma Dist... ...

19 English River, 9miles N. of ©. PB. Ry, District of Rainy

! River

20 Near Jackfish tion, C. P. Ry., Thunder Bay Dist.!,

21 Twelve Mile lake, Minden, Halibur-; SORE aaa tt

None.

Partial analyses of nickel ores from Ontario,

Analyst.

A. Sohnston. . A. Johnston . A. Johnston,

A. Johnston

. A. Fohnston.

ait.

. Johnston.

. Tolnston

. Johnston,

t. Wait.

. A. Johnston.

r Wait. +, Wait,

. Wait.

. A. Johnston,

. Wait,

+. Wait.

. Wait.

160 Geological Survey Of Canada

No. Locality, ( tangue.' Cu. Ni. ! Co.

22 Lots 32 and 33, con. XL., Sebastopol, Renfrew: O00. 5.00) oi vesa: Present.! None. 010 F. G, Wait. 23 E. 4 lot 18, con. IIL,

Dalhousie, Lanark

(o" pace meee Pik sie ee ee 0165 Trace, 0 23 F. G. Wait. 24 Matawatchan, Renfrew Co Bek neue) pore cod bac 0°29 |F, G. Wait.

25 Cutting on Whitney and Opeongo Ry., miles from junc-| tion withC, A, Ry., Sproule, Nipissing

ERMINE ere cat OE saaiecrs Present.) 0°19 shy Labia ite F. G, Wait. 26 Lot 17,con. II, Westmeath, Renfrew Co |faictr, Nune. |R, A, A. Johnston.

27 N. 4 lot 4,con. 1V., Graham, Algoma District es TOE [vc isses 0-49 'Trace, 0°49 F. G, Wait. 28 S. 4 lot 8, con. IV., Dowling, Algoma Distrigtces scacistesssaats Present.) .. . 0°26 FF. G, Wait. 29 W. 4lot 10, con. TV.,

COL eet tes e ces 3°32 " O98 on 1°02: |F. G. Wait. EXPLANATIONS. Ex Hanation 1. A grayish-white, gneissoid rock, through which was disseminated and descrip- . . . tion of a somewhat large amount of pyrrhotite. The metallic portion of the

ae 7 a ore contained, 0°5° of cobalt. 2. Coarse, granular pyrrhotite, in asso-

the Province ciation with zinc blende, through which was disseminated a somewhat

of Ontario. ; . small amount of a dark gray, schistose rock and white quartz. 3. Pyrrhotite, from an extensive deposit. Examined for Mr. Thomas Marks. 4. A fair sample of the pyrrhotite, from the same locality. Collected by Dr. Selwyn. A fine, granular, massive pyrrhotite, 'through which was disseminated a little quartzose gangue. 5. Pyrrhotite, with a dark gray gneissoid rock. Examined for Mr. Mather. 6. Pyrrhotite, with a little pyrite, in quartz mica-diorite. Examined for Mr. W. C. Caldwell. 7. Adark gray gneissoid rock, through which was disseminated a fairly large amount of pyrrhotite, and a trifling quantit' of chalcopyrite, 8. A compact, massive pyrrhotite. Examined for Mr. E. D. Orde, 9. A massive pyrrhotite, in association with very small quantities of pyrite in quartz, Collected by Dr. F. D. Adams. 10, A compact, massive pyrrhotite, with a little pyrite, and trifling amounts of chalcopyrite and quartz. Examined for Mr. R. H. G. Chapman. 11. Massive pyrrhotite, with very small quantities of chalcopyrite, quartz and felspar. Collected by Dr. F. D. Adams, 12. Quartz ,carrying some pyrrhotite, and a small quantity of pyrite. 13. Lot and concession not

Partial Analyses Of Nickel Ores In Canada 161

communicated. Massive pyrrhotite, with a very trifling amount of calcite. 14. Quartz, a little felspar, and a very little garnet, carrying a small quantity of pyrite and pyrrhotite. Collected by Dr. F. D, Adams. 15. Pyrrhotite, with quartz, and a little garnet. Number of lot and concession not communicated. 16. A compact, massive pyrrhotite. 17. From E. V. Wright's claim, north of Northeast Arm of Lake Temagami. A very fine, crystalline, massive pyrite, in a gangue of quartz-diorite. Collected by Mr.A. E. Barlow. 18, Pyrrhotite, with mica and but little visible quartz. Collected by Mr.W. McInnes. 20, A very fine, granular pyrite with small quantities of pyrrhotite.2 1, Compact massive pyrrhotite, with a little pyrite, and a small quantity of quartz. 22. Compact, massive pyrrhotite, with small quantities of chalcopyrite and pyrite, in a gangue of calcite, pyroxene, some hornblende, felspar and a little garnet. Examined for Mr. L. Meany. 23. Quartz, witha little hornblende, carrying large quantities of pyrite and pyrrhotite. Examined for Mr. T. B. Caldwell, 24. Compact, mussiye pyrrhotite, with a small quantity of quartz and hornblende-gneiss, 25, Compact, massive pyrrhotite, with a few particles of chalcopyrite, aud a small quantity of gangue, inainly quartz and felspar, with a very little garnet. Examined for Mr. A. H. N. Bruce. 26. Pyrrhotite, with a little chaleopyrite, apatite and hornblende. 27. Massive pyrite, associated with pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite and danaite, (cobaltiferous arsenopyrite). 28. A massive pyrrhotite, with which was associated a little chalcopyrite and a somewhat large proportion of gangue (vitrophyre-tutf), 29. Granular, massive pyrrhotite, with a very little chalcopyrite, with a little gangue of felspar, quartz and hornblende. Examined for Mr. J. Bawden.

Quebec.

Fev IND in metal-

No, Locality. Gangue Cn, Ni. Co. tre Analyst.

30 'Lake Mistassini. . . Hp St OO) fa oace sel Ente i Pate be .../R. A, A, Johnston, 31 Lot 24, R. 18, Potton, Small traces traces Brome Co amount Seach eenreieay 0 ae SER Joknston, 32 (Lot 24, R. 7, Claren amt. don, Pontiac Co...! None +++-, 1°50 |Trace.| 1°50 |R. A. A. Johnston. Lot 2, R. 8, Eardley, Ottawa Co 3 i None.},... :{R. A. A, Johnston, Lot 14, R. 6, Aylwin, Ottawa Co

; 1°68 |F. G. Wait. am, Ottawa Co...| / Present. 4 litt.| [Co, Ni/F. G. Wait.

Lot 14, R. 5, Mash 1 0-28 2 a am, Ottawa Co ) ., None.| [FG Wait Raspad " F, G. Wait.

Bnet deserip-

tions of specimens examined

from Province

of Ontario,

Results of partial analyses of sulphides from the Province of Quebec,

er Mer

Si pamaL aT EIRNTE PF seins ze

if BE

162 Geological Survey Of Canada

Description EXPLANATIONS. of geological pi yeas sa 30. Pyrrhotite, in gangue of hornblende schist. Collected by Mr. Wal-

— ad m McOust (Survey) in 1872. 31. Pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite and pyrite,

Province of With small amount of gangue, (ne specimen contained a very small

Quebec. amount, and the other, a trace of nickel. 32. Pyrrhotite, but the material does not, so far as is known, occur in quantity. 33. A massive pyrrhotite. Examined for Mr. W. A. Allan, 34. Pyrrhotite, almost pure, or with quartz, felspar, mica, hornblende and calcite. 35. Massive pyrite, with a few particles of chalcopyrite, and a somewhat larger proportion of granite. 36. Massive pyrrhotite, with a very little quartz. 37. Taken from a different part of the deposit. Pyrrhotite, a little pyrite and a very small amount of gangue of black garnet and pyroxene, and a very little quartz. Nos. 36 and 37, were examined for Mr. W. L. Marler.

British Columbia.

38 |Near head of Barclay sound, Vancouver I ASS RA eee 3) oe |Trace.|Trace.| R. A. A. Johnston. 39.| Monashee mine, near} head of Cherry Trifl' Co PUN eS i a Present.| None.} Am't.| R. A. A. Johnston, 40 |Ilecillewaet dist 16°75 |Present.) 0°12 |Trace.| 0°14 F. G, Wait. 41 |Creek flowing into, Downie creek, 20) miles above fork with Columbia R., West Kootenay Faint Gistricds.< fcc cas le kiran posreetes EME 02% chien R. A. A. Johnstor. 42 |Crawford bay, Kootenay lake. ... ...J 0.. Present.|Trace.|} IF. G. Wait. 43 |Same locality 10°70 |Present.|0°048 |None.\0°053 |F. G. Wait. 44 few miles N. of! P. R., Yale dist.../ 10°17 |Present.|0°031 10°034 |F. G. Wait. 45 |Between N. Thompson and Clearwater SS ly en Peters Present.|Trace.' \F. G. Wait. 46 |Mission City claitns, townships 17 an 18, Westminster

Gib ne seencr re 36°50 Present.|0°055 Trace. 47 jJarvis let 14°80 |Present.| 0°24 |T:

48 |King Solomon mine,

Kaslo-Slocan mining camp, West Kootenay dist 0°36 3 eek 49 |E. side, Upper Arrow

lake, about 12 miles!

from its head, W. Kootenay dist !.. Siew |Present.|

Partial Analyses Of

Locality.

range,

50 |Monte Cristo clain,. Trail creek, Columbia river,

Lac le Bois, Inte-| rior Plateau Region 53 |Humphrey claim,| Lac le Bois. Inte-! rior Plateau Re-) a ee 54 Quartz creek (Sal-| mon R.), 20 miles |_south of Nelson... 55 Kootenay-Colum bia Ropers miles -K. of Rossland. 56 Queen Victoria claim, 8 miles W, of Nelson

|Leviathan Group of Claims, Campbell creck, E, side of Kootenay lake. . . . Claim, 1 mile - of Argenta,

Claim, Deer creek, Clayoquot, Van- _couver island

I., W. side of Texada island j

66 is

Present.

14°50 Present.| 0°20 Strong|0-234 F,

Present, 37°15 Present. 62°73 Present.

Present.

Present.

Present.

17°72 Present.

15°75 Present.

O15

Nickel Ores In Canada

BRITISH COLUMBIA.—Coné.

ER Sra Strong} 0°13 F.

trace,

trace,

(0065 Trace. 008 F,

0°04

0°43 'Trace.| 0°68 F.

Co.1'58,

. 016 |F,

0°16 If,

0°69 Trace.

. Wait.

|Trace.} 0°10 'F. G. Wait.

SORES Trace. F. . Wait.

! 5 Trace.) 0°92 |F. j H

Ni.0°67 F,

Results of assays for nickel and cobalt of sulphides from the Province of British Columbia,

. Wait.

+, Wait.

CARRE eave as

- Wait.

- Wait.

. Wait.

. Wait.

. Wait.

- Wait.

. A. Johnston,

+. Wait.

Explanation and description of sulphides assayed for nickel and cobalt from the Province of British Columbia.

164 Geological Survey Of Canada

Explanations.

38. A massive pyrrhotite. Examined for Capt. J. Jaques. 39. An association of white translucent quartz and dark green diorite, carrying large quantities of pyrrhotite, and a little chalcopyrite. 40. Pyrrhotite, with a little chalcopyrite, and a small quantity of a dark green rock, 41. Quartzo-felspathic rock, with a large amount of pyrrhotite. Examined for Mr. J. D. Boyd. 42. Pyrrhotite, with a very small amount of chalcopyrite, in quartz. 43. Pyrrhotite, with small quantities of chalcupyrite and graphite, quartz, felspar and mica. These two last were examined for Cockle Bros. 44. Massive pyrrhotite, with a few specks of chalcopyrite, and a small quantity of quartz. Examined for Mr. J. Dickenson. 45. Pyrrhotite, with small quantities of chalcopyrite. 46. Fine, granular pyrrhotite, with small quantities of pyrite and chalcopyrite, and a somewhat large proportion of gangue. Examined for Mr. D. Elliott. 47. Pyrrhotite, with some chalcopyrite, and a little galena, with a small proportion of gangue, composed of quartz and fine-grained <liorite. 48. Compact, massive pyrrhotite, through which was dissem nated very small quantities of quartz. Examined for Mr. H. E. Porter. 49. Quartz, with a little chlorite and mica, carrying small quantities of a compact massive pyrrhotite, a little pyrite and a few specks of chalcopyrite. Examined for Mr. R. Sanderson. 50. Pyrrhotite, with a little chalcopyrite, and small quantities of a quartzose gangue. 51. Exceedingly fine-grained pyrrhotite, with a little chalcopyrite, and small quantities of a quartzose gangue. 52. A felspathic rock, carrying sinall quantities of pyrrhotite. 53. Quartzo-felspathic rock, carrying small quantities of pyrrhotite. 54. Pyrrhotite and pyrite, with small quantities of calcite and felspar. 55. Pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite, with a little gersdorflite, in a somewhat calcareous gangue. 56. Pyriteand chalcopyrite, with some pyrrhotite, in a gangue of andradite, quartz, and a few scales of mica. 57. Arsenopyrite and chalcopyrite, in a gangue of hornblende and calcite. Danaite or cobaltiferous arsenopyrite, carrying 3.05 per cent cobalt, also occurs at this mine (Ann. Rep. Geol, Surv. Can., Vol. VITI, 1895, Part R p. 13). 58. Quartz, with a little felspar, hornblende and graphite, with a small quantity of pyrrhotite, and a very little chaleopyrite. Examined for Mr. F. W. Pettit. 59. Massive pyrrhotite, witha very little chalcopyrite, and a trifling amount of quartz and felspar. Examined for Mr. J. Turner. 60. Massive pyrrhotite, with a few particles of chalcopyrite, and a small quantity of gangue, made up mainly of garnet and calcite, with a little quartz and hornblende. §1. Chalcopyrite, with some pyrrhotite, and sinall quantity of quartz.

oe uantite, gue. 55, what tite,

Icite. balt, 1895, shite, yrite. very spar. . few le up

61,

lartz.

Partial Analyses Of Nickel Ores In Canada 165

Examined for Mr. F. Jacobsen. 62, Very fine, granular, massive pyrrhotite. Examined for Mr. Alfred Raper. 63. Granular, massive pyrrhotite, with a very little chalcopyrite. Examined for Mr. G. H. Franklin. 64. Compact, massive pyrrhotite, with a little quartz. Examined for Mr. James Walker. 65. Fine, granular, massive pyrrhotite, with some pyrite, and very little chalcopyrite, with a gangue mainly of hornblende and quartz. Examined for Mr. Geo. de Wolf. 66. Compact, massive pyrrhotite, with a little chalcopyrite, and a somewhat large quantity of quartz. Examined for Mr. J. T, Edwards,

New Brunswick.

j Assay, for

Analyst. nickel and Locality. iGangue,| Cu, Ni. : cobalt, of : pyrrhotite 67. L'Etete, CharlotteCo R. A. A, Johnston.

EXPLANATION. Description

of association.

67. Pyrrhotite, like that from St. Stephen, with a little chalcopyrite in a gangue of diorite.

NOVA SCOTIA, Determinage 7 tions of nickel i ; and copper, of sulphides No. Locality. Gangue, y 1 ee ai Analyst. Scotia,

'

68. |Barrachois harbour, Cape Breton Co.../ Eecoaas: truce,. none .. R. A. A. Johnston. 69.\Lutehe creek, Cape} a Breton Co... ] 25°40 -, 975 trace.) 1:00 F.G. Wait. 70.|Boularderie Centre, aw Victoria Co 12°41 present.' 0°67 trace..' 0°08 |F. G. Wait.

H

SibbedinbEd nani abatidestagoslodie (Anak siete

sas setevarterrtnee' Cora

it

a

setts

Description of geological association.

Assays, for nickel and cobalt, of beh pe rom Northwest Territories and Ungava District.

Deseription of gee re gical association,

Nickel deposits

of Norway very closely analogous to those of Sudbury

Work by Prof. J. H. L. Vogt.

166 Geological Survey Of Canada

Explanations,

68 Pyrrhotite. Examined for Mr. Alex. McLeod. 69. Pyrrhotite, witk a somewhat large amount of silicious gangue, from the land of Mrs. O'Hanley, on the rear of George river. Examined for Mr. Alex. McLeod. 70. Massive pyrrhotite, with a few particles of chalcopyrite, and a little hornblende and quartz. Examined for Mr. William Haggerty.

Miscellaneous.

Ni. in metallic portion.'

'

No. Locality. Gangue, Cu. Ni. Co. : Analyst.

0°06: Trace.| 0°10 F. G. Wait.

coast, Hudson bay, Pre- Ungava district. 48°00) ,..] O° sent. 0°15) R. A. A. Johnston.

Explanations.

71. Pyrrhotite in a gangue of quartz, felspar, and a little mica and graphite. Collected by Mr. D. B. Dowling. 72. Massive pyrrhotite, with a large amount of quartz.

The Nickel Deposits Of Scandinavia.

The nickel deposits of Norway and Sweden are of especial interest to us, since they resemble, in all essential particulars, the larger and richer deposits of the Sudbury District. It would be impossible, within the scope of the present bulletin, to give a full, or even s.:tisfactory account of these occurrences, and the various phenomena attendant on their geological associations, and the reader is referred for such details, to the elaborate and epoch-making work of Prof. J. H. L. Vogt, of Christiania, Norway.

(1) Vogt, J. H. L., 'Nikkel forekomster og Nikkelproduktion.' Geol. Soc. Norwiiy, Christiania, 1892. 'Sulphidische Ausscheidungen von Nickelsulphiderzen.' Zeit. fiir. Prak. Geol., 1893, also 1894, 1895, 1900 and 1901. ' Ueber die Bildung von F lagerstiitten durch Differentiationprocesse in Eruptivmagmaten.' Internatio: Geol. Congress, Zurich, 1894. 'The Formation of Eruptive Jre Deposits.' M. Ind. Vol. IV, 189%. Problems in the Geology of Ore Deposits.' Trans. Am. Inst. Min Eng. Richmond, 1901. 'Platingehalt in norwegischen Nickelerz.' Zeit. fiir Prak. Geol., Aug. 1902.

aston,

rest 'and withtory it on tails, Chri-

Nor- Zeit. 1 E tics M Inst. t. fiir

The Nickel Deposits Of Scandinavia 167

All of the Scandinavian nickel deposits are intimately related to 4) Scandina-

masses of gabbro or norite. In Norway, there are about 40 of these Vit depuite

associated

masses, with which deposits of nickeliferous pyrrhotite are associated, with gabbro these being the largest nickel deposits in Europe.

or norite,

These masses, which are undoubtedly of igneous origin, are either Mineralogical composed of gabbro, which is essentially an admixture of plagioclase be gag felspar and augite, or of norite, a closely related rock, made up principrlly of plagioclase felspar and hypersthene (rhombic pyroxene):

These masses of gabbroic material, occur in the Archwan hornblende Norite intrus schists and gneisses, generally intruded parallel to their foliation or Scat daca lam'nation but often cutting across them. The norite of all these mas- schists and Ses, shows a remarkable tendency to differentiation, so that the same naa mass, in different parts of its extent, will vary greatly in the relative Proportions of the constituent minerals, The principal types of such Ditferentia differentiates, are often distiicuished as gabbro, olivine gabbro, and "2° Berite pyrrhotite gabbro and norite, olivine norite and pyrrhotite nurite, while

the decomposed representative is distinguished as uralite-gabbro,

The ore is vbiefly pyrrhotite, containing, when pure, from 2:3 to 5 Average per cent of nickel and cobalt, but as mnch as 7 per cent is sometimes Mithcl ant found. These metals are usually present in the proportion of one ad part of cobalt, to from seven to twelve parts of nickel. Associated pyrrhotite. with the pyrrhotite (Fe,S, ) are pyrite (Fe3,), chalcopyrite (Cu FeS,), General and, in soma places, ilmenite or titaniferous magnetite. Chalcopyrite a is never present in large amount. The pyrite usually contains more cobalt than nickel. In the nickel ore, in a few places, the mineral pentlandite (eisennickelkies), is distinctly discernible, and, in a single Occurrence of case, the mineral cobaltite. oor

The pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite and pyrite, are regular constituents Sulphides are of the gabbro or norite, occurring in small quantities, all through the se various masses, but, like the other constituents of the rock, are found of norite. more abundantly in certain places, and a gradual transitition can often be observed, from the normal gabbro to pyrrhotite. gabbro, and to masses of pure pyrrhotite, with little or no rocky or silicate admixture. Ovcasionally, the ore occurs in masses, sharply separated from the norite, as at the Ertelien mine. These segrezations of ore, are, in the great Poles gt majority of cases, situated either directly at, or near the edge of the edge of norite igneous masses, and Vogt regards these concentrations as distinctly aie ; comparable to the basic borders or edges, so often observed, abou; sageiet te granites and other igneous rocks, in which the basic borders are some- i bea s times marked by similar gradual passages, and, in some cases, by rather ordinary basic abrupt transitions.

masses,

re ene

168 Geological Survey Of Canada

Ratio of Prof. Vogt draws attention to the fact, that the average proportion

copper and of nickel to copper in the Norwegian ores is about 100 to 40 or 50

nickel in " :

Scandina and that in the Varallo (Piedmont, Italy) occurrence about the same

es Useadion proportion holds good, while in Canada, where the associated igneous

occurrences. rocks are more acid in composition, there is sometimes relatively more copper, 100 parts nickel to 100 or 150 parts of copper being

found in some of the deposits,

Ratio of Nickel to Copper in some of the most important of the Scandinavian mines.

Content of Percentages of

Namo of Mine, Cove comme, ck aud cobul

parts of nickel. rhotite.

[aes 'ae Griigalten mine 75-80 about 2°50 Klefva mine bd , about 2°75-3'00 Ertelien mine ) 45-50 about 3°00 Bamle district. : 35-40 about 3°50-4°00 Flaad mine 37 about 4°50 Senjen mine 35-40 (about) about 3°50 -4:00 Dyrhaug mine 30-35 about 3 80-4°20 Beiern mine... 20-25 (about) about 7°00

eee The Scandinavian ores also contain small quantities of silver, gold, gold, silver, and metals of the platinum group, including platinum, iridium and

os oe osmium. The amount of these metals is shown by the following

osmium in| analyses of the matte, from the Ringerike and Evje nickel smelters. (') Scandinavian mattes. a

Ringerike ivje i tr

()

Nickel, 51°16 41°50

ae Cobalt. ./2 ) 1°98 0:97 Ringerike Copper. .. ... 16°41 23°60 cat ivje er 10°87 (13) saree : Sulphur. 19°58 (20) r . per t . per t. smelters, oe eee BP 40 CMe scp Cee , 1 (about) Platinum 2°6 8 (about) Iridium.. ... Naecrnc ee : 0 1 (about), FCN Ao thee Pm Hices sais

(1) Zeit. fiir Prak. Geol., Aug., 1902, p. 259.

THE NICKEL DEPOSITS oF SCANDINAVIA 169

The mineral "associations of the precious metals, is shown hy the following table of analyses of the ore from the Flaad inine at Evje.

Analyses of Mt. Norwegian ore showing nineralogieal MSOC IOs of the pre cious metals, goon 4 Trace Pyrrhotite (mainly) A Z y 6 an Prace. 0 20-65 ti 17) 46 Vrace, 6

y i i 2 St race Chaleopyrite and pyrrhotite, ' Ix Ht Trace, a : ' 1440 oO. Trae

, o Chale rite, re al Maloopyrite , 7 acs

Mining for nickel began in Sweden between 1838 and 1840, at History of Klefva (Smaland), and in Norway, between 1847-50 at Espedal and right vega Ringerike. In 1838, Berzelius showed that the pyrrhotite from the and Norway. Klefva mine, in Smaland, in southern Sweden, contained nickel. Before that time, this mine had been worked for copper. When the fact was announced that the ore contained about 3 per cent nickel, it was decided Discovery of to erect a smelting plant for nickel, this being the oldest nickel smelt- — ing plant in Scandinavia. In the beginning of 1840, Th. Scheerer, the ores. professor of metallurgy in che University of Christiania (who had been born in Saxony, and was manager of the Modums works), described the new mineral eisennickelkies (with 22 per cent of nickel), from Espedalen (Gausdal), Scheerer also announced that nearly all the Norwegian Erection of pyrrhotite and pyrite contained nickel and cobalt. The publication of poe all these results, was really the cause of the erection of the nickel plant at Espedalen, which war in operation, on a large scale, between 1840 and 1850, with a staff of 200 men. This smelter, however, was closed down about 1855. In 1837, Scheerer analyzed the pyrrhotite from Modums, and found it to contain 2:80 per cent of nickel. This pyrrhotite had been obtained from the Ertelien mine, which, later on, proved to be the chief mine supplying the Ringerike nickel smelter. About 1700, these works had been used for copper, and had, in the first hal¢ of the last century, a small plant for the production of vitriol and red Reasons fi paint. Scheerer supplied information to his friend, A. Roscher, (why **tablishment

is described as being descended from a mining engineer), as to where vian nickel a Industry.

(1) Zeit. fiir Prak, Geol, Aug., 1909. p. B58

—

got SSD cata emerge on

rm Asi "ep +

Kragero nickel smelter,

Many refine: ries erected i 1870,

Curtailment of operations owing to

170 Grological Burvby Of Canada

he had found the pyrrhotite. This man had also been working in connection with the paint plant at Modums and Snarums. Ali of these facts combined, helped to bring about the establishment of the nickel industry in Scandinavia.

Between 1850 and 1860, and towards the latter end of this decade, tke nickel mines in connection with the Kragero nickel smelter, were started by D. Forbes and the two brothers J. and T, Dahil. During the nickel boom about 1870, there were several nickel refineries located

"in Norway, while, at the same time, the plants of Sweden, Austria Hungary, and Italy, supplied a large quantity of nickel, but Norway, during this period, was the largest producer of nickel in the world, After the discovery of the nickel in New Caledonia, and its advent on the market, between 1876 and 1878, the price of nickel fell to such a

abundance of degree, that most of the European nickel smelters closed down, or

New Caledonia ores,

decreased their production, and from 1877-80, up to 1888-89, New Caledonia produced from two thirds to three fourths of all the nickel

Supremacy of in the market. Quite recently, the production of nickel from New

Canadian ores,

Production

Caledonia, has, in turn, been exceeded by that of Canada.

From 1848 to 1892, about 330,000 metric tons of nickel ore were mined in Norway. The maximum yearly output was in 1876, when 42,500 tons were mined. From that time, till 1892, from 5,000 to 7,000

tons per annum, were produced, The average nickel contents of the

— ore per annum have been as follows; 1851-1860, 20 tons; 1861- Norway, 1872, 45 tons; 1873-1876, 245 tons ; 1876, 360 tons ; 1877-1880, 100 tons ; 1881-1885, 125 tons; 1886-1892, 105 tons. Since 1892, the production of Norwegian nickel ore and nickel, have been as follows. Table of Nickel Ore Value. Metallic Nickel. Value. production metric tons, 8 metric tons. 8 ng 1893 2397 6,480 113 70,605 oo 1894 2355 5,400 1038 63,450 1895 494 1,080 17 10,530 1896 SL errs 16 8,100 1897 nil Cans nil fooee 1898 BE erosions pu easier 1899 220 810 5 2,700 1900 1888 12,690 13 9,720

Production of

nickel from Nev wegian ores in 1901.

In 1901, the Mineral Industry states that 27 tons of nickel were produced from Norwegian ores, but this is included in the United States production from imperted ores.

Thw Nickel Deposits Of Bcandinavia 171

In some of the mines, smal! bodies of rich ore have been found, as for pict, nickel example, at Beiern, where ore was en countered with en average of 7 of at Beiern, per cent nickel (mekel-bearing pyrite and pyrrhotite) ; and, in other places with an average of about 5-5 per cent. In the better mines, Average first class smelting ore ean often be sorted out, but the grade of the i $ bulk of the ore is much lower, In 1870, miners were satisfied with a en yield of 0°8 to 1:3 per cent of nickel from the smelting ore, the actual assays of which were from 0-9 to 1-5 percent In later years, when only the richer mines have been operated, and hand serting has been practiced, with more care, the yield has increased from b+ to 1S per cent, ximost to 25 per cent, with an average of 2 ner cent. In the Cost of mines, the cost of producing one ton of ore, assaying about 2 per cent nickel, varies from 81.67 to 83.09, ay eraging ®2.3%, (1)

From 1861 to 1891, Sweden produced nearly 80,000 tons of ore. Production of From 1866 to 1875 the nickel contained in tho Swe lish ores averaged a re an - aa p saa Theta from 65 to 70 tons per annum ; 1576-80, 50 tons ; 1881-85, 30-40 tens. nickel in

: . , : Sweden, Since 1886, however, the nickel contained in these ores, has only

averaged from 10 to 15 tons per annum. The last year in which there was any production of Swedish nickel ore wos in J891, whe: 3 ton were mined, None of the Norwegian imines are at present in operation. No Norwes

Whit wites

although attempts are being made to revive the nick industry in at prosene that country. The keen riv ilry of Canada and New Caledonia will, ease

however, prevent any extensive operations, at least, tor many years to sundance of ah 'terial from come. Canada and New

Caledonia.

Nickel In Europe.

Nickel was first produced at Schneeburg, on the suggestion of Dr. Nickel first Geitner, who erected a plant for the manufacture of the alloy known ere odin as 'new silver'. They used, as their raw m 'terial, the dumps from the cobalt works. These dumps were soon exhausted, and it became necessary to prospect for nickel ore. Early in the last century, several

small nickel deposits were discovered, in Germany and Austria-Hup peoorery of . . . . ° . Clepromits ut gary, as for instance, at Dillenburg, in Nassau, which was provided with Saas a

i in 18 chau, i x : Austria a smelting plant in 1843, Dobschau, in Hungary, ete. eal

The nickel deposits of Varallo, in Piedmont, Italy, are very closely Deposit of analogous to the Norwegian occurrences, but the ore bodies ere much re a

smaller in size. The mines, which are at Cevia and Sella Bassa, were worked and the ore smelted between the years 1860 and 1870, the

smelter being operated by the sane company as the Schneeburg works, Spi a gd " of nicke U

Italian ores,

(1) Zeit. fiir, Prak. Geol., 1293, p, 143.

Sobers at ahi tua 94 8 a

Occurrence of nickel in Spain,

De posits of nickel in

Russia.

Production of nickel from Russian ores.

Nickel in Wales.

Nickel refining in Great Britain.

. Nickel refining in France.

Nickel at Paris Exhibition.

:

172 Geological Survey Of Canada

in Saxony. Badoureau gives the production as about 54 tons of metallic nickel a year.(')

Tn Spain, in 1875, they mined 440 tons of ore, but th ore bodies were not operated after 1877 or 1878. The mines which were situated in the province of Malaga, were on small deposits of nickel silicate (pimetite) with 3:96 per cent of nickel.

At Rewdinsk, in Russia, attempts have been made several times, to mine the deposits of the nickel-magnesia-silicates (rewdinskite) with 4:8 to 19-2 per cent of nickel oxide, but the deposit is small. In 1873, 47:4 tons of ore were mined, and in 1887, 4°9 tons of metallic nickel were produced in the first three months, from which they calculated the yearly production at 40-9 tons of nickel.

In Wales, in 1882, 38 tons and in 1883, 49 tons of ore were, mined containing 1-4 per cent of cobalt and 0:7 per cent of nickel.

Nickel refining is quite an important industry in Great Britain, where a large amount of foreign nickel ore is refined at the various works. The most important of these nickel refineries are at Kirkintilloch (near Glasgow), in Scotland, and at Erdington (near Birmingham) in England. Both of these belong to 'Le Nickel,' of New Caledonia, and are principally using garnierite as ore, Vivian and Sons' old and well known copper and nickel refinery at Swansea, Wales, the Mond Nickel Co's. refineries at Clydach (near Swansea) and Smethwick (near Birmingham), as well as the Wigyin's retinery in Birmingham, are, for the most part, working with foreign nickel sulphide material.

In France, no nickel ore has been mined, but, after the discovery of the New Caledonia ore, several refineries were erected, the first one being at Septémes, near Marseilles, where, from 1876 to 1882, experiments were conducted on a large scale, for producing ferro nickel. Christofle's well known works at St. Denis, near Paris, between 1870 and 1840 produced about 120 tons of metallic nickel yearly. Later on the 'Le Nickel' plant at Havre was erected. The copper plant at Eguilles (Vancluse, near Lyons) has several times conducted exp:riments in the refining of nickel, and at the Paris exhibition of 1889, several samples were shown produced by bessemerizing according to the Manhes process, which contained from 91 to 95 per cent of pure nickel.

(1) Annales des Mines, 1877.

(2) J. He L. Vogt., 'Nikkelforekomster og Nikkelproduktion' Nor, Geol, Sots, Christiana, 1892, pp, 38-40.

Nickel In Europe 173

Lately, however, the Martha and Benno mines in Silesia, Austria, Marth: aad have produced ore. In 1899, according to the Mineral Industry, only yoo 80 tons of nickel ore were mined, but this rose to 3,896 tons in 1900, and during the half year ending June 30th, 1902, when there were Location of 1,036 laborers employed at the mines and works, the quantity of ore treated was 5,689 tons, which yielded 108 tons of nickel. The mines are situated at Kosemitz, Zusendort and Glasendorf, a short distance north of Frankenstein, They are described by Ilner.(') The ore, which contains from 0:5 to 3 per cent of nickel, fills fissures in SEPPEN- Character tine. Occasionally, these veins carry from 4 to 18 per cent of nickel, of ore.

Only the two mines, already mentioned are operated, the Martha having two shaft furnaces, capable of treating 50 tons of ore daily

The composition of the ore ranges as follows : SiO, 60.654 per cent ; Composition MgO 85-12 percent; Fe.O, and Al,O, 6-8 per cent; Ni 2-3-3655 of ore.

per cent, and loss on ignition & 15 per cent. Before smelting, the ore is tlrst mixed with gypsum or with calcium sulphite and limestone, erushed to 12mm, size and pressed into bricks. 'The haft furnace is sitting of 5m. high, and is charged with the bricks and coke in the preportion of Aetian ores 180 ky. of the former, to 50 ky, of the latter. A very fluid slag is pro-

duced, containing 0:3 per cent of nickel, wh ch is used in making slag

bricks. The matte composed of about 31-4 per cent of nickel, 49:7 Per Composit cent of iron and 14-5 per cent of sulphur, is crushed and subjected to Of mtttes

on

an oxidizing roast, ina two Stage reverberatory furnace, which is 6-13m wide, and has a capacity of 300 kg. in eight hours. There are four furnaces of this type, at the works. The roasted matte, containing approximately 65 per cent cf nickel 15 per cent of iron and 20 per cent of sulphur is run into a bessemer converter with suflicient sand to slag the iron oxide and is blown for 45 minutes, thus rasing the tenor in nickel to 77-8 per cent. This fine matte is pulverized and treated to a dead roast in the reveberatory, which converts it into a greyish green nickel oxide, containing 77:6 per cent of nickel. 'Vhis oxide is pulverized, moistened, cut into small cubes, dried and charged 'vith churcoal into fire brick muffles, that are heated in a regenerative gas furnace. After three hours treatment in this furnace, the metal contains 99 per cent of nickel, and 0-3 per cent of iron. The sulphar dioxide, from the roasting, is caught in water and the solution neu-

Production

tralized with lime, the resulting calcium sulphide being used as a flux of a ule : . 2 nickel, in the shaft furnace.

Nickel ore is known to oceur in Greece, Switzerland and Sardinia, x jel cecurs : . . P Greece, but in none of these countries, are the deposits large enough to permit He aise al IE

of them being mined at a profit. and Sardinia.

(lL) Zeit fiir das Berg-Hutten-und Salinenwesen, No. LV., 1802p. S165 also Mineral Industry, Vol. X. 1901, pp. 485-486, and Vol. XP, 190, p. 486

PSP t HANG biRSeisas cae Sag

(tmmaensee". ceeeenrerstsaety isk %

Diseovery of nickel in United States

Various attempts to open up mines near Chatham, Conn.

Location of Gap mine,

Discovery of Gap mine.

Formation of Gap Mining Co,

Millerite and pyrrhotite regarded as of no value.

Discovery of nickel by Dr, Genth.

174 Geological Survey Of Canada Nickel In The United States.

The existence of nickel in the United States was probably first made known in 1818, when Seth Hunt opened up the cobalt deposit, near Chatham, Conn. This important announcement was made as the result of an analysis of a trial shipment of this ore to England. (')

These mines were at first opened for their supposed silver contents as far back as 1661. They were not, however, very remunerativeto their successive owners, who in turn tried to operate them. In 1762, they were again tried, and in 1770, several parties associated themselves together for the purpose of operating them for their cobalt contents. In 1787, a quantity of the cobalt was shipped to China. In 1853, a creditable exhibit was made by thc Chatham Cobalt Mining Co. of the ore from their mines and its products.

Perhaps the best known nickel deposit in the United States, is that situated at Lancaster Gap, in Pennsylvania, about three miles south of the main line of the Pennsylvania railroad, and a little over 50 miles west of Philadelphia.

According to authentic history, the Gap mines had been worked for their copper prior to the year 1744, and tradition, in the neighborhood, states that they were discovered about the year 1718. For eighty or ninety years, they proved unremunerative to the four or five different companies who tried to operate them, but in 1849, after they had been lying idle for 30 or 40 years, the Gap Mining Company was formed, tc again open them up for copper. This company obtained considerable supplies of copper, about enough to pay for running expenses, selling their product to copper smelters in Boston and Baltimore. In all of these earlier operations, the millerite and pyrrhotite were cast aside as useless, being regarded by the miners as ordinary 'mundic' or pyrite. In the beginning of 1852, however, Capt. Dobie, who had come to the work, first as a miner, but who, subsequently, became superintendent, was convinced that the material on the dump wa- not ordinary sulphid: of iron, but some other mineral. Analyses of specimens, sent to so-called experts in Boston and Baltimore, were unsatisfactory, so that, in the latter part of 1852, or the beginning of 1853, a sample was sent to Prof. F. A. Genth, who, after analysis, pronounced it to be a nickel ore, at the same time giving the percentage of pure nickel present. The mines, which had hitherto been known as the Gap Copper mines, changed to the 'Gap Nickel mines ',

(1) Whitney. 'The Metallic Wealth of the United States', 1854, p. 497 ; also Proce. Col, Se. Soe., Vol. TV., 1891-93, p. 381.

: 'Gap mine,' and the deposit became a ni

Nickel In The United States 175 '

but the expenses of mining the ore, and especially the difficulties of ' the smelting operations, rendered the enterprise too costly, so that the whole of the works were closed down in 1860, (1)

In November 1862, Joseph Wharton acquired possession of the Purchase of

ckel producer in May, 1863, pt Ae gg Ny the ore obtained being treated at the refinery, built by Wharton, at Wharton. Camden, opposite Philadelphia. The development of the new Cale.

donia mines had, in 1882, reached such a stage, that the world's con-

sumption of metallic nickel, which had heretofore been about 800 tons per annum, was exceeded by several hundred tons this over production, prices immediately fell in the Wharton's Camden refinery was obliged to close down about the end

of this year. The advent, in large quantities, into the market, of the Closing Sudbury nickel, proved a further disturbing feature, final closing of the 'Gap mine' in 1891.

On account of forced sales, and

down

: ; ot Gap mine, resulting in the

The dark, basic rock, with which the ore body at the Gap mine is Character and associated forms a lenticular mass or stock, extending about 1,500 feet rae an east and west and 500 feet north and south, and lying in the midst of of rock dase) mica schists, of the Georgetown series, of Frazer. The rock consists (iid with

nickel deposit mostly of green secondary hornblende, and although the change is at Gapimine.

very thorough, recognizable remains of orthorhombic pyroxene and of

olivine were revealed, after careful search through a number of micros-

copic slides. Reddish-brown biotite is present, and, in some instances

considerable plagioclase appears, with occasional accessory titanite. The

ore consists of pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite in largest amount, but

pyrite is not lacking. Crusts of secondary millerite are also encount- Occurrence of 3 ered, and often this mineral furnished a not unimportant portion of ™!!!tite.

the nickel contents. Although some ore has been found in bunches Sleuntion of

within the lens-shaped mass of rock, the productive ground lies near body.

the walls. The ore bedy is nearly, if not quite vertical, and the depth Extent of

reached by mining was 250 feet, while, at times, the workings were as ™ining.

much as 30 feet wide. As mined, the ore contains from 1:3 per cent

of nickel, 0-25-0:75 per cent of copper, and 0-05 to 0-15 per cent of

cobalt, The ore is believed by Prof. Kemp, (from whose description Composition

the foregoing information has been obtained) to be the direct result °°":

of igneous action, the ore bodies being concentrated, as such, by reason

of magmatic difterentiation, (?) in this respect resembling the Cana-

dian, Norwegian and Italian occurrences,

(1) 2nd Geol. Surv. Penn., 'The Geology of Lancaster Co.' CCC., 1880, pp. 163-

(2) Trans, Am. Inst. Min. Eng., Vol. XXIV., 1894, pp. 622-631,

bas AE Ai ask ch cate es 2 6

tapi

Production of nickel from Gap mine.

Nickel deposits near Wel wter, North Carolina,

Means of access to Webster occurrences,

Character of Webster ore.

Vhysical characters of Webster ore.

Analyses of ore from Webster, N.C,

176 Geological Survey Of Canada

The 'Gap mine' at one time produced one sixth of the world's supply of nickel, although its total production is only given as 2,000 tons,

The nickel deposits, associated with the peridotites of the southeastern Appalachians, have, from time to time, claimed public attention and several attempts have been made, not only to ascertain their true economic value and extent, but also to develop them to the stage of producing mines. Probably the largest and best known of these occurrences is gituated in the vicinity of the town of Webster, the capital of Jackson county, in western North Carolina. The deposits in question, underlie a strip of land, running approximately north and south a distance of about 7,000 feet, and east and west nearly 1,500 feet. The north end of the deposit immediately adjoins, to the east, the town of Webster. The nearest railway station is Dillsboro, on the Murphy branch or division of the Southern Railway, this station being 48°9 miles southwest of Asheville. A wagon road connects Dillsboro and Webster, the distance being about 3:5 miles. The ore is very closely allied to the celebrated garnierite or noumeaite from New Caledonia. I[t is a hydrous silicate of magnesium and nickel, but very variable in composition, particularly as regards the mutual replacement of nickel and magnesium. It is, therefore, not a homogeneous compound. It is amorphous, filling certain cracks with encrusting, delicate, hemispherical, or stalactitic forms, usually soft and friable, falling to pieces in water, unctuous to the touch, and adhering slightly to the tongue. It varies, in colour, from pale yellowish-green to rather deep apple-green, and depth of colour usually accompanies an increase in the nickel contents.

Analyses of Genthite (nickel-gymnite), from Webster, N.C.

I Tl Silica 49°89 55°38 Nickel oxide 16°60 17:84 Magnesia 22°35 15-62 Water 12°36 10°77 Alumina Atte arene FeO, ) Tron esis 0-56 FeO ; Oxide 0-06" Cobalt oxide Ptees

Total 101-26 100-17

Nickel In The United States 177

Explanation,—1., Analysis of genthite, from Webster, N.C by Dunnington (Ch. News, 25,270, 1872, and Dana, System of Minera logy, 6th Ed., 1892, p. 676). TI, Analysis by P. H., Walker, (Aim Chem. Jour., 10, 44, 1888, also Dana System of Mineralogy, 6th Ed., 1892, p. 681),

LMS SS RANE See Reve

Although, as shown, some of the ore contains from 16 to 1s

per cent y of nickel oxide, no very large amount of sii;

larly rich mate rial could be secured in mining, and most of the rich nickel seams are occupied by greenish nickel Silicate, which wil] assay from 5 to 7 per cent of nickel oxide. Much of this secondary vein matter is mixed with compar tively barren, partially decomyx sed peridotite, so that it would impossible to effect a Separation, on an economic asis, and the bulk of the material, which could be secured as ore, would assay from 50 per

cent to 3 per cent of nickel oxide, Tie ore assaying from 2 to S per

cent of nickel, contains, in addition, 0-02.0 10 pe:

"

cent eobalt Oni These nickel deposits are found in intimate association y ith a mass of cn peridotite, made Up principally of two Varieties, which are, doubtle differentiates of the same magma, viz: dunite, made up almost entire of olivine and chromite, and websterite, composed essentially of bright green diopside, and pale brown bronzite. The mode of o currence and origin of these deposits, are precisely analogous to those oce Irring ir New Caledonia, Oregon and elsewhere, 'The development work unde: taken, consists of a series of parallel trenches or ditches, which ary excavated, in some cases, simply to the solid rock beneath, and, in others, to a uniform depth, in no case exceeding 30 feet. These trenches ars design: d to give an idea of the relative abundance and disposition of the veins of silicate material. A shaft was sunk, but to what depth bxtent of has not been learned, while considerable prospecting by diamond dril] S ae

has also heen undertaken,

Nickel has, for many years, been known to exist in considerable quan Ciel tities in southern Oregon, aud some of the deposits ave regarded as of commercial importance. The mineral Josephinite, a nickel-iron com pound (Ni, 60-45; Fe, 23:22), has heen described by W. H. Melville 4s Occurring in the form of pebbles and smooth boulders, in the placer gravels of a stream in Josephine county, Oregon, which are supposed to have been derived from some dyke of ultra-basie rock, whose location has not yet been discovered.( ')

Nickeliferous pyrrhotite has also been noticed in both Jackson R and Douglas counties, but the nickel silicates of Douglas county are the only ores which appear to be worthy of other than a passing notice,

(1) Amer, Jour, Se. Vol XLITL, 1892, pp. 509-515,

loReli eros

Location of Oregon deposits.

Altitude of Piney oun ean,

Minerale COL PK PSE ot peri associate with the deposits

Analyses of nickel sihea tes iron

Oregon

178 Geological Survey Of Canada

The deposits occur near the small village of Riddles, in the southern part of Douglas county, a station on the Oregon andCalifornia railway, 226 miles from Portland, and 547 miles from San Francisco, The nickel mines are situated on Piney mountain, about 3 miles west of Riddles, and are connected with this village by an excellent wagon road of easy grades. This mountain, as its name implies, is thickly covered by forest, rising to a height of about 3,400 feet above sea level, occur ring as an isolated ridge in a sea of other mountains. It is, approximately, 14 miles long by mile wide, thus embracing an area of 14 square miles, in which nickel deposits might be expected tocecur, The rocks, underlying this area, isa peridotite or 'saxonite ', composed essentially of olivine and enstatite, with a small quantity of accessory chromite and magnetite. The olivine predominates, forming more than two thirds of the mass of the rock. The ore is a silicate of nickel and magnesium, and, as usual, very vat iable in composition. The mode ot oceurrence and origin of ores of this class, have already been discussed in detail, and the Oregon occurrence presents no unusual features which are worthy of special or extended reference. 'ihe following analyses of carefully selected material, well illustrate the chemical composition of the pure nickel mineral, but the bulk of the ore which couid economically secured and utilized, would, of course, be mach lower tn

nickel contents.

Loss at 110° C. S37 6.63 70

Loss on ignition 6:99 e Al,0, & Fe,0O, 118 1:38 1:33 SiO. 1473 {8-21 40:55 MgO 1056 19°90 21:70 NiO 27:57 23-88 29-66 Total... ...99:90 10000 100-24

Explanation.— Analysis I, is by F. W. Clarke, (Am. Jeur, Vol. XXXV, pp. 468-487 ; Nos. If and IiTare by Dr. Hood, (Mi Res. U. 8., 1883, p. 404.)

The first discovery of these deposits was in 1864, and, in the tall

1881, Mr. W. Q. Brown secured control of what appeared to be the mi

valuable portion, transferring his interest to an incorporated company known as the 'Oregon Nickel Mines. It is stated that abou $50,000 was expended in development work In 18091, some of th: nickel bearing area was secured *by a Chicago corporation, called the ' International Nickel Mining Co,' whieh is said to have expendes

NICKEL tN THE UNITED STATES 179

about 360,000 on development work. Extensive preparations were Mining made to mine and smelt this ore, but much of the smelting and other devel machinery purchased, was never *ven set in position. The Anglo American Nickel Co., incorporated in 1893, and the Oregon Nickel Mining Co., also own property in chis neighbourhood. The amount of development work done, in connection with these deposits, is hard], sufficient to test their commercial! capabilities, Numerous open cuts, Extent of

Work

Tinting deve

short tunnels and shallow shafts from 20-40 feet deep, have been made, lopment worl

but nowhere has a vertical depth of over 50 feet been reached, (!)

The Gem mine, in Fremont county, Colorado, may be mentioned at Niekel in J K oy eg DE Te ee : : Colorado some length, in this connection, as it is very similar, in Mineralogical

composition, to the Haileybury occurrences discovered last autumn in Similarity + . - . ' : : Hatley bur Northern Ontario. The vein at the Gem mine is ae is

"CUTTENn CES

in hornblende schist, and the ores were principalls copper, but nickel soon mad

. . - . . deport Its appearance, and at a depth of 15-20 feet became quite promi Me er.

nent. Irom the surface, down toa depth of 75 feet, the vein has an average width of 3-5-4 feet. At this point, it pinched out, and, with the exception of # narrow streak of ore, which may be its cont inuvation, and which contained the same cobalt and nickel minerals, no further Cha ore was encountered lower down The nickel-cobalt minerals of this mine are accompanied by native silver, some ot the inineral specimens being occasionally so permeated by fine wire silver as to be broken with dithiculty In 1882, 12 tons of ore, containing

cent of nickel, and 2.2: per cent of cobalt, with considerable haleocite, were shipped. Later, about half a ton of selected ore, contain:

per cent of nickel and 3-4 per cent of cobalt, were sent to Sy ansea

land. The mine, however, was involved in litigation, and the ore

Was seemingly too small for any extended mining operations

Since the closing down of the Lancaster ( 'ap mine, the entire United Niet.

'tates production of nickel, from domestic ores, has been derived from Pace Mine la Motte, Mo., the mental bein. secured as a by-product in the treatment of lead ores, In 1899, this production amounte:| to 22,500 Ibs,

but in 1901, it had decreased to 6,700 Ibs . while in 1902, the 2O tons

of matte, containing nickel and ybalt, which were retired at the works of the Mine la Motte Lead ard Sin Iting Co,, yielded

pounds of metallic nickel, (°)

Austin, The Niekel . V., 1894-96, pp. 172-196, (2) Thomas Charlton, Proc, Col

(3) Min. Res. U.S., 1909, pp. 2, 266, Dt

boii aot Satta shove aston

poral Sie a IRR HE ily

Rae Oee Mre Print: Fnuie St Ah

; af

Reasons for celebrity of New Caledonia deposits,

Produetion of Canada exceeds that

of New Caledonia.

General character and mineralogical associations of New Caledonia silicates,

Early mis- ( once ptt ms.

Discovery of garnierite in 1865,

Chemical analyses of

garnierite and

related silicates,

180 Geological Survey Of Canada Nickel In New Caledonia.

The nickel deposits of New Caledonia have, for many years, enjoyed an enviable reputation, not only for the large and continuous supply of ore they have produced, but also for the high grade they have been able to furnish for purposes of export, From about the year 1880, to 188%, these mines produced from two-thirds to three-fourths of all the nickel in the market. From the latter year, however, the mines of Canada have been gradually increasing their output, and, in spite of many adverse circumstances, it is believed that, at the present time, the amount of nickel secured from Canadian sulphide ore, is considerably in excess of that produced from the New Caledonia silicates.

The only nickel ore that occurs in New Caledonia is a hydrated sili cate of nickel, in which more or le-s of the nickel oxide is replaced by magnesia, ferric oxide and alumina. The ore is avsociated with chalcedony, a maguesian silicate resembling meerschaun: or sepiolite, limo nite or bog iron ore and serpentine. In addition to these, there are usually small quantities of chromite and asbolite. The mineral is entirely free from sulphur, arsenic or copper, and, although, in the first instance the deposits were regarded as the gossan like material produced by the sub-aerial decay of nickeliferous sulphides, the extensive workings already undertaken have failed to reveal any traces of such material even in the deepest workings.

The mineral garnierite ur noumeaite, characteristic of these deposits, was discovered by M. Jules Garnier, in 1865, and was noticed by him in 1867, (') and was described by Liversidge in 1874 (7). The mine ral is closely related to the nickel-gymnite, described by Genth, in 1851, and for which the name genthite was proposed by Dana, in 1867

As the following analyses will show, it is very variable in chemicai composition, The material anal; zed was selected with great care, and will give a good idea of the composition of the purest varieties of gar nierite as well as its intimate connection with sepiolite, or silicate oi magnesia, with which it is associated, and into which it passes by insex sible gradations.

(1) Bull. Soc, Geol, de France, Vol. XXIV, p. 438, Paris, 1867,

(2) Jour. Chem, Soc., Vol. XII, p. 613, July, 1874.

. a

OOS BO og 8 5.45305, eee. bas he 08, abe " ° ; i sath ; a dam adiausaatsadaae iiss

fs ol i tl fl ool ae OOL CR ty)

i! 2 ee bla

rd )ePBO

'Go +4 ! wold

In New

Rule Y

Nickel

oor Se i iS I Lhd,

OF cl ' CO BIsoUAE TY

we SI @PlXo PAYDIN

oo BOI

1A

"Vinogsa Iv. Wan Noua Alinainav?) 40 Shsativnv

Author ities for chemical snalyses,

Ore at first to contain from 12 to 15

of nickel,

Average com yosition of v w Caledo nia ores from shipments,

Ore at first thrown away is now being used.

Variation in Comp sition of the ore

A verage

composition of New Cal: donia +

res,

182 Geolowical Survry Gf Canada

Explanation. 1. Analysis by Dann (Ber, Nied, Ges, Jan, 7,1878). II. Analysis by Garnier (Comptes Rendus, 86,684, 1878). LIT. Analysis by Kiepenheuer (Bor. Nied, Gest., July, 14, 1879). IV, Analysis of dark green garnierite, from Nakety, by Liversidge (Minerals of New South Wales). V.and VI. Analyses by Garnier (Soc. des Ln grs. Civils, 1887). VIT. Analysis of a translucent, pale green variety, from Oiaillon, by Liversidge. VIII. Analysis of similar mineral from same locality, by Liversidge. IX. A very pale-green variety from Bel Air mine, Kanala, by Liversidge. X. Another similar specimen from same locality. XI. Analysis by Garnier of white veins, in the green mineral (garnierite), resembling sepiolite

At first, when mining operations were started the ore should contain from 12 to 15 pe mum has been reduced to 7 per cent and it is stated +o be ditlicult to se

was stipulated that cent nick. but now, the minicure more than 60,000 to 70,000 tons per annum of sucha grade of ore, although, if the European smelters would lower their limit to 95 per cent, the production could be more than doubled. From 1875 to 1584, R. Flechner has calculated that 8°3 per cent of nickel was the aver age contained in the ore, while la Peloux states that in 1884, 850 tons of metal were produced, from 12,000 tons of ore. thus giving an average of 7'1 per cent. Croissille states th... between 1880-85, 28,933 tons of ore were produced with an average of 10:5 per cent nickel. In the first years, a large amount of ore, containing from 3 to 11 per cent nickel, was discarded as valueless for purposes of export but lately, these dumps have been overhauled and some of the material shipped. The largest New Caledonia company ' Le Nickel' in its catalogue, issued at Pariv, in 1889, stated that the various grades of their ore contained &, 10 and 12 per cent of nickel. From 1876 to the present time, the ore has varied in composition, as shown under I ; under IT, is given the composition of the ore, which was being shipped to Europe in 1876; under ITI, the average composition of New Caledonia smelting ore, (according to Levat); under IV, is given the average com position of th nickel ore, as it was shipped in 1899, according to E. A. Wineberg (Min. Industry, Vol. VIIT, 1900, p. 435.

5 Il. IT. ry. Nickel oxide to i7 18:00 7 tos 10:00 Silica al to 46 38:00 45 to 50 =42-00 Tron oxide 5 to l4 7:00 I4tol6 1050 Alumina lto7 rx 3 to 5 2:50 Magnesia 6 to 9 15-00 10to12 22:00 Water Sto 16 22°00 14:00 12-00 Lime 1-00

Nickel In New Caledonia 183

The nickel contents of the New Caledonia garnicrite, lately smelted, \verage has averaged about 7 per ceni of nickel, but each succeeding year sees papeogd 5s

a' poorer p oduct handled and shipped, Caledonia ore

tt petesent The ore is intimately associated with a peridotite, and its various shipped

decomposition products, grouped together under the name of serpen- ! oot ee tine. Fresh, undecomposed pieces of this rock, made up chiefly of of Ne . Cale olivine, are said to contain as high as per cent of nickel. These serpen- halos aoe tines, which cover the larger portion of the area of the island, rise into a series of hills, which are from 400 to 1,000 feet above the sea, the Altitude general elevation being ebout 2,000 feet. The deposits general! y occur pe ar oA on the tops of these mountains, so that transportation of the ore," mining materials and supplies is very tedious and difficult, and in many cases, expensive roads and aerial rope ways have been constructed to Tr nsporta deposits which, in some cases, came far from realizing expectations as' ''theult to extent and richness. The ore bodies occur as veritable 'stock works ', cutting the decomposed peridotite in all dire tions. Invariably, , saenatee' el where the nickel occurs, the surface is covered with a highly ferrugi- ore bodies nous soil, in which pisolitic iron ore is very abundant. Although this Kecunilary decompr ed remnant of the peridotite contains a little nickel, most of the a nicke nickel has been leached ov', to be deposited in secondary veins of nickel silicate, in locations at various depths below, fave arable places for such concentrations being in the vicinity of faulting and jointing planes The veins vary in size, froma few inches to as much as thirty feet, but they are exceedingly irregular in this respect, at one time becoming gradually narrow, while, in other eases, large deposits end abruptly against barren rock. These veins or deposits are comparatively shal low. It is true, that one fissure was followed down about 600 feet in Depos ts are dep ., but generally the veins give out from 75 to 100 feet below the aol ke ei surface, Without reference to thasurface mantle or ¢ vering, from which most if not all of the nickel has been removed by leaching, the richest deposits are those nearest the surfac while the higher parts of any deposit are richer than those lower down. The comparative shallow ness of the deposits is, however, compensated by the large areas they ' eover, and some of the mines have yielded from 30,000 to 100. 00 tons of ore, and are still in operation. The mining is carried on by means Methods of

?

. o . . minima of open cut work, the ore being secured by means of a series of ben-

ches, The pick and shovel are usually suflicient to loosen and remove

the ore, but occasional blasting is sometimes necessar y. The ore, when + , . Pransporta

properly mixed, is carried, by mens of aerial rope-ways to ground tram- tien

lines, from which it is transported by lighters to the ships.

. . P eae . Various Various methods, for the extraction of nickel from these ores have athods af

been attempted. Garnier, whose name has been associated with these stracting

miexel,

MICROCOPY RESOLUTION TEST CHART (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2)

er iz te

lz

M23 4. Wes

APPLIED IMAGE Inc

1653 East Main Street Rochester, New York 14609 USA (716) 482 - 0300 - Phone

(716) 288 - 5989 Fax

;

&

t.

Some nn eee

SIRENETICYENNTT {ReatZT

se an a hah ha

Nickeliferous

pig iron,

Composition of nickel- Iron pig.

Difficulty of refining preduct.

Method of obtaining metallic nickel.

Later methods for refining nickel ores,

Explanation of reactions.

Composition of slag and nickel-iron matte.

Methods of producing nickel oxide and mInetallic nickel.

184 Geological Survey Of Canada

deposits from the date of their discovery, tried to smelt the ore directly to a nickeliferous pig iron, which was afterwards to be refined in a reverberatory furnace to ferro-nickel. The first part of the process proved satisfactory, and the nickel-iron pig, obtained from the richer lumps contained from 65-68 per cent of nickel, 23-29°5 per cent of iron, 15-25 per cent uf sulphur, 3°5-5°5 per cent of silica and carbon occurring as graphite and from 1:5 to 2-5 per cent of other impurities, and amongst them, phosphorus. It was found impossible to economically handle or to refine this product owing to the presence of sulphur, which has a strong affinity for nickel. Various wet methods were then employed, which followed, cna large scale, the different operations used in making chemical analyses. The ore was first dissolved in acid and the metals removed by the use of lime or bleaching powder, and finally a solution, containing nickel alone, was obtained. From such a condition it is easy to produce the nickel, by fusing with charcoal the dried nickel salt.

Later on, however, they adopted a dry method, in the preliminary stages. In the first years, they smelted it with the addition of a special Norwegian pyrrhotite, containing nickel and copper. In order to remove the excess of iron and copper, they now smelt the ore in low water-jacketed blast furnaces, with materials containing sulphur (calcium sulphide obtained in the manufacture of soda by the Le Blanc process), or with gypsum. The gypsum, which is made up of both lime and sulphur, is reduced, the sulphur uniting with the nickel by reason of its greater affinity for this metal, while a portion of it is taken up by part of the iron, the rest of it combining with the silica, magnesia and lime, and the rest of the iron to form slag. This slag contains about 48 per cent of silica, 12-13 per cent of iron and not more than 0-40 to 0-45 per cent of nickél. The nickel-iron matte contains about 50-55 per cent of nickel, 25-30 per cent of iron and 16-18 per cent' ofsulphur. This matte, by reason of its greater specific gravity sinks to the bottom, permitting the lighter slag to be drawn off. This matte is, in turn, roasted anda portion of the sulphur thus removed. It is re-smelted with sand, and the nickel will again combine with by far the larger share the sulphur, leaving a comparatively small proportion for the iro le the remainder of the iron combines with the silica or sand to rma slag. By a repetition of these, or similar methods, the iron is finally removed, leaving a compound made up essentially of nickel and sulphur, which is roasted with nitrate of soda to produce nickel oxide. This is then mixed with charcoal, and reduced, by the application of intense heat, to metailic nickel.

Nickel In New Caledonia 185

Attempts have been made, from time to time, to partially refine these Retineries ores in New Caledonia, and blast furnaces were erected and in opera- ie gh tion, both at Noumea and Thio, as wellas at Newcastle, in New South C#ledonia. Wales, but the ditticulties of procuring coke, suitable flux and labour have hindered their progress and most of the ore at least is now exported tor smelting and refining purposes. Most of this ore is refined in France, where 'Le Nickel' company have extensive refineries at mertar el Havre, but a large proportion is also refined at Kirkintilloch (near Europe. Glasgow), in Scotiand, Erdington (near Birmingham), in England and at Iserlohn (Westphalia), in Prussia. The Engineering and Mi ing Journal of May 20, 1899, notes that a cargo of 3,000 tons of New Caledonia ore, is heing sampled for the Orford Copper Co., the ore averaging 7 per cent nickel. The merging of the Nickel Corporation, Sethe Limited, and the Société Miniére Caledonienne, of New Caledonia, as refined in part of the Interuational Nickel Co., will result in the smelting, by United States this company, of aconsicerable amount of New Caledonia ore, at their refinery at Constable Hook, N.J.

Although these deposits were discovered in 1865, it was not until First active 1873 that active mining operations were undertaken. In 1880, the Coerations Société le Nickel acquired the celebrated mines at Thio, hut did not commence mining until 1887.

The following figures represent the production of ore and nickel from the New Caledonia mines.

t

Production Of Ore And Nickel From New Caledonia,

Production aaeiaiaceigeeees of ore and i nickel from New Caledonia mines

Ore Nickel Nickel

Or ined. re mined exported. contents. contents.

Tons. Tons. Tons.

if

se Dey APSARA ELE Ven EI I)

er Sameer es © 1

ogi

Methods of mining in Sudbury District.

Occasional accidents owing to imperfect timbering.

Every reasonable precaution now being taken to ensure safety to miners,

186 Geological Survey Of Canada

PRODUCTION OF ORE AND NICKEL FROM NEW CALEDONIA.—Con.

Year Ore mined. ee poirce Bienen

Tons, Tons. Tons. Tons. 1888! 6,616 900?

1889 Ten 3 6: 1,381

1890 22,690 1,633

189] 35,000 2,449

1892 aes ir Fee? 1,244

1893 09,614 45,614 2,493

1894 61,243 40,089 2,422 1895 29,623 38,976 2,548% (2,548) 1896 6,417| 37,467; 2,972* (2,707) 1897 26,464 57,439 2 R5R* (2,858) 1898 53,200 74,614 3,608* — (4,205) 1899 103,908 103,908 3,845* (4,205) 1900 100,319 4,676* (4,526) ESO eicarste 132,814} 6,202* (5,210) gE eee er ois ee ge GR HE eae (3,620)

Nickel contents of ore refined in Europe, according to Mineral Industry. The figures in brackets, are production of nickel from New Caledor ia ores, in France, Germany and England (according to Metallgesellschaft and Metallurgische Gesellschaft, August 1903, p. 23.)

Methods Of Mining At Sudbury.

The methods usually employed throughout the Sudbury District for obtaining the requisite supply of ore, consist, partly, in the sinking of shafts and the opening up of the ore body, by means of underground levels, drifts and stopes, the whole of such mining operations being carried on under a solid roof. For this work, very little timbering is required, although, in some cases, serious accidents, invo!viag the loss of one or more human lives, have resulted from neglecting to provide even the small amount of timbering necessary, where occasional slips, faults or slickensides occur. As a rule, however, the w:"' xnd roof are very solid, and, at the present time, every reasonable _-aution is taken to guard against such accidents, by frequent, careful and systematic scaling, removing all loose or menacing portions of rock or ore. The larger part of the ore, however, is secured by a combination of this method and a system of open cast work. This, which, in reality, is a species of deep quarrying, is a very cheap and effective method of

Methods Of Mining In Sudbury District

obtaining large supplies of ore, and these considerations, no doubt, Mining contributed to its adoption in the first place. On the other hand, these Sepals open pits being exposed to the weather, work is, at times, carried on work or deep only with extreme discomfort to the men, or is even seriously inter. den rupted during periods of extreme cold or otherwise inclement weather. Drawbacks At the same time, it is open to the serious objection, that it is much sedeeche more dangerous to the men, and, in spite of the most careful inspection

and frequent scaling, large bodies of rock and ore are liable to be

detached by the action of frost, gravity or other agencies. Lately

a disposition has gradually developed, to abandon in large measure, Lately mor much of the open mining, and to remove the ore by means of levels pte and stopes at regular intervals, beneath these pit floors, cross-cutting *onted. the ore body frequently by a series of drifts, Finally, after breaking

away overhead, and providing an arched roof, the whole is stoped

away to the level below, and the ore hoisted from thence by means of

shafts. Only such pillars and Supports, as are necessary will remain

standing, and the intervening spaces will be filled by rock and ore too

lean to be utilized, the whole being supplemented, when necessary, by

material from the dumps.

The system of open cast work, which has hitherto found most favour Exniknation in the district, consists, first, in the sinking of a shaft of the required pit ngs pit dimensions, at varying angles, this inclination being governed, mainly, methods. by the general dip and direction of the ore body. This shaft secures the necessary accommodation for the skipway for hoisting the ore, while, at the same time, it provides a manway for ingress to or egresc from the underground workings, by means of ladders, with landings at frequent intervals.

The largest pit in the district is at the Creighton mine, where on eceae the tust of June last (1904), ore was being hoisted from an open cut mine is the or quarry, measuring about 350 feet long, by 275 feet wide and 62 feet mL deep. The pit, known as No, 2 mine, of the Canadian Copper Company, at the end of January, 1903, was opened up on a chimney of ore, which, below the 200-foot level is growing larger. At the bottom of the open pit, which has reached the third level, at 217 feet below cig aap of the surface, the average diameter is 120 feet. The new vertical shaft mine. had, at the same time, reached a depth of 390 feet, the fifth level being at 374 feet. At the Victoria mine, the main shaft has been sunk to a depth of 557 feet, with various levels, drifts and stopes. The west Aor open pit at this mine measures 70 by 125 feet at the surface, gradually yi ou bits at tapering to 50 by 100 feet at the first level.

Each mine is provided with a rock house, as soon as its permanency is established, and a double skiproad leading to it from the mine. The

ne" Salad itsiasiasaty

Sanborn pines

e orombeny 7' Fagprecsties)

aa : t

Kquipn nt of rock houses,

Ore sledged ty proper size for crusher.

Use and capacity of Blake crusher.

Use of trom mel screen and oseillat ing tables in sizing ore,

Different sizes fall into separate bins.

Num! er and extent of Copper Clitf roast yards,

Main roast yard near Clarabelle junction.

Size and capacity of main roast yard.

188 Geological Survey Of Canada

steel skips having a capacity of 14 tons each, are hoisted to the top of the rockhouse, dumping automatically, on a large inclined ' grizzly ' sizing-screen, which separates the fine from the coarse ore. Most of the ore is sledged to a proper size for th. crusher in the mine, although, sometimes, this operation takes place on the tleor the rock house The coarse ore falls near the mouth of the 15 x 9 Biake crusher, set to about inches, which has a capacity of about 20 tons per hour, (or 400 tons for the usual two shifts, of 10 hours each). Occasionaily, as at the Creighton mine, there are two of these Blake crushers, but usually one is considered sutlicient. The ore is then passed into the upper end of a slightly inclined revolving trommel screen, where it is sized into three classes, for the succeeding operation of roasting. The fines pass through # inch mesh holes in the trommel screen, the medium or ragging, through inch holes, while the coarse is discharged at the lower end of the screen and is caught on an oscillating sorting table, also slightly inclined lengthwise. The jerking motion of this table provides such a rate of travel of the pieces of ore, as enables a certain number of boys, stationedalong the side, to pick out, and castaside,a considerable proportion of barren rock or very lean ore, at the same time permitting the purer and higher grades to continue their journey to the ore bins, Each of these sizes falls into a separate series of bins, from which ore of the required class is automatically loaded, by means of inclined ste 1 chutes, into standard gauge cars, and hauled by locomotives to the roasting yards. At the time the surveys for the Copper Cliff mines area were being carried on, there were three roasting yards. The old one, which was graded by Dr. E. D. Peters, is situated immediately west of the old or East Smelter, and measures roughly 2000 feet long and 125 feet wide. This still remains in use, and by the removal of the East Smelter buildings, which is about accomplished, this will be increased to 3000 feet. For some years, a small roast yard, was utilized about midway between the original Copper Cliff mine and the Ontario Smelting Works. Thesite of this, which measured about 1000 feet by 125 feet, is shown on the large scale maps, but it has now been abandoned, as its situation so close to the works and residences, at times occasioned great discomfort to the workmen and inhabitants, The main roast yard which is in use at present, and which is capable of much greater expansion, is located to the northeast of the West. Smelter towards the Manitoulin and North Shore railway. At the ume the surveys were made, it was about .2700 feet, long by 150 feet wide, and it could be very readily extended to measure 4000 feet. It will thus be seen, that without any great effort, roasting ground, with a capacity of from 250,000 to 300,- 000 tons, is already available. Many of the mines situated at Copper

Methods Of Mining In Sudbury District

Cliff, are, of course, handy to the roast yards, but most of the ore at

present being utilized by the Canadian Copper Company, is brought ¢.,, jaliton from the Creighton mine, coming over the Manitoulin and North Shore mine ore railway, a distance of about 7) miles to Clarabelle Junction, about a pagec! chon mile northeast of the main roast yard. The ore from the Stobie °! @!!'™ mine has to be brought by a branch railway to Sudbury, a distance of Oye feo the about 3), miles and then down the 'Sault' branch of the Canadian Sse gad Pacific railvvay to the southern roast yard at Copper Cliff, a further '- havled con distance of about 4 miles. The ore from the Frood, or No. 3 mine, er ra has to be hauled first to the Stobie mine, by a spur about 1-25 miles

long, and thence, by the same route from the Stobie mine to Copper

Cliff. Neither of these mines are, however, in operation, as an abund

ant supply of very high grade ore, is more easily procurable at the

Creighton mine. At the Victoria mines, of the Mond Nickel Comp-

any, an aerial tramway carries the ore from the mine to the roast yard,

and thence to the smelter.

Metallurgy.

In the production of nickel and copper from a sulphide ore, the

following operations have to be considered. perations

1, Treatment of the ores, for low grade copper-nickel matte. prom a the production

2. Treatment of the copper-nickel matte, for concentrated copper. os nig nickel matte.

3. Treatment of this matte, for copper-nickel alloys,

4. Treatment of the concentrated copper-nickel matte, for nickel matte.

Treatment. of the nickel matte, for nickel oxide and metallic nickel.

The first two of these operations are carrie out at the smelting works in the Sudbury District.

Roas [G,

The metallurgical treatment of this ore commences at the roast yard, Roasting first whither it is conveyed from the mines, and being piled in convenient pi ae heaps, on previously laid cordwoud, is exposed at high temperatures, treatment. without fusion, or at most, incipient fusion, to the action of currents of air. The oF'ect of this roasting, is to bring about the oxidation of the iron, an! ncidentaily of the sulphur, as complete as is possible Objects of without invc ing an undue loss of metal, in the slags of the following the roasting.

smelting, aiu second, the expulsion of arsenic, if any should happen to

apne ee

ett eager am wenn

romaine

With rare exceptions no arsenic ia Sudbury ores

Care has to be exercised in oxidizing the ore and in building

roast yards.

Levelling and draming. ot surface,

Precautions taken to prevent loss of niekel and copper.

Proportion of loss of metals not known.

Analyses of copper-nickel stalactites.

Water of marshes coatains copper.

Open air heap roasting cheap ind effective.

Sulphur cannot be economically saved,

Experiments to make use of pyrrhotite for the production of sulphurous

190 GEOL. .iCAL SURVEY OF CANADA

be present. With the possible exception of the Worthington mine, and some other deposits in that vicinity, none of the ore of the Sudbury District contains any appreciable amount of arsenic or antimony. If the oxidation be very imperfect, the resulting matte will contain so much iron, that its bringing forward will be unduly costly, while if the oxidation be too thorough, an undue loss will occur on smelting the roasted ore. At Copper Cliff and at Victoria mines, the Canadian Copper Company and Mond Nickel Company, have spared neither trouble nor expense in the construction and equipment of their roast yards. The sites selected, consisted of flats or swamps, which have been further graded or filled up, any natural roughness or unevenness being cleared away and levelled, and the whole being given a gentle slope, with carefully made drains, serves to remove, at once, any rain or surface water. 'hese precautions have to be taken, to pretent loss of metal as soluble sulphates. It has been frequently stated, that any great loss is thus fully guarded against, but, so far as known, no deliberate attempts have been made to determine what amount is thus actually carried off by rain and melting snow. After the heap has been fired, a crust rapidly forms, which is believed to give further assistance against loss, but during heavy or long continued wet and stormy weather, it is believed an appreciable amount 1s thus removed. Whether the saving of this is a commercial possibility, is well within the range of experiment. Hollows in the burnt out heaps are filled with stalactites, an analysis of one of which gave Mr. Donald Locke, the following composition Cu O, 8:42 per cent ; NiO, 10-21 per cent; Fe O, 7:18 per cent aad 8 O, 27°53 per cerns. The water too, of the marsh adjoining, has a decided bluish tinge, and an iron object

immersed in it, is immediately covered with + eo ting of copper.

Open air heap roasting, as practised at Suc +h favourable weather conditions, an old, simple, cheap an 'tive method of treatment, for the elimination of the undesire sulphur, from low grad sulphide ores. Experiments and tn... .. ve been made, to

profitably save this sulphur, by present methods, but the sulphur contents, averaging from 16,to 30 per cent, and, for the most part, approaching, in this respect, the tirst mentioned figure, with iron from 33 to a little over 50 per cent, is, apparently, too low to permit of its economic winning.

Titus Ulké (') states that, 'during 1902, was demonstrated the commercial impracticability of cheaply roasting Sudbury pyrrhotite nickel ores, which do not average over 25 per cent of sulphur, in Herreshoff furnaces, in order to utilize the sulphurous acid gas thus obtained, to

nee my ed. hin led ald per ' of ject per.

ble of 'om , to hur art, 'om its

Metallurgy —Roasting 191

wake sulphite pulp or liquid acid, The use of the dead roasted residue, seid and

in the making of ferro-nickel, was also

, terroemicks und to be comm reially un not commer

uccesstul, Tt is recognized that, unless this roasting in the Herreshoff S'U1Y suede

furnace can be done mainly without the

ful according aid of extraneots heat, the to Ulk

cost, compared with heap roasting, is prohibitive, and that, in any

case, the average percentage of sulphur is too low to be economical for use in bisulphite for making sulphite pulp. © Sjostedt (2) metallurgist to the Lake Su

initiated and carried on these trials, states that the process has been t' reverse

worked out in a satisfactory manner, t

without extraneous heat, and yielding sulphurous cid in quantities

us acid in the gas produced, the manufacture of caleium n the other hand, Mr, E. A.

perior Power Company, who Sjostedt holds

nion bases! he pyrrhotite being roasted on practical

eX perience,

that more than repay the cost of converting the raw ore into briquettes.

The results of operations for two

weeks in 1903, showed an

average recovery of 86-4 per cent of sal yhur, and a total working cost 5 Ss

of $1.86 per ton of ore. Such are the conflicting statements of experts,

who have been concerned in the practical

working out of the process,

but the popular opinion seems general, that failure has followed these

elaborate trials, which had the advant;

commercial basis, by skilled men, with every modern appliance to

uge of being conducted on a

Adoption

ensure success. The fact that the Lake Superior Power Con.pany, ordinary

during their later operations in the Sudbury District, had practically ,,

nelting ethods

. : A ayer ee adopted the general system of heap roasting and smelting, seems to @!sues th

lend support to the view expressed by M

The sulphurous fumes from the roast heaps, have destroyed most of

lack of 7 L Ike, success in ONpPerinients,

Destruction of

the vegetation, from within an area of between one and two miles of Yexetation

by sulphia

Copper Cliff, and have a very injurious effect on vegetation, and especi- fumes. ' q 6

ally young and tender trees and plants, as far ac the town of Sudbury.

In the immediate vicinity of Copper Cliff, the destruction wrought to Injury done all growing plants and trees is very complete, and a more desolate itt Copper scene can hardly be imagined, than the tine white clay or silt of the

flats, through which protrude, at interva

Cliff,

ls, rough rocky hills, with no

trees, or even a blade of grass, to break the taonotony. Of late years,

vegetation has, so to speak, become accustomed to the sulphur, and gra- y,.

fetation

dually, and as a result, the area affected by the fumes is becoming more !ecomes

circumscribed. The maple seems to withst

accustomed and the sulphur the best, and to sulphur.

trees of this species may be found fairly green in the immediate Maple

proximity of the roast yards. To add to houses are of wood, rarely painted, while with half-decayed logs, stumps and uptu a peculiar brownish tinge, the result of t

(2) Eng. & Min. Jour., April, 25th, 1903,

ig s at pee withstands this scene of desolation, the bhenptenee

most of the area is covered the best. rned roots, all of which have he sulphur, which acts as an

eer nee mee POET ERR RN et 2 em UCN CENTS AE NO aM mee De

Irom objects rapudly eaten "away

Removal of ne of the roast yards,

Sulphar flunes have no injurious effects on man or beast

Sensations prodieed by sulp!

fume

Erection of roasting shed,

Carclessness at first in lovation and construction of roast yards,

Dry pine main fuel used in

roasting.

Large consumption of

fuel,

192 Grological Survey Of Canada

excellent preservative, ©n the other hand, all the barbed-wire fences, telegraph lines and other iron objects are rusted, and rapidly eaten away, requiring to be frequently replaced. The removal of one of the roast yards, has had ay -st marked effec and the beneficial results which were sure to follow, are even now beginning to be apparent, for the two remaining are situated to the east and northeast of the town and thus the prevailing winds, which are from the southwest, will tend to carry the fumes away. With the persistent influence and guidance of the president and general manager, Mr. A. P. Turner, trees are being planted, certain areas graded and made into lawns, roads opened up and culverts and bridges fixed, while the tortuous course of a small stream, running through the town, has been straightened and deep ned. It is hoped that these efforts at beautifying the place, will meet with the success they deserve, and already the town has taken on a new appearance, due to these improvements. 'The fumes, which are free from arsenic, seem to have no injurious etfeet on man or beast, except on occasions, when particularly dense and accompanied by fog, when they produce a peculiar strangling or choking sensation, accompanied, on rare occasions, by bleeding at the nose. The residents are all seemingiy healthy, and suffer from no unusual complaints, while some evi assert that the sulphur is a positive cure for catarrh, consumption, and kindred diseases, Feople, moreover, at first, com plain of a strangling sensation, but this gradually disappears, and those, who have resided there for a time, miss the sulphur when removed to another place, and have even an il: defined though rarely expressed longing for this seemingly heavy and satisfying atmospiere.

At the Murray mine, a huge shed, with numerous large chimneys, was erected, for the purpose "wasting the ore during the winter, but it was not a success in any respect. No great thought or care, has in the past, marked the effurts of some of the companies, in the selec" of a site for the roast yard, and the ore has been placed in he where the natural surface of the ground permitted, with scarcely wuy previous preparation, such as grading and draining. The mechanical loss, alone, from such carelessness, must have been far from negligible. The main supply of fuel that can be secured and is used for the heap roasting, is dead or dry pine, viten still standing as tall bare rampikes, the remains of extensive fires which swept over the avea about thirtyfive years ago. This during the first years of the operations, could be secured very readily and cheaply, but the extensive and continuous roasting has used up all available sources of supply close at hand, and this wood has now to to be brought considerable distances by raii, and is now often mixed with ordinary cordwood. At the Victoria mines,

Metallurgy— Roasting 193

however, there is an abundant supply of this dry pine for years to 1), pine come, and it is brought in by teams and sleighs during the winter jar ato from the area immediately adjoining. This dry pine is very eflicient for this purpose, as it is readily kindled, and produces almost immedi.

ately a short though fierce heat, which serves to ignite the pile Suitability of thoroughly, and this, once started, continues burning, on account of aceon vor its sulphur contents,

The roast heaps are rectangular in shape, varying in size from 40 Constenetion by 60 feet, und 7 feet high, to 60 by 120 feet and 18 feet high, and aor said containing, in general, from 200 to over 3,000 tons of ore. The small PRY heaps of 200 tons are of 'spilt matte, ' of which mention will again be ved roast made. Ore heaps are not less than about 600 tons. Heaps of from 800 to 1,000 tons should burn out in from 40 to 50 days, the larger heap taking, in general, from 3 to 4 months, while occasional heaps con- Daraiisecs taining 4,000 tons, which are the largest yet attempted, and which wasting, were by no means a brilliant success, have been known to burn from 6 to7 months. The ore is piled on a bed of split wood, about one cord being used to twenty tons of ore. This wood serves to start the munnerat oxidation of the sulphur, iron, nickel and copper, the sulphur to sul. furl used. phurous acid, the iron to iron oxide, the nickel and copper chiefly to sulphates. The sulphur, which, in general, averages about 25 per cent, Sedtielicn ta i3 reduced to about 6 or 8 per cent, while the iron is, in large part, oxi- amount of dized to ferrous oxide, and the associated norite or gangue is rendered *!?hur. more or less porous or disintegrated by the swelling and oxic tion of the ore. An analysis of roasted ore, in December, 1888, gave F. L, aaivaac at Sperry 5:40 per cent of copper, 2°43 per cent of nickel 7-92 per cent of reasied ore sulphur and 25 per cent of iron and the rest gangue, chiefly norite or diorite. LL. P. Silver (1) states that an average sample of the roasted ore gave 3:25 per cent of copper, 2°16 per cent of nickel, 8 32 pr cent of sulphur, 25-61 per cent of iron and the rest gangue.

Donald Locke says, that the roasted ore, in 1902, being used by the a rernage Canadian Copper Company, assayed about 1.5 per cent of copper, 2.5 roc.) per cent of nickel, 6 per cout of sulphur and 26 per cent of iron At '™ 12. the Mond Nickel Company, no assays of the roasted ore are made, as No assays it is so variable in composition and difficult to obtain representative onde material, and one tenth is added to the assays of the raw ore, toenable roasted or: the furnace manager to make up a charge for smelting.

When an abundance of ore fines is in stock, over and above the (yc fines

: . Hie: ae see ja Used to make sual requirements for covering and finishing the heaps, the excess is bed tbeieaat

aie : heaps.

1. Jour. Can. Min. Inst. Vol. V., 1902, p. 544. l4—H— 13

194 Geological Survey Of Canada

generally used to cover the ground on which the roast heap is to be built, to depth cf about six inches. The material is thus 'caked' together, in the roasting, and afte: having served for several roastings, Method of #8 broken up and used as coarse ore, as it has only enjoyed an incipient

building oxidation. These roast p''ss are built up as follows: the place roast heaps. 4

Disposition selected, may or may not be covered with the 'fines', as already menof fuel. tioned, as occesion demands, Sticks of cordwood, of nearly uni-

form size, should be placed side by side, across both sides and ends of the rectangular area, The whole interior of this may be filled in with old stumps, roots, ties or cordwood, as material Chimneys at comes to hand, but, in such a way, as to form a level and solid —— bed, on which the ore is to rest. Over this, is placed small wood the pile. and chips, to fill up all the larger interstices, care being taken to provide small canals, filled with kindlings, at intervals of 8 to 10 feet, leading from the outer air to the center of the heap. As first iiier was practised, these canals connected with 'chimneys ', along the centre method of which were specially designed torapidly and certainly kindle the whole

oon heap. These chimneys were usually built of four sticks or old boards, so fixed together as to leave an opening, communicating below with the draught passages. Five or six such chimneys sufficed for each pile, and they were made to project two feet above the upper surface of the Canals are 'heap, so that no pieces of ore could fall into the flue opening. Such

oe for precautions, to insure certain kindling, are, however, not needed, and purposes, the canals are amply sufficient for this purpose ; besides, it was found Incipient that they induced undue local heating in their immediate vicinity, thus — - be tending to incipient fusing or matting of the ore, which is to be specially a guarded against. The bed of cordwood varies from 9 to 18 inches in

depth, according to the size of the pile. This bed of fuel being completed,

the coarse ore to the extent of about 65 per cent of the whole heap, is Se chieas. transferred by wheel barrows, from the cars, Over a narrow and roughly porary trestles constructed trestle platform, running the whole length of the heap. o—* This plan is sometimes adopted by the Mond Nickel Company, at the

Victoria mines, although, in some instances, the tram cars are deflected, by means of a spur or branch line, from the aerial tramway, running over the roast beds. The car is then lowered, and the ore dumped directly at any place desired. The medium sized ore or 'ragging', coarse, about the size of nut coal, is then carefully spread over the coarse ore, —— and and lastly, the whole heap is covered up with fines, till a height of from

6 to 18 feet is reached, according to the size of the pile. The whole

structure should then form a shapely rectangular pile, with sharp cor. ners, and as steeply sloping sides as the ore will naturally lie on without rolling (about 45°).

Disposition of

Metallurgy-— Roasting 195

The heap is now finished, and only those openings, connecting with jyniting the canal: around the base of the pile are left exposed. Kindlings or '"#t heap cotton waste, saturated with oil, are applied to these openings, and those, are simultaneously ignited, These openings are themselves covered with 'fines', as soon as the cordwcod is burning freely. this ample covering, the whole of this fuel, as stated by Mr, James McAr thur, (1) is burned out in about 60 hours after lighting up. ' A complete Roasting i: oxidizing ¢ asting process then begins, and continues until the end, ——— namely, until the sulphur contents are so far reduced and burned off, that there is not sufficient left to promote further combustion. The Only from 6 remaining portion of the sulphur (6 to & per cent' — enclosed and sealed pov ig up in non-porous portions of ore or matte, th so "-fused covering of remains, which would require to be re-broken, in order t se fresh faces under heat and thus liberate the remaining sulphur, inis could only be done by turning over and re-roasting, the ore, after the first roast was finished, Remaining but it is not at all necessary, as the remaining sulphur is essential in —-. a

the smelting of the ore, in order to produce clean slag'. About produce a twelve hours after firing, the whole heap should be pouring forth dense *lae. pale yellow fumes of sul~hurous acid, Great attention is paid to the pile for the drst few days, to Prevent excessive local heating, which tiaielaes frequently causes partial fusion of the ore, this tending to prevent suc- tion yen t cessful roasting. The heap is carefully and systematically watched i oom Selnacive day and night, and all holes or fissures, caused chiefly by settlement first few days. due to the burning out of the fuel, are at once covered with 'fines' of raw ore. After tka first few days are over, the pile may be left to itself, until cold enough to remove t the storage bins or furnace. After the period of roasting is .. r, and the pile is cold enough to be handled, Yaak hives the outer covering of pr lly roasted ore is first removed. This is ing first more abundant long the sides and base, and the precaution is some. moved: times taken to cover up these portions of the pile, with old iron sheeting, which ma: inlly assists in Preserving the heat, thus aiding th rovsting. Tie longer the period of roasting, the less the matting, an. ©. course the larger the heap, the smaller quantity of the outside covering or margin is left only partially roasted. When this outer covering is removed to be re-roasted, the remainder af the heap is con- Different veyed in wheel-barrows a few yards, in one case, to a sunken railroad, methods of which runs alongside of the roast yards. At the Mond Nickel Com- ee pany, it is loaded into cars, which are hauled up an inclined tramway, to an elevated series of storage bins at the roast yard, from whence it

is loaded, as required, into the aerial tramcars, and thus conveyed to the smelter.

In spite of

roast

1. Ann. Report, Bur, of Mines, Ont., 1903, p. 300. 4—n—"3L

hy aber.

g

SS TERRE Ae SS ee mE — o

al t

f

196 Geological Survey Of Canada

Appearance The ore, when roasted, is aggregated together, in large clinker-like

of roasted ore. masses. These are loosened, and broken up into suitable pieces for smelting, usually by pick and shovel, but often the assistance of explosives are needed to help in the removal. This rvasted ore is loaded

Removal of on large side-dumping cars, and hauled by locomotives to the stock

redigg stock bing at the furnaces. An experienced workman, knows the difference in the quality of roasted ores at sight, and is able to mix them roughly, as they are loaded into the cars at the heaps, to be taken to the smelter and dumped into separate bins. Here it is sampled, and again mixed by the furnace men, and made into smelting charges and fed into the furnaces.

Smelting.

sincathing te The copper nickel ores of the Sudbury District are, at present, (June, Sudbury 1904,) being treated by only one corporation, the Canadian Copper re Company, but during the progress of our work in 1901 and 1902, both the Mond Nickel Company and the Lake Superior Power Company were also conducting smelting operations. The Mond Company produced both the blast furnace or standard matte, and the bessemer or converter matte, while the last. mentioned corporation restricted their refining process to obtaining the lower grade or blast furnace matte. The smelter of the Lake Superior Power Company, situated at the Gertrude mines, was completed early in June, 1902, and for some time Production of 78 treating from 100 to 160 tons of ore daily. The matte, resulting matte by from these operations, steadily accumulated at the works, until the sus- Lake Superior ' ' ; . - Power Co. pension of all operations of this concern in 1903, and, during this period about 2,000 tons of the standard matte were produced. This matte is stated to have contained 29 per cent of nickel and copper combined, the proportion of the nickel to the copper being as 2 to 1. It was propo. sed to further refine this product at a converter plant, being erected at Sault Ste. Marie, or to ship it elsewhere to be refined. In addition, ioglaccistne about 20 tons of ore, daily, out of a total production of 200 tons, were ture of ferro- picked out as free as possible from chalcopyrite, which quantity was —— laid aside, to be shipped to Sault Ste. Marie, for the manufacture of ferro-nickel. Pe From 15°9 to 1893, the Murray mine conducted rather extensive Smelting at $ . Murray mine. smelting operations, making both standard and bessemer matte. The average of the lower grade product was 8°5 per cent of nickel and 4 per cent of copper, while Walker's analysis of the latter, showed it to eles contain 48°82 per cent of nickel and cobalt and 25-92 per cent of copper. Blezard mine. The Dominion Mineral Company, during the same period, produced only standard or blast furnace matte, containing from 18 to 20 per cent of

Metallurgy—Smelting 197

copper and 24 to 26 per cent of nickel, About 1893, and later in Drury 1896 and 1898, the Drury Nickel Company and the same corpora- os tion reorganized under the name of the Trill Mining Company,

smelted and sold about 420 tons of blast furnace matte. During

the early '90's, the Canadian Copper Company produced a considerable Bessemer amount of high grade matte by the bessemer process, but the refiners Give pe" seeming to prefer the standard or blast furnace mat e, the manufac- Canadian ture of this product was abandoned, and the bessemer plant, consisting pc aah of acupola, and 3 converters, located at the East Smelter, has been

left idle for the greater part of the time since. In the fall of 1900, Erection of the plant of the Ontario Smelting Works was installed by the Orford Loerie Copper Company, an organization closely related to the Canadian Cop- Works. per Company, both of which, in April, 1902, were included in the amalgamation of these and kindred corporations, under the name of the International Nickel Company. These works were designed to further

refine the low grade or blast furnace matte of the Canadian Copper Company.

Before the erection of the new smelter, which will be described and figured later, the Canadian Copper Company had smelting plants installed in two separate buildings, known respectively as the East and rae West Smelters. The processes at the two smelters were alike, and they ee

differed only in the number of their blast furnaces. At the West Smel- West smelters

at Copper

ter there were eight, and at the East Smelter five blast fuanaces, in Cliff addition to the Lessemer plant. Lately, the East Smelter has been dismantled, and in a short time it is stated to be the intention of the Company to pull down the West Smelter also, and concentrate all refining operations under one roof. At the time of writing, no smelting

is carried on at Copper Cliff, but the Company have leased the Mond Smelter at Victoria Mines, for a period of six months, this lease expir- rae ing about the Ist of August next, and all refining operations going on Copper Co's.

ease of

at present are carried on at this place. Victoria

es

The smelting or blast furnaces have the form of a flattened ellipse, at

are 9 feet in height to the charging door, and measure 9 feet by 5 feet at the top, and 8 feet 5 inches by 4 feet 4 inches at the tuyeres, of which there are 25 (2 inch), arranged in two rows, They are made of rolled steel, with a water space of two inches, between the outer and inner plates, and have for a bottom a cast iron plate, inches thick, protected by fire-brick, the whole supported by four strong cast iron legs. A light dome of plate steel, brick-lined at the top and sides, covers the furnace, and in one side of this dome, on a level with the ore bins, is the feed door. The furnace gases pass to the stacks, (one to each pair of furnaces),through brick chambers, with trough-shaped sheet

Description of blast furnace.

!

Seah eeconetn etneertascieenaesttioaedaaieteie ae

ij Hid 1

Location of blast furnaces.

Description of forehearth.

Matte or

metallic portion sinks to the bottom.

Use of McArthur granulating trough.

Disposition of granulated slag.

Use of granulated slag for ballast and roads.

Tapping of matte.

Matte is allowed to settle in pots,

198 Geological Burvry Of Canada

iron bottoms. Here the flue dust, having an opportunity to be precipitated, is taken periodically from these chambers and added to the blast furnace charges. The smelters are situated at or near the ground level, and ore, coke and flux are brought into the building on an elvated track, and dumped into the bins on the feed floor level. The well, forehearth or settling pot, is built of cast iron water-jackets in four sections, with a water space of six inches, and rests upon four wheels, for convenience of moving it whenever repairs are necessary, & second well standing ready to be put in its place. When the forehearth is in position, a square opening on one side, is fitted by fire-clay, to a corresponding opening in the furnace, and the molten slag and matte flow into the forehearth, when the furnace isin blast. The feeding of the furnace is continued, at frequent and stated intervals, and as the molten mass gathers at the base of the furnace, it flows through the discharge hole, into the forehearth, where the heavier or metallic portion (matte), sinks to the bottom, while the lighter slag rises to the surface, to flow out in a continuous stream from a water cooled, phosphor-bronze slag spout, toa McArthur granulating troughwhere it comes in quiet contact with a stream of water, that has already done duty in the water-jackets of the furnace, and flowing in the same direction as the stream of moiten slag. This granulated slag is carried by the water, which gradually filters away into the dump or into the slag wells, out of which the slag is elevated, by means of a bucket elevator, into high waste heaps. From these immense dumps, road makers, and especially the Canadian Pacific and Manitoulin and North Shore railways, help themselves, loading this slag on cars, by means of steam shovels, for use as ballast, for which it is excellently adapted. It is much heavier than ordinary ballast, and does not retain water, and, therefore, is not so liable to wash-outs, or to freeze in winter and heave up the tracks, as does the ordinary sandy or silt ballast often used in the district.

The matte is drawn off periodically, the tap-hole for this purpose being situated at a lower level, which is opened with a pointed iron rod, and afterwards closed with a plug of fireclay. This process is usually attended with a display of fireworks, but, as the men engaged at it become very expert, the stream of liquid matte is very quickly and effectively stoppe' The matte is then allowed to remain in the cast iron pots or moulds, into which it has been tapped, until cool, when it is dumped out, broken by means of sledge-hammers, weighed, loaded on cars, and shipped to the Ontario Smelting Works for further treatment.

Metallurgy —Smelting 199

The blast is furnished by No. 7 Connersville blowers, discharging (se ana 67 onbic feet of air blast per revolution, and making from 90 to 130 irda of revolutions per minute, each blower being driven by an engine of 50 H. P. The blast is delivered at the tuyeres at w pressure of about fourteen to sixteen ounces per square inch.

The roasted ore, with which the furnace is principally charged, is a Description mixture of oxides, sulphates and sulphides of nickel, copper and iron, °! T#*ted ore. together with a certaia amount of the basic silicate of the gangue.

The process of smelting is very economical, the ore furnishing in itself

the exact ingredients for fluxing. By the smelting of the ore, with a

small quantity of quartz, in the blast furnace, using from 15 to 17 per Proportion of cent of Connellsville coke, the iron is chiefly reduced to ferrous oxide °° and forms a slag with the gangue and quartz.

Under I and II, are analyses of this slag by Mr. Donald Locke, late Gui assayer of this Department. Under TIT, is an average analysis, blast furnace published by M. John Herdt, (1) while under IV, is an analysis by

Mr. J. W. Bain. (2). II III IV 32°58 38:00 26:67 44°37 43:00 50°82 3°52

6°62 4:50 3:38 0:40 0°45 10:00

The nickel and copper, and some of the iron, unite with the sulphur gp oi tu form a matte. Under I and II, are analyses of this blast furnace ; or standard matte, the results obtained by Mr. Donald Lc' e, in November, 1902 ; under IIT, is an analysis, by Mr. J. W Bain, (190€) ; under IV, is the mean of two -nalyses of matte, which were made by Mr. F. L. Sperry, on the 22nd February, and the 2nd of March, 1889, Under V, is the copper and nickel determination for this matte, in erga February, 1891, while under VI, are determinations for these same matte.

metals, by Mr. L. P. Silver (1902).

(1) 'Les Mines de Nickel du District de Sudbury (Ontario)." Rep. Cham. de Commerce, Montreal, 1892, p. 39. (2) Ann. Rep. Bur. of Mines, Ont., 1900, p. 217.

Ghological Survey Of Canada

II Ill IV 14:53 19°87 26910 26°34 16°75 14:140 34°15 43:90 31:235 Sulphur. ...24: 24.93 18°72 26:950 Cobalt Bet 0:63 0:235 0:05 0:935

Totals. ..99:71 99°85 99:92 100-405

duily 6 Each furnace, of which there were 13 installed, puts through about

rinse yee 130 tons every 24 hours, the total capacity being about 1800 tons per 10on 0! as) furnace. day Mr. Donald Locke gives the following average for a day's work of a furnace. In a day of 23 hours, using 12 oz. blast pressuve, there were smelted 264,009 lbs. of roasted ore, assaying :—

Copier cern 1:43 per cent. Nickel Silica tence yu ot as

Sulphur Nickel and

copper con- To this was added 3,600 lbs. of quartz, with 98 per cent of ailics, tents of matte

produced. using 45,300 lbs. coke (17 per cent). There were produced 26,318 lls. of matte, containing :—

11-90 per cent. . 22:10 ce Composition of slag. and 207,425 lbs. of slag, containing :—

Copper sees, one O88 per cent. Nickel ..

LHe MS keen Aarseirieeecetr

Description of extraor- An extraordinarily good run was as follows :—With a 16 oz. blast, dinary run. '

there were sme!ted in 24 hours :—

Oleins nope enc manmone ngs. AR UO WE Quartz:.coc uae ceo years 2,250 Using coke 87,200 "

There were produced :—

Matteson cs 44,231 Ibs. Slag ee cee seen S0e 200,

Metallurgy—8Melting 201

The furnace gases pass to the stacks (one to each pair of furnaces), Vaihabiienos through brick chambers, with trough-shaped sheet iron bottoms, Here fluedust, the flue dust, having an opportunity to be precipitated, is taken periodically from these chambers, and added to the blast furnace ciarges, Nickel and

it J 7 7, Four samples, assayed by Mr. Locke, in 1902, resulted as follows :-— Hd f rvs 4 . Oo C) ' I. Il. UI. IV. dust, i

Copper 148 1:49 155 1:39 : Nickels. oc.cous G28 3°84 3:79 3:62 i An assay of a typical sample, by Mr. L. P. Silver, (' ) gave copper 4, i 25 per cent and nickel 3:37 per cent, fi f In the roasting of the ore, a large proportion is badly roasted, or, owing to the heat in the pile being too intense, the ore melts to matte, Production of

. ™,: ' ea 'spilt' matte. : and is not roasted at all. This should be re-roasted, and is so, to a cer- i tain extent, but when lirge orders are on hand, this unroasted and ' partly roasted ore, is smelted in the blast furnace, and the resulting low grade matte is '.plit,' that is, pour d out on the ground in layers of about half an inch in thickness, and broken up. Two assays of this 'spilt' matte, collected in November, 1902, gave Mr. Locke the fol- : lowing results :— Peposition i

ee P of spilt' Nickel 2:30 per cent. 3°43 per cent. matte in 7 Copper 326 9 356 0 re JOR From. ;, 6308 6118 ; This matte usually contains from 7 to 15 per cent of the metals anda typical sample, analyzed by Mr. L. P. Silver, (op. cit.), contained, nickel Other assays 6-01 per cent and copper 7:45 per cent. oe ig

This 'spilt matte' is broken up and taken to the roast-yard, where i it is roasted in small heaps (about 200 tons). After the necessary Roasting of HL oxidation, the roasting usually lasting about 30 days, it is re-smelted SPilt' matte. being added to the blast furnace charge, in place of some of the ore, the matte thus produced being thereby much richer in metallic contents.

Previous to the installation of the plant at the Ontario Smelting Works, the Canadian Copper Company still further refined their own Bessemerizing blast furnace or standard matte, by the ' Bes Process.' In these Coma earlier years, about 1893, this wasdoneon . van extensive scale, but during the later '90's, there was no very constant or large demand for this higher grade of matte, and this method of concentration was only practised as occasion demanded. The converter used was of the Marhés type, with a capacity of one and a half tons, with a new lining, and three tons with an old lining.

ppeeineest**

enna

(1) Jour. Can. Min. Inst., Vol. V, 1902, p. 546,

Dimensions of converters.

Employment of quartz from Bruce Mines.

Silica used now comes from near

Kelley lake.

Description of converter.

Motions of converter,

Gradual appeicetion of pressure,

202 Geological Survey Of Canada

The process is very similar to that followed in bessemerizing iron. The Manhés converters are cylindrical shaped vessels, with convex ends measuring usually about eight feet in length, with a diameter of about four feet. They are made of boiler plate, and lined with a thick layer of clay mixed with quartz.

In the first years, much of the quartz used, and especially at the Murray mine was obtained frou the Bruce Mines, where great quantities of 'skimpings ' exist, resulting from the jigging of the ore from that mine during its operation in past years. This material consists of the crushed quartzose gungue, cleaned of all but a small proportion of the sulphides of copper, constituting the ore. [t carries but a small proportion of felspar. The silica, now to be used, is obtained from a large vein of massive quartz, situated on the high range of norite hills near the shores of Kelley lake, a little over a mile south of the large new smelter.

The converter rests, with its axis horizontal, on a carriage running onatrack. It is provided, on its upper side, with a mouth or throat through which it can be charged. The dimensions are : length 7 feet, 3 inches; diameter 5 feet, 8 inches. The blast is driven through the charge from two parallel series of small tuyere holes, piercing the lining, along either side, below and along the length of the vessel, Opposite each of these tuyere holes, corresponding holes are pierced through the tubes, which run along the outside of the converter, to Supply them with blast. These holes are closed with wooden plugs, Temovable to admit an iron bar, which, being poked through them successively during the process of blowing, keeps the tuyeres clear and the charge stirred.

A gearing enables the converter to be rotated on the car about its herizontal axis, and the throat having been thus lowered. a charge of low grade matte, from the well or forehearth of the cupola, is run into it by means of a trough. It is then rotated back, till the mouth is again vertical, and run around underneath a large hood, connected with a cack, in another part of the smelter house where it is connected with the blower.

At first, a pressure, starting at 5 lbs. of an air blast, is blown through the mass of metal, when a violent agitation takes place, and on raising the pressure to 7 Ibs., white fumes appear. As there are none of the usual flame reactions, the point at which to stop the blast, after the iron has been removed, and before the nickel has also begun to slag, in undue amount, requires special experience and judgment. The end of the operation is determined mainly, by a perceptible decrease in the

Metallurgy—Smelting 203

temperature of the mass, as shown by the flame, but also ot the Criteria for fragments splashed or blown out of the converter, as well as by the pot 9 Banaorl aize and appearance of the particles, which gradually become larger is reached, and more frothy, at the last issuing in pieces about the size of a man's

hand. The duration of the blowing operation depends on the size of

the charge, and the displacement of the converter spaces for the silicious

lining is gradually appropriated by the iron in the charge. Each

charge is, therefore, greater than the preceding one, until the sixth or

seventh charge is blown, when the converter is laid to one side for re- Charge of lining. As a result of this, the continuance of the blast generally i vkbr ech varies from 20 to 80 minutes, averaging about 50 minutes. ch aes

During this bessemerizing process, the iron is almost entirely (Oijects of

removed, the sulphur lowered to from 10 to 15 per cent, and the copper be*smerizing. and nickel combined to from 80 to 85 per cent. The iron unites with the silicious lining, to form a very fluid slag which is spilled off the top. The amount of nickel, lost by oxidation, is very trifling, cobalt is perfectly scorified, zinc, arsenic and antimony are completely driven off, while bismuth, silver, gold and platinum are entirely concentrated in this matte,

The following are analyses of this bessemer matte :— Analyses a yessemer

I IL. Ill. IV. V. — Nickel...

Cobalt... 39°96 40°93 31°35) 41-18 39-64

Copper 43°36 45°71 : 44°87 42-75 Tron 0:30 0:40 0:94 1°03 Sulphur 13-76 ele 11°62 14-05

Gold '3cz. 6:75 02.

Silver. ' meee D-loz. 5:°300z. 001775 Platinum . HEU OZ. ely ot asus 0:50 000430 Iridium ..., yen ee Bh as 000056 Osmium ..., een ag ohare 000057 Rhodium... ath as oe ases neryge. Trace. Palladium. 0:250z see : We Trace.

Authorities for analyses,

Explanations.— Analysis I, is by Titus Ulké and is styled 'a fair average analysis of the Canadian Copper Company's bessemer matte.' (Min. Industry, Vol. TIT., 1890, p 460); IT. and III., are by Roberts- Austen, (Min. Proc. Inst. Civ, Eng., Vol. CXXXV, p. 30); IV,, is an analysis, by J. W. Bain, (Ann. Rep. Bur. of Mines, Ont., 1900, p. 218); V., is an analysis by L. P. Silver, (Jour. Can. Min. Inst., Vol. V, 1902, p. 534); VIL, an analysis by Dr. T. L. Walker, of the besse-

204 Geological Survby Of Canada

Comparison ™er matte, from the Murray mine, (Amer. Jour. Sc., Vol. I, 4th Sepoly a ries, 1896, p. 112; also Ann. Rep. Bur. of Mines, Ont., 1903, pp. 283- mattes in 284),

regard to

presious Under Norway, on a preceding page, analyses of similar concentrat-

sss ed matte, obtained from the Norwegian pyrrhotite, are also quoted. These show the presence also of gold, silver and platinum in appreci able quantities. Speaking roughly, the silver is only from to § of that present in the Sudbury matte, the gold about the same as that in the Murray mine matte, which is only about of that present in the mattes from the Copper Cliff and Victoria mines, while the metals of the platinum group occur in about half the amount of that present in the Murray mine, this matte itself only containing less than half that usually present in the mattes produced from the Coppez C.iff and Vietoria mines,

— ig Prof. Vogt, also gives the interesting information, that the proporportions o!

precious tion of these metals present in the Norwegian ores and mattes, is one Sores part of gold to 20 of silver, one of platinum to 30 of silver, one of mattes. silver to 5,000 of nickel and one of platinum to 150,000 of nickel. Analyses of The following are analyses of the converter or bassemer slag. All bessemer : slags. converter slags are returned to the furnaces for re-smelting, as they are so high in nickel. I. II. III. Ferrous Iron. .. . .. .. 666 67:1 676 Bilithe2.e2056 Velentacaees 28:5 27°9 27°5 Nickell ascssc peewunsees 1-9 16 14 Copperincsecciaen eco kek 0:8 1:2 SalonGh. once re OO 0-4 0:5

a T and IL., are analyses by Edwards, (Eng. & Min. Jour., May 2nd, — 1896) ; III., is an analysis by L. P. Silver, (Jour. Can. Min. Inst., Vol. V., 190%, p. 549).

From about the beginning of November, 1900, until the destruction

of the plant early in the spring of 1904, the blast furnace matte pro-

Conner Go's duced by the Canadian Copper Company, was further refined at the

mattes refined Ontario Smelting Works, built and operated by the Orford Copper

rela na Company, at Copper Cliff. This company was a closely allied corpora-

Works from tion, and both were consolidated in 1902, under the management of

the Canadian Copper Company, itself a subsidiary organization of the International Nickel Company.

a of The standard matte is brought from the Canadian Copper Compa- Sineling ny'e works on cars, and put through a Blake crusher. It passes from Yorks.

METALLURGY—gsMELTING 205

that directly into a Krupp ball w.i:l, where it is reduced to a fine pow. der. From the ball mill, it runs on a belt conveyer, which raises it to a storage bin, and from this storage bin, it is conveyed still further, as required, on belt conveyers, to the feed hoppers of the roasting furnace.

The matte is roasted in two Brown, straight-line, automatic rever- Description of beratory caleiners, exch with a hearth area of 140 feet by 10 feet. Ohturig Later, these furnaces were enlarged to 200 feet, anda third one of Writing similar dimensions was also built. One furnace has six sets of ploughs, and the other seven. The ploughs make one complete trip in 63 minutes. The plongh carriage, on passing the automatic feeder, causes &® certain amount of the powdered matte to fall into the furnace, Each Capacity of furnace puts through 45 tons of matte in 24 hours, and reduces pt ecaad the sulphur from 25 to 30 per cent down to 5 to 8 per cent, using 44 cords of wood per furnace per day.

The roasted matte is discharged from the furnaces, into the trough

of a screw conveyer, which takes it to the feeding floor of the blast furnace.

The furnaces are of brick usually known as the 'Orford' furnace, Dimensions of cooled in the region of the tuyeres, by water circvlating in pipes, jee embedded in the brickwork. The furnace measures 50 inches by 128

inches at the tuyeres, of which there are seven,

The blast is furnished by two No. 9 Sturtevant, centrifugal blowers. jy),.¢ The furnaces are fed by hand, the charge consisting of roasted matte, fed in powder form, with quartz tailings and some roasted ore.

Owing to the large amount of fines in the charge, great quantities Formation of of flue dust are formed—40 tons a week being a usual figure, and 2 ap often as high as 80 tons a week being produced. This flue dust, assaying about 11 per cent of copper, and 18 per cent of nickel, is put through the furnace again,

The matte and slag flow from the furnace continuously, into an Gontintion of Orford siphon-tap forehearth. This consists of a rectangular box lad ee about 4 feet long, 2 feet 6 inches wide and 18 inches high, formed of SEgh cast iron piates strongly bolted together at the corners and lined with a 6-inch brick wall. It is divided into two parts, in the ratio of about 2 to 3, by a9-inch division wall, with a slot on the level of the floor of the forehearth, through which the matte can flow from the larger to the smaller compartment. The whole forehearth is supporced on

wheels. The matte and slag flow from the furnace into the larger com- gettlement of matte.

anette scat

tk ET Reae I a heen iti peccistes shattye re

Discharge of matte and alag.

Analyses of Ontario Smelting

Works matte.

Analyses of Ontario Smelting Works slag.

Slag is resmelted,

Pyritic swelting in Canada

206 Grological Survey Op Canada

partment, the forehearth fills, the slag, being lighter, floats, and only the matte is able to find its way to the smaller compartment, through the slot at the bottom of the division wall.

When the forehearth is full,matte and slag are discharged in separate and continuous streams, the former being received in cast iron pots. This refined product is shipped to the Orford Copper Company, New York, for the separation of copper and nickel. Two samples of this high grade matte, assayed by Mr. Donald Locke, contained as follows :—

Nickel 0.5.65: 41:58 40°37 Cobalt 0-71 0:78 Copper... 24:99 24°95 FIO i cn seis OS 9°64 Silver 2°50 oz. per ton.

Gold 0°15 0z. per ton. 0°10 oz. per ton. Platinum 050 " Odes is

Two samples of the slag collected at the same time, analyzed by Mr. Donald Locke, gave the following results :—

PGW oi bab see eee orem eee 26:62 Ferrous oxide 64°31 66:72 EAMG ccc cccsoacsst. wes Vie 0:24 pT MOS ns cere Care 0:08 0:09 INIORBL cnc ce beac ere 2°57 2-68 Copper... cee ee ences 0:56 0:77 AO Mine a cs eee (ise?! 0°54 Sulphuric Sassen 0:49 0:30

Totele. i. sees: ' 97-96

This slag is taken to the Canadian Copper Company's works, and put through the blast fur ace, to recover the metal contents, which are too high to be neglected.

PYRITIC SMELTING. Mr. James McArthur is authority for the following statement: (')

'Cold blast pyritic smelting of sulphide ores has been cr.rried on in Canada, off and on, and for long periods at a time, since 1879; not as

(1) Ann. Rep. Bur. of Mines Ont., 1903, pp. 302 & 303,

Metallurgy—8Melting 207

an experiment but as a process. Thousands of tons of copper sulphide

fines have been smelted with cold blast, and later on in recent YEAS Description at Copper Cliff with cold and also with very moderately hot blast (the ef process, latter about 400'F.), making in these recent operations some 18,000

to 20,000 tons of matte product. The coke consumption was about 5

per cent for both temperatures of the blast, the grade of matt product

being almost identical. With a blast temperature sufficiently high, —

not less than 1200° F.—to counteract gumming at tuyeres, the sulphur

contents of the ore, which shoul! be the only fuel used apart from a

small percentage of the iron, can be kept in ignition, and with a higher

pressure of the blast we should get sufficiently rapid oxidation action, Average even in a large and fast smelting furnace, to produce a direct 30 per- —. of cent matte, or over seven into one, from a raw 4 per cent ore as it comes matte, from the mines, because if we can dispense with all carbonaceous

fuel in first smelting and can use the sulphur co' tents of charge in

its stead, we stop all reducing action, and in lic ereof introduce a complete oxidizing action, oxidizing the iron and consuming the sul-

phur in the operation.'

Just to what extent green ore will be employed, in place of roasted ore, under the new conditions which will obtain at the new smelter, which is about to be described, and where the pressure will be 40 ozs, instead of 14 ozs., cannot be foretold, but it is expected that a very large amount of raw ore will be added to the furnace charge.

The drawings, accompanying this bulletin, are plan and sectional Extent of , k ' j pyritic smeltelevations of a 1000-ton smelter designed by the Engineeving Company ing to be

of New York. (') These were submitted to the Canadian Copper Com- *™?loyed,

uncertain, pany, who, after their approval and adoption, proceeded to instal this Preperation of new smelting and power plant, in which are assembled the latest and am for best: improvemenis and conveniences for every part of the work. It Shanta is confidently expected that this smelter will be in operation early in Conver Co.

July (1904). (2)

Tn the crection of this smelter, there were several objects that had Objects to be to be borne in mind, among them the cheap handling of a large building au tonnage of ore, the storage during the winter months of materials, new smelter. such as coke and coal, which can be received by boat during summer ; the elimination of all needless manual labor, and the thorough efficiency of the power department. The plant was designed to be erected on two levels ; the large amount of slag produced had to be taken into Bilencsitivn consideration and the disposition of this slag was an important factor of slag.

(1) The blocks for the drawings reproduced in this report were kindly loaned by the Engineeriug and Mining Journal of New York. (2) Eng. Min. Jour. Vol. LXXVI. Dee. 31st, pp. 1003-1009,

mn ae

WHE Dees: iit nana

Deseription and location of storage bins.

Remo al of roasted ore,

Disposition of various products,

Description of sectional elevations, Dimension of buildings.

Details of equipment of power: house,

208 Grological Survey Of Canada

in determining the site. The plant, as it now stands, was built along the face of a cliff, on the northern side of the flat, on which the town of Copper Cliff stands.

On the upper edge of the cliff, a system of bins has been constructed for storage purposes, The smelter building proper, is situated parallel to these bins, with the power-house at the northeastern end. A trestle was built on the grade level of the bottom of the bins, which is also the grade level of the charging floor connecting the charging floor with the bins and also with the power-house, making 4 circular track. running on both sides of the furnaces, and passing the coal chute in front of the power-house.: After roasting, the ore is loaded into 50-ton hopper-bottom cars, and drawn up to the top of the bins by 70-ton locomotives, The track leading to the trestle is on an easy grade all the way, and is also connected with the main line, leading to the Canadian Pacific railway.

All ore, flux, coke, coa), etc., is handled on these tracks, and dumped directly into the bins. Running on the circular track underneath the bins, and into the smelter building, and past the power-house, is an electric railroad, with side 'umping cars drawn by electric locomotives. The ore, coke, etc. is loaded into these cars, and weighed on the end of the trestle. The furnace charge is . umped direct into the furnaces, and the coal into the pockets ext the power-house.

As shown by the sectional elevations, the site consists of two levels, with a difference of 35 feet in elevation. The upper level is the same elevation as the feed-floor, and is occupied by a double-track pocket trestle, 35 x 35 x 600 feet.

On the lower level, are located the power-house, 156 by 102 feet ; the blast furnace building, 84 by 283 feet; the foundation for the trestle carrying the electric tramway, connecting the storage pockets with the feed floor; the coal-bins of the boiler room; the dust-chamber, 16 feet wide, 18 feet high and 444 feet long ; the stack, 15 feet inside diameter, 210 feet high; together with the necessary slag tracks, sunken tracks for loading metal for shipment, tracks to store house, ete.

The power-house is equipped with two Nordberg Manufaciuring Company's horizontal, cross-compound, condensing, blowing engines, with steam cylinders, 13 inches and 24 inches by 42 inches and air cylinders 57 inches and 57 inches by 42 inches. When operating: "under usual working conditions, these eugines will deliver 20,000 cu. ft. of free air per minute, against a pressure of 40 ozs., for use in the blast furnaces. One Nordberg Manufacturing Company's horizontal

Metallupgy—Smelting 209

cross-compound, condensing, blowing engine, with steam cylinders 15

inches and 30 inches Ly 42 inches and air cylinders 40 inches and 40

inches by 42 inches, will deliver 10,000 cubie feet of free air per minute, against a Pressure of 15 Ibs. for use in the converters, Two

13 in. and 26 in, by 20 in. horizontal, compound, condensing engines,

built by the Robb Engineering Company, to each of which is directly connected one 200 kw. 600-volt, S-phase alternating current generator,

built by the Canadian General Electric Company, each generator Electrical having its own exciter of 11 kw. capacity, belt driven from generator "!!!P!e™ shaft. The electrical energy thus generated, is used for hoisting in and pumping at the mines, operating the electric tramway for charging

cars, turning the converters, and operating the travelling crane in the

furnace building. The station is also equipped with one 25 kw. motor

driven generator set, for furnishing direct current to the electric locomotives. A travelling crane of ample capacity is installed in the engine-

room for handling all this apparatus, A gravity oiling and oil filtra-

tion system is installed on all engines,

In the boiler room, the present installation of boilers consists of four 1)... ription

400-H. P., 150-lb. pressure, horizontal water-tube boilers, built by the of plant in Aultman & Taylor Machinery Company, of Manstiel, Ohio, and space

horler hose,

is provided for two more boilers of the same size, The boilers are equipped with Potter Super-heaters and Tread-K ill shaking grates. The ash.s are removed from the boiler ash-pit by opening a grate in the bottom, which permits them to fall into a bucket resting ona small flat car, which runs on a track in the ash-tunnel under the boilers. The car is then run outside of the building and a hoist lifts the bucket and dumps the ashes into an ash-bin, from which it runs into cinder cars,

Coal is brougl:: to the power plant by the electric locomotive train, Movement above referred to, and dumped into bins built in the trestle along the "©: west side of the building. Then it runs through coal chutes to one-half ton coal cars in the boiler room, from which cars it is shovelled into boiler furnar as,

The only available water for boiler use, contains considerable sul- Treatment of phuric acid and scale-forming elements, and, to eliminate these, the ater pefore water is subjected to a chemical treatment and precipitation, in a water purifying system, built by the Industrial Water Company, of New York. In this way, the acid is neutralized, and the scale-forming material is removed, before the water enters the boilers. The condenser is of the elevated barometric shape, built by the Alberger Condenser

Company, of New York. 14—n—14

Style oJ blast furnace used.

Methods employed in movement of products.

Disposition of

slag and matte.

Removal of flue dust.

Operation of electric tramways.

Dimensions of blast furnaces,

210 Geological Survey Of Canada

The blast furnace building contains two sectional, rectangular, water jacketted, Holthoff, copper blast furnaces, three stands for Holthoff converters ; one 40-ton electric crane; the necessary matt-settlers, clay mills, silica and clay storage bins, etc. Room is provided for expansion.

Tn operation, the ore, coke and flux for the blast furnaces, silica and clay for lining the converters, and coal for the boilers, are delivered into the top of the trestle pockets, by standard-gauge cars—Ingoldsby drop. bottom in the case of the ore, and drawn from the. bottom of the pockets into trains of six 2-ton, 36-in. gauge, side-dump, Koppel cars, which are hauled to the blast furnace, silica and clay storage bins, or coal bins, by 25 H. P. Canadian General Electric Company electric locomotives.

The slag and matte run from the blast furnace into 16-in. settlers, the slag overflowing into 30-ton Pollock cinder cars, which are hauled to the dump by standard gauge locomotives. The matte is tapped into 10-ton cast-steel ladles and taken to the converter by a 40-ton Case Manufacturing Company's electric crane. The same crane removes the converter shells for re-lining, and takes care of the converter slag and white metal, pouring them into moulds for return into the pocket trestle, or for shipment to the refinery. The coal bins at the boilers, and the silica and clay bins at the clay mills, are kept full by six-car train. loads of material.

The flue dust is drawn from the dust chamber intoa standard gauge bottom-dump gondola, especially fitted for the service, and this car is hauled to the top of the pocket trestle on the upper level, and the dust drawn into a pocket fitted for the purpose, whence it is drawn to a briquetting machine, pressed into briquettes and added to the charge,

The electric tramway consists of two parallel 36-in. gauge tracks, running under two lines of grates under the pocket trestle, then over suspension scales to opposite sides of the furnaces on the feed-fluor level, passing over the top of the boiler room, coal bins and converter lining house, silica and clay bins. The twe 'racks have cross-over connections, but, under normal working cond.:ions, each track carries a train entirely independent of the other.

The blast furnaces are 50 in. by 204 in, at the tuyeres ; 14 feet 9 inches from centre of tuyeres to the feed-floor, and have, on eaci side, four lower jackets, each 51 in. wide and 8 feet 6 inches high, and two upper jackets, 8 feet 6 inches wide and 6 feet high. Each lower sidejacket carries four 6 in. tuyeres. Both ends of the furnace are made alike, so that either end can be used for removing matte and slag.

Metallurgy —Smelting 211

There is no brick work under the deck beams. in. by 126 in., and are by the electric moter,

The converters are 84 Size of tilted by a train of gears and a worm, driven °'Y*'ters

The water for the plant is supplied by a 16-in. pipe, running from a Water dam, situated about 5,000 feet from the plant itself. The water is run by gravity into the Jackets and when drawn out, is pumped into a tank above the smelting plant, for fire purposes, or into the reservoir, which is near the foot of the pl

ant, and the hot water is the boilers in order to economic

e at that point.

The Mond Nickel Company refine the ore from their own de at Victoria Mines, a station on the 'Sault branch' Pacific railway, 22 miles the erection of the new on was the most modern and

also used in

posits Tu cation of of the Canadian he

Nickel Co's west of Sudbury. Their smelter, before smelter.

e, now about completed, at Copper Cliff, best equipped in the district. Tt not only

'75 per cent of iron, and 0-25 er ie ae

, to be treated there, by the Mond of bessemer process, for copper and nickel. Difficulties, in connection with the ™*'t: operation of their refining at Clydach, Wales, have, for tho time being, Matte shipped caused a suspension in their min.

ales for ing and metallurgical operations in refining, the Sudbury District, while their sm

elter has been operated by the pease of a Canadian Copper Company under a, six month's lease, which @Xpires smelter to about August Ist next (1904). Tt is authoratively stated, however, paar that these difficulties have now been successfully Overcome, and that their refinery, greatly enlarged and with all the nec ready to go to work,

essary changes, is It is confidently expected that immediately on y

the expiry of the Canadian Copper Company's leas again resume Operations, under the former management, on even a larger operations, scale than before. The North Star mine, on the Manitoulin and North Mining Shore railway, is, at present, being developed under option by this rates Shak: company, under the direction of Mr. C. V. Corless, and the ore secured is shipped to Victoria Mines for treatment.

xpectation e, the smelter wil] that Mond Co, will resume

at

The roasting of the ore is carried on Company's works, The roasted ore is brou of an aerial teamway, distant.

as at the Canadian Copper Dea Pe ee ght to the smelter, by means carried hy

: .y Aerial from the roast yards, which are about one mile tramway.

The smelter is erected on a sloping hillside, and has three levels, ret and those of the feed floor, the furnace floor and the converter floor. The for"

doseription roasted ore is brought into the smelter tu a Platform, above the third °! smelter. 14—n—14f

supply,

artes ia.

No assays of roasted ore made.

Average nickel and copper contents of ore from Victoria mine.

Description and dimensions of blast furnace.

Character of average furnace charge.

Tailings from Bruce Mines.

Use of North Star ore.

212 Geological Survey Of Canada

level, where the tubs are received by a boy, after having been automatically unhitched from the haulage rope. The boy runs the tubs to the bins, tips them and hitches them, again empty, to the outgoing rope. The ore bins are situated above and behind the feed floors, so that the roasted ore can easily be discharged, through chutes, into the dump cars on the feed floor.

Assays of the roasted ore are not made, owing to the difficulty of selecting samples, and without careful sampling widely different results are sure to be obtained. For the purpose of deciding the proper proportions of ore, to be included in the furnace charges, one-tenth is added to the assays of the raw ore. The averages of the daily assays of raw ore for July and September, 1902, made by Mr. T. M. Paris, chemist to the Mond Nickel Company, are given inder I and IT respectively, while, under III, is given an average cf several months assays.

I. TI. III. Nickel .o0.c<.5052: 3.21 3.05 Copperas Jus 2.41 3.05 Insoluble. 17.20 13.90 17.01

The ore is smelted in rectangular, steel, water-jacketed furnazes, 12 ft. high, 42 in. by 120 in. at the tuyeres, and increasing slightly towards the top. The two furnaces (only one runs at a time) have each 16 tuyeres, 8 on each side, a cast iron water-cooled tap jacket and Hixon slag spout. This consists of a coil of 1 in. piping, cast around with cast iron so as to form a channel some four feet long, through which the matte and slag flow continuously into the forehearth. The spout is fully described in Hixon's 'Lead and Copper Smelting,' pp. 28-30. One furnace puts through about 170 tons a day, made up (for example) as follows :—120 charges each containing :—

A. B. Fine dustincs oc. or ace> 200 Ibs, arlingsy ccs eet 200 250 Ibs. Converter slag 500" 500 " North Star ore 300" 250 ' PRORBEER OPO site cross o 1,600 1,800 COkO@neas-cie pin sl ee 300 300

The tailings are practically pure quartz, with a small percentage of copper, from the Bruce Mines.

The North Star ore (obtained from the North Star mine) is not roasted, and the quantity used is varied according to the amount of

¢ Metallurgy—Smelting 213

sulphur in the roasted ore. The charges are dumped directly from the

dump-cars into the furnace, through the open top, alternate charges

being fed to the sides, by means of a simple device, consisting of a device

wrought iron pipe, about 8 in. in diameter, through the length of the fume

furnace opening, and let down about three fect into the furnace. On

this the charge falls and is deflected towards the sides. The blast Use of blast.

for each furnace is furnished by a No. 6 Green blower. The fore-

hearth is of boiler iron, 10 feet in diameter, with 6 in. lining Description

of fire clay and quartz. In this, the matte and the slag have ct eet

every opportunity for a complete separation, and, owing to its large

size, the converter foreman can always be assured of having sutflicient

matte ready for him, when he requires it. When the hearth fills, the

slag spout is at first kept stopped up, so that the bath rises right to

the top of the hearth, and a stiff slag crust forms, which is covered pio

with layer of non-conducting coke. This forms the hearth cover. and disposifter the formation of the cover, the slag spout is opened and the slag 10) 0! slag

overflows, and is -anulated by falling into a powerful stream of water,

and is carried to the slag dump by means of a large cast iron pipe.

Under I, is given the average of the blast furnace slag assays for Average

September, 1902; II, is the average for several months in the same iene or:

year, by Mr. T. M. Paris, of the Mond Nickel Company, while, under ue urnac

ITI, IV and V, are similar assays, by Mr. Donald Locke of this Depart- re

ment.

i jibe dak : : Nicklin scutes O30: 0:34 °O°3] 25 0-28 036 0:35 0:33 "§ 0-29 31°31 30°50 32: 30°70 The matte is tapped, periodically through the water-cooled tap-hole, Removal and flowing through iron channels, lined with clay, into the converters, Seceaet ie which are situated on the lowest level of the smelter. About 20 to of matte. 25 tons of matte are produced per day, by one furnace.

Under I, is given the average of the metal contents of this blast furnace or standard matte for September, 1902. Under II, the average for several months, in the same year, by Mr. T. M. Paris, while IIT, 4 yerag, IV and V, are assays, by Mr. Donald Locke, of this Department. nickel and

copper

-ontents of ' it tw Ww % Eiowt fenenée

15-20 16:53 1380 15:00 15-50 matte, 13-14 16:22 12:10 11:80 12-00

In the converter department, are 6 Leghorn converters, only one of which is in use at a time, the others being repaired, lined or dried.

a 64 ny

ie

Equipment of converter department.

Method of lining converters,

Preparing a converter for work,

Average converter charge. Use and strength of blast.

— of slag and mutte.

Anaysis of bessemer slag.

Average metallic

. contents of

bessemer slag,

214 Geological Survey Of Canada

The lining consists of a mixture of quartz and clay, the quartz being crushed and then ground in a Chilian mill, where it is also mixed with the clay and moistened.

in lining a converter, the bottom is first put in and tamped firm ; a tapering iron tub is then placed in the converter, and round this the lining 1s firmly tamped. When the lining is completed to the top of the tub, the tuyere holes are punched, the tub lifted out, and the top of the converter put on. This is then lined, and the converter moved to where a blast pipe can be connected. A wood fire is lighted and the blast turned on. The fire is kept up until the converter is wanted, The converters are moved, from place to place, by means of a travelling electric crane, commanding the whole floor of the converter depart ment.

The first charge of a newly lined converter is only about 1 ton, but as the lining is eaten away, the size of the charge increases, the average charge being about 2 tons. A lining lasts from 11 to 12 hours, about 6 charges being blown in this time. A blast of 10 Ibs. pressure is employed.

During the blowing of a charge, i iic slag is twice poured off into slag pots, by tipping the converter, the blast heing turned off during the pouring. The finished matte is poured into a clay-lined bucket, which is carried by the electric crane, and the matte tapped from it into flat, cast iron moulds,

The following is an analysis of clean converter slag, by Mr. Donald Locke, of this Department.

Ue oe okra e . 33°40 Ferrous oxide. . 46:50 Dimesren ees oes 0:93 Magnesia 0:08 NICKELS .tiGe sss 0-55 Coopers ciecincsae. 10°45 Alumina'. .) 5. ccc 4:60 SH Wag woulae ages Eby

The total amount of copper and nickel skimmed off, or poured from the matte during the converting, is, of course, much larger than this, as the last skimming contains much pasty, half fused substance, containing matte, and being higher in nickel than the clean slag. The average, therefore, of the converter slag would be considerably higher in nickel, averaging about 1:5 per cent of copper and from 1°5 to 2 per cent of nickel.

Refining Of Nickel 215

The bessemer or converter matte contains as follows, according to 4 nalysou of

two analyses, by Mr. Donald Locke, of this Department : ae

IEC CT ae aa ne . 41-88 41°23

Cobalt... 0:33 0°52

Copper 37°37 37°83

LTS betes ieee ete 1:07 077

Golden. ser: 13 Of an oz, to a ton of 2,000 Ibs.

Bilvore nec ae. 4°87 oz. i a

Platinun 0-40 oz. L

The slag is broken as soon as it sets, loaded into small cars, and Slag returned raised to the feed floor, to be put through the blast furnace on an psoas inclined elevator, on the west side of the smelter.

The matte, when cold, is crushed in a Blake crusher, and packed in Removal and

barrels, to be sent to England, for further treatment. aie ay

A railway track passes the lowest level of the smelter, to take away Location

finished products, etc., and a track enters the upper level, to bring °f railways. coke, raw ore, quartz, etc.

The engine house, situated to the west of the smelter, contains the Equipment Riedler blowing engine for the converter, the blowers for the blast of engine furnaces, a pump to furnish the hydraulic power fo. the converters, two dynamos—one working by day and one by m, '—-which supply light and power for the crane, for the two crushers—one for matte, the other for the quartz for the converters—for the Chilian

mill, and for the aerial tramway. Power is furnished by 5 horizontal tubular boilers,

Refining Of Nickel.

The subject of nickel has not, until quite recently, received from Neglect of truly scientific men, that proper share of attention and inquiry which ect the known, desirable, physical properties of the metal demanded, these giving ample promise of its possible, wide, industrial application.

Several reasons might be assigned, for this apparently unwarranted apathy in regard ty such a hopeful field of inquiry, but, doubtless, the most important influence, related directly to the apparently limited distribution and supply of ores containing this metal, and the great, and for a long time, insuperable difficulties, encountered in all attempts at refining the ores, so as to obtsin an absolutely pure and uaiforin product. From 1840 to 1860, the production of nickel was less than Early produc- 200 tons annually, derived principally from the mines of Saxony and "0" of nickel. Hungary, with much smaller quantities from Sweden and Norway.

Seer,

216 Geulogical Survey Of Canada

Between the later date, and the year 1876, the greatest proportion of the world's supply of nickel was obtained from the mines of Norway and Sweden, with much smaller quantities fron Saxony, Hungary and Supply of ore the United States. Careful examination of the occurrences of these nicthought to be ae oe z fs eevee ' limited. kel deposits, in the countries mentioned, indicated their probable exhaustion at no distant date, especially, if called upon to maintain a large and steady output. The prospecting undertaken, resulted in no new discoveries of a startling nature, and everything pointed to a comparatively Entry on the limited supply and demand. This state of affairs continued until ei. about the year 1882, when the ores from the New Caledonia mines began nia ores, to flood the market. A period of over production followed, with its Discovery of accompanying losses and uncertainties. The discovery of the Sudbury Ki ores, in 1883, proved a still further disturbing feature, although, at the eee same time, it prompted and stimulated that scientific inquiry, which enquiry. had been so long delayed, resulting in the discovery of several processes, some of which, although far from realizing expectations in regard to simplicity, economy and ease of manipulation, have produced metallic nickel, on a commercial basis, which contains as high Great purity as 99°70 to 99-82 per cent of fine nickel, the impurities being chiefly

of commercial ,, . . Hinkel: very small quantitles of carbon, iron and sulphur.

Unwillingness Another influence, which has contributed, in no small measure, to infrmation Tetard the progress of nickel r:etallurgy, and, no doubt, prevented the oe Lar oa wide industrial employment of nickel, is the secrecy which has always and smelters, been maintained by most ecmpanies, who have been or are engaged in the mining and smelting of nickel. This indifference, and, at times, positive unwillingness, to impart information, which would be of value or profit to the general public, has probably received no greater

Lately all emphasis than in the case of nickel. Various excuses, more or less reasonable

information Urgent or reasonable, are furnished by those in control, to account for —— their action in this respect, but gradually, this barrier of silence is given by : 4 : nae

Sudbury being withdrawn, and, in the case of the Sudbury District, the managers

companies of the two principal companies, have lately shown a commendable

desire, to give all reasonable details in regard to the mining and smelting operations carried on in Canada.

Secrecy was This universal secrecy has, in the past, not only been maintained formerly with regard to the exact location, extent and production of the indi maintained in

every depart- vidual mines themselves, but was especially extended to embrace the

ment of the : ' ° ae

industry. metailurgical treatment of the ores, even in the preliminary stages of roasting, matting and bessemerizing, while many of the small details, on waich most of the success of the later refining methods depend, are

still jealously repressed, or made known in such vague terms as to be

Refining Of Nickel 217

practically valueless. All of our text books seem in symyathy with Text books this lack of desire to impart information, and, in most of these, refer. Sr plemia ence to the subject of nickel, or accurate and detailed knowledge in !nformation. regard to this metal, is conspicuous by its absence. This secrecy WAS, Possible

no doubt, in the first place, prompted by the desire of deterring others ae from engaging either in the mining or refining of nickel, and if 80, it

has utterly failed in its purpose. It has permitted, and even greatly

favored the spreading of the wildest and most exaggerated statements

in regard to the enormous profits accruing to all engaged in this

business.

The public, and especially those who are interested} in mining, are s.creey being constantly apprised of the location of nickel deposits, which not Sgt only surpass all others in point of magnitude, but @lso in their peculiar adaptability for refining purposes. Further investigation, by com. petent individuals, (when such are available, or happily chosen), usually discloses some well known prospect or abandoned mine. On the other hand, men who are possessed of ample means, and are willing to devote a considerable portion to the promotion of some leg'timate mining or smelting proposition, are often approached by so-called experts, with a Prevem supposed new and secret process, but which is alrezdy well known to a pnts certain few, favoured individuals, whohave already expended large sums; son a only to find that it is not a commercial possibility. Very few people have the necessary knowledge, or any means of verifying or refuting the statements of these interested individuals, and are thus often prompted to unusual and unwise expenditures, while, on the other hand, their ill success in these particulars prevents them from investing in some good, wholesome mining and metallurgical enterprise, when occasion offers, which, if full details were available and offered, would not be the case.

Fling wide tho gates of knowledge ; break down the barriers of silence : Exchange of and it is confidently predicted that the resulting free and wide exchange a setae? of opinions and experience, will be of incalculable, benetit not only Ee enn to the smelters and refiners, who are engaged in the nickel industry, but will prompt, encourage and direct the incuiring students and in-

vestigators of nickel, with profit to the whole of mankind.

Numerous processes, for the refining of nickel, have been suggested Nunierous

and published, and, in many cases, elaborate experiments have been [rss "or conducted, with varying degrees of success, to determine definitely their nickel. economic practicability. These could not be adequately or even satis-

factorily discussed or explained, within the scope of the present report, Scope of . . . : resent repor even if all the necessary details were available for publication, but ['".0t report

it may be well to refer, in general terms, to a few of those, which are discussion.

crooeopeenovorarasmnnssese-spetrsoteanseds

peepee ibemaree ame Hore

piven lneienadiisieden ieee ee

a

Wet? ana 'dry ' processes embra oe governing principles of ul! methods

Reaction not fully appreciated,

Wet process requires a large area for plant.

¥Combination .f 'wet' and

dry' processes In use at present.

Manufacture of german silver,

Enumaration of principal processes,

Location of Orford Copper Co's refinery.

218 Geological Burvey Of Canada

either, 9% present, producing nickel on a commercial basis, or seem to give peo. '-e sf doing so in the near future.

All of these methods are based on certain well known and long esta blished principles, which have. me instances, been worked out in more or less detail, and whi mt aced under the general description of the socalled 'vy id 'dry' processes, Certain minor changes and additions, chiefly 'n details, have made the latest refining of nickel much more readily and economically possible. Even with the present improvements, both are open to very serious and grave objections, as their adoption, in th first place, necessitates a very large and expensive plant, which is liable to frequent renewal and change, while the many complicated operations, which are still far from being fully understood, and the reactions appreciated, must entail a loss which is far from negligible. At the same time, however, the final product has, of late years, been all that could be desired from a commercial point of view. The 'wet' process, especially, which imitates, although on a large scale, the operations carried on in the chemical laboratory for the analysis of nickel, needs a very large and expensive plant, if any extensive output is contemplated. This must occupy a considerable area of ground, while a very long time must necessarily elapse, before the ore is sufficiently refined, to permit of its being placed upon the market. In the case of the Gap mine, it has been stated that a year sometimes passed from the time the ore was taken from the 'uine, before the product was in marketable shape.

The present methods of treatment make use of some of the more valuable features of both the 'wet' and the 'dry' processes, calling in the assistance of electrolysis in the final stages, and thus obtaining the metal in very pure form. In the treatment of the concentrated nickel-copper matte for the nickel-copper alloys, usually referred to under the general name of German silver, this bessemerized matte is first crushed to powder and roasted in a reverberatory furnace to remove all the sulphur, and the oxides are reduced directly to the alloy, either by smelting with charcoal or by reducing gases.

In the treatment of the concentrated nickel-copper matte for nickel matte, nickel oxide and metallic nickel, the most important methods, for the separation of the nickel and copper, are the Orford or American process, the Mond process and some electrolytic processes.

Nearly the whole of the matte, produced by the Canadian Copper Co., is refined by the Orford Copper Co., at their works, at Constable Hook, N. J., opposite Brighton, Staten Island, by what is known as the alkaline sulphide process. There is considerable dispute as to the

Refining Of Nickel 219

origin of this process, some holding the tiscovery to be of recent date,

while others contend that the principle, upon which it is based, has not

only long been known, but has been in successful operation for many Viseovery ot years. Mr. Robert M. Thompson, in an account of the discovery of this oi oe process, as far as the Orford Copper Co, is concerned, says that it was ?¥ Thompson the result of an accident, following a long series of Unsatisfactory experiments, to discover some process, which would successfully and economically treat certain mattes, which had been soid to the United

States Government, by the Canadian Copper Co. In visiting the works

one day, he noticed some pots of matte, which were cooling in front of

the furnace, and which presented a somewhat unusual appearance, On

calling attention to this fact, and failing to et satisfactory explanations

from either the Superintendent or foreman, he proceeded to investigate,

the resul' 'wing the discovery of the governing principle which effected

the separation, and caused the yellow ' bottums ' and black tops,'

After a long series of experiments, on a large scale, the process at

present in operation, was gradually worked out. Mr. J. W. Bain, 1) in Reported his ' Sketch of the Nickel Industry,' draws attention to the fact, that Hi gicrcerttiesy in certain descriptions accompanying applications for English patents, dating as far back as September 5th, 1839, undoubted reference is made

to this principle. Moreover in a letter published in the Engineering

and Mining Journal, in August, 1893, an ex-employee of the Vivian

Company, at Swansea, states that the method had been employed for

a number of years at that company's works, At any rate, the appli

cation of the alkaline sulphide process, as a definite scheme, for the Process world Separation of nickel and Copper, was in a fair way of being lost to beer bane. metallurgy, or, at least, to be employed in a very restricted manner, if ie the Orford people had not, so to speak, re-discovered the principle upon

which it is based. Great credit is also due to this company, for the

thorough manner in which they have worked out the details, and made

it a distinct economic success,

In the Orford nickel process, the concentrated or bessemer' matte is Peactaucs smelted in a small blast furnace, with salt cake or crude sodium sulphate, of Orford on a chemical which can be obtained readily and cheaply. The sodium a sulphate is reduced to sulphide, which forms, with the copper and iron sulphides, a very fluid matte, of lower specifie gravity than the nickel sulphide. On cooling, 'tops' and 'bottoms' are easily separated ; in the 'tops' being the bulk ot the iron and copper as sulphides, Formation together with sodium sulphide; while the bottoms ' contain most of be pple peasy the nickel, with small quantities of iron and copper. On exposure to 'bottoms,'

(1) Ann. Rep. Bur. of Mines, Ont., 1900, p. 220,

spevmearerssnemamiomuamettary rratgnetotmaptbreorse: ters npgreoree titty ANNE rn ste mr -—amsn Tet Nn ee RE ONESEERCERREEe tain nonsense parte tes wemaettaenie.er be f on ERT: sane

220 Gkological 8Survey Of Canada

the weather, the soda in the tops is gradually converted into the caustic condition. These tops are now mixed with fresh matte and re-smelted,whereby the caustic soda is converted into sulphide of soda at the expense of the nickel in the bottom, producing again a fluid mixture of iron, copper and sodium sulphides while the nickel, in a semi-metallic state, sinks to the botton once more. By properly balancing these operations, a pure sulphide of nickel is at last obtained, which is simply calcined, with a little sodium nitrate to the nickel oxide

Production of of commerce. The oxide is either mixed with flour, molasses, etc.,

nickel oxide and metallic nickel,

Ulke's diagram

of American or Orford process.

and pressed into cubes, or with charcoal, and reduced to metallic nickel in cube or powdered form, This product is not strictly a homogenous metal, but a loose sponge of metallic particles, which retain all the impurities contained in the oxide, with the addition of from 0.5 to 2 per cont of carbon. To produce the solid metal, the oxide is melted direct with charcoal and a small quantity of flux, and cast into ingots.

On the following page a diagramatic scheme, that accompanied a paper by Titus Ulké('), is reproduced, which illustrates fully and briefly the various operations necessary in the Orford process:

The Mond or curbon-monoxide process is based on the fact, that if finely divided nickel, is exposed to a current of carbonic oxide, at a temperature below 150° C.,a nickel carbonyl is formed, with the formula

Discovery and Ni (Co),, which is volatile at a temperature above 43°C, and which is

development of Mond

process,

Description of Mond

process,

decomposed at a temperature of 180° C, intometallic nickel and carbonic oxide. Tron forms a similar carbonyl, but no other metal has been found to do so. In the process, th. re were many technical difliculties to overcome, and it was not until 1.98, that it was brought to that stage of development, that demonstrated its practical importance.

The bessemerized Victoria Mines matte is first dead roasted, and for this purpose, any suitable furnace may be employed. After roasting, the matte averages about 35 per cent of nickel, 43 per cent of copper and about 2 per cent of iron. It is than treated with dilute sulphuric acid, for the extraction of part of the copper, (about 66 per cent) and

Formation of not above 2 per cent of the nickel. This copper is sold as crystallized

sulphate of copper.

sulphate of copper. The residue, after drying, from this operation, assays from 45 to 60 percent of nickel, (averaging about 51 per cent) and 21 per cent of copper. The third operation, has for its object, the reduction of the nickel and, incidentally, the remain-

Use of towers. ing copper, to the metallic state, without including the iron. or this

(1) Eng. and Min. Jour., Vol. LXIV., (July 3), 1897, pp. 8 9.

(2) Roberts-Austen 'Nickel Extraction by the Mond Process.'_ A paper read before the Institution of Civil Engineers, London, Eng., on the 8th November, 1898. Also Ann, Rep. Bur. of Mines, Ont., Vol. VIIT., 1899, pp. 106-120.

z

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ONILIZWS SWOLLOG ONY SdOL 3¢09 ONY 3MVOLIWS 3LivAW

Jwas O10

Hiv8 JIWHIINS Wi ONINISIY Di4LA10819373

S300NV 83000) 4315/78 EE AAT Ae TEED

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222 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA purpose, it is treated in a tower 7.5m, high, and containing 14 hollow shelves, which are heated with water gas, to not more than 300°C, and preferably 250°, when much iron is present. The ore is move, from shelf to shelf, by means of rakes, operated by a vertical axle, The lowest shelves are cooled. The reduced charge is transferred to another similar tower, where voltatilization takes place, in which part of the nickel is taken away by carbon monoxide, and forms the compound nickel carbonyl, but the temperature must not exceed 100°C. The remainder, from this volatilizer, is returned to the reducing tower, and 52 Duration of — the charge continues to circulate, between the two towers, for a period es Sperone. of between 7 and 15 days, until about 60 per cent of the nickel has been removed as nickel carbonyl. The nickel carbonyl passes to the decom: poser, either a tower or a horizontal retort, which is heated to a temperature of 180°C, so ay to decompose this compound, and release the nickel in a metallic state, preferably on granules of ordinary commercial metal, The carbo. monoxide is also released, and is returned to the volatilizing tower, to obtain afresh charge of nickel. The commercial product contains between 99.4 and 99.4 per centof nickel. It Fame objec has been stated, that Dr. Mond's process, although ingeniously and photo Mond's roughly worked out, has developed certain weaknesses, such as imper- —— fect extraction of nickel, and the necessity of repeating certain of the operations several times before satisfactory results are achieved, and the larger proportion of the nickel obtained. The danger of explosion and poison, from the carbon monoxide gas, have all, seemingly, combined to delay the successful operation of this process, on a large scale for any protracte? pei' x

The Hoepfner Electrolytic Process.

Hooptner In this process, a chloride solution is obtained, which has been freed casein from other metals, either chemically or electrolytically. The solution

is neutralized, and then accidulated with some weak oxygen acid, such as citric or phosphoric acid, and the electrolysis effected with insoluble anodes, The anodes are immersed in a chloride solution of some more electro-positive metal than nickel. The cathodes are rotating or vibrating metal plates. The chlorine evolved is collected.

The Frasch Electrolytic Process,

Short descrip. This process depends on the reaction in the electrolytic decompositra tion of common salt. At the anode, chlorine is evolved, at the cathode, principles of sodium hydrate is formed by a secondary reaction. When applied to wiles copper nickel matte, the anode consists of a layer of carbonaceous

material. This is covered with a layer of matte, and he matte

with a layer of sand, which serves as a diaphragm, between the anode 5

Refining Of Nickel

and cathode sections. The chlorine evolved, dissolves the metals of the matte, forming chlorides. The solution is treated for the contained metals by electrolysis or chemically. From the solution of sodium hydrate at the cathode, caustic soda is obtained.

Browne'S Electrolytic Process,

Tn this process ('), the Copper is first deposited from a solution of the mixed chlorides, using cathodes of pure copper and soluble anodes of copper nickel alloy. The original percentage of metal chloride in the electrolyte, is maintained, partly, by the solution of the anode and partly, by passing the electrolyte through a tower filled with bessemer matte or alloy to be treated, in contact with the chlorine gas evolved at the anode by the nickel precipitation,

When the electrolyte is ricl. in nickel, and nearly all the copper is deposited, the remaining copper is precipitated with hydrogen sulphide or a similar reagent, and the iron with ammonia. The nickel chloride solution is then electrolyzed, using cathodes of pure nickel and anodes of carbon, in water-sealed compartments, from which the chlorine is conducted to the regenerating tower.

Ulke'S Elecrolytic Process.

In this process, (7) a sulphate solution of the metals is used, instead of a chloride solution, as in the three processes described above,

'With the Ulké Process, it is most advantageous to use a material consisting of not over 20 per cent of nickel, and not less thaa 80 per cent of copper, which is cast into anode plates. The electrolyte consists of 4 solution of copper and nickel sulphate, and contains an excess of free. sulphuric acid, and the cathodes are of pure sheet copper. The electrolyte is heated and kept in circulation and from time to time portions of it are withdrawn from the electrolytic vats to be restandardized The electrolyte withdrawn is replaced with an equal volume of coprer sulphate solution, containing an excess of free acid to restandardize the electrolyte. A portion of this copper sulphate is obtained as a by-product in the extraction of the nickel, as is outlined later in the description. The copper is precipitated (from withdrawn electrolyte) with hydrogen sulphide, and after filtering, the copper sulphide precipitate is treated with sulphuric acid and heat to recover the hydrogen sulphide and make the by-product copper sulphate. The nickel sulphate is made ammoniacal, and used hot as an electrolyte for

(1.) Min. Industry, Vol, X, 1901, p. 497. (2.) Min Industry Vol. X., 1901, pp. 497-498,

Main facts in regard to Browne's

process

Use of sulphate solution,

General description of Ulke's continuous process for separating nickel and copper,

Production copper sulphate,

Process economical and high grade of nickel produced,

Discovery of nickel by Cronstedt.

Analysis of China silver by Engstrom,

Nickel coins used 235 B.C,

Ancient coins made of same wloy at

present used,

Physical properties of nickel.

ce of

nickel has steadily in-

224 Geological Survey Of Canada

the precipitation of nickel using anodes of lead and cathodes of sheet nickel. To avoid impoverishment of this electrolyte, portions of it are periodically withdrawn, the ammonia recovered for re-use and the nickel sulphate added to the electrolyte as needed to preserve the proper strength. The process is economical and produces nickel of high quality continuously and cheaply.'

Another process for the electrolytic winning of nickel, which is in successful operation, is the Balbach process, as carried on at the Balbach works, N. J. This process, however, is kept strictly secret.

Nickel,

Nickel is a comparatively new metal, as far as our western civiliza tion is concerned, for it was discovered in 1751, by the Swedish metallurgist Cronstedt. It was, however, not until 1754, that Cronstedt definitely determined that it was a new element. Its name was given on account of its being a constituent of niccolite or 'kupfer-nickel ' as it was then called. Cronstedt's discovery was made in examining the ore, obtained from the mines of He'singland. In 1776, Engstrom analyzed the material which had found its way to Europe, from China, under the name of ' Pachfong', finding it an alloy made up of variable quantities of copper, nickel and zinc, but usually present in the proportion of 40 per cent of copper, 15 per cent of nickel and 45 per cent of zinc. This alloy had been in use in China for thousands of years. Previous to this again, as noticed by Dr. Austen in his Historical Sketch of Nickel' the Bactrian King Euthydemos who reigned about 235 B.C., employed an alloy of nickel for coinage purposes, containing 77-58 per cent of copper, 20-04 per cent of nickel and 1°72 per cent of other impurities, such as iron, cobalt, tin, silver and sulphur. It is worthy of remark, that so long after this, the alloy at present in use for the manufacture of coins, is very similar in composition, containing about 75 per cefft of copper and 25 per cent of nickel, which experience has taught us is the best proportion for such a purpose.

Nickel, in its pure state, is silver-white in colour, hard, tough, fusible with difficulty, and is susceptible to magnetism, although not to the same extent as iron. It has the peculiar property of losing this mag - netism when heated, and regaining it when cooled, this peculiarity being taken advantage of, in the manufacture of certain alloys for electrical purposes. Nickel has a specific gravity of 8-5 to 8:9.

The purity of the nickel, which has been on the market, has steadily increased since its first manufacture. This will be evident from the

es

hla ee

Analyses Of Nickel 225

subjoined table of analyses of the commercial product. The three first Authorities s ri . and references analyses are quoted from the Mineral Industry, and were made in f. analyses

LS91l. All the others were made in 1898 and 1899. quoted.

Analyses of

1 ae rd the nickel of A oe ¢€ 2 commerce, H H Se cn a £ a s A ES Ain eT S — —] o S et 5 oO he Sao. 9 © ssh ae am ie, Ont ah )

© eS 5 ma x S ce Ss tal ox S 5 Sets ©e© ¢ a - % ce S S al oe Mee so 5S) oo ¢ © —t A %

er) ot me S ounn . Em HF a Cm - ee mech pas lh cos - £o 2 2 a yw & al R rin aioe So) Sue ees te et Oat at os oo s ee S o a ee 3 ete Ne Ge "Ee Py ee ae te — 5 4 2A hb hm x aa ee ee Se a : z a 1 : ng wa le é feat ee ee ee - oe ce 2 2 ¢@ QD Se € Go e © x Se AR re one rats eb fake See oO oe & ar A 5 4 g ra & S- BS Se & & SO SO se Oe Se at 48d

uo

Geological Survey Of Canada Uses.

Nickel first The first and chief demand for this metal, was for making nickel or used as

(earaevad German silver, asa substitute for the more precious metal, in the manu-

facture of spoons, forks and other ware in general, for which silver had been previously used. Its whiteness, and the facility with which it

Nickel in received and held the silver, after the process of electro-plating was inap rane troduced, has caused it to be still more widely used. This use, how- Nickel- ever, has been replaced, in a large degree, by plating iron with nickel,

zt plated iron.

which gives a very similar effect to German silver.

By Use of nickel Nickel is also used very extensively for coinage purposes, both in

fer coins. : : vas Europe and America, these coins generally consisting of an alloy of from 75 to 88 peor cent of copper, and 12 to 25 per cent of nickel. Recently, both Austria and Switzerland have authorized the use of pure nickel in coins.

Pure wicks! Pure nickel is now used in making small articles, which formerly were y use Y . . : + coe ™ only electroplated with nickel. An alloy, with 20 per cent of nickel alloys. and 80 per cent of copper, is used for casing bullets. This alloy has a higher degree of tenacity than the best brass, and a high co-efficient of

elongation. Intense Owing to the intense colouring properties of nickel, (it is greater colouring . A ' ; i F 7g re ' properties of than that of any other metal except tin), these alloys have almost the nickel. same colour as the pure nickel. Tn) ortation Tn far more general use are the nickel-copper-zine alloys. These were

earthen first introduced into Europe from China, in the eighteenth century

or China under the naine of Packfong or China silver, and it was only later, tha'

ha it was discovered that they consisted of nickel, copper and zinc. As European firms began to use these alloys, for manufacturing purposes, they gave them various names, such as german silver, argentan, etc. Analyses of The following are analyses, from Ledebur's ' Techne'ogie, ' of some of Pesren of these alloys : : 'New Silver.' Copper. Zine. Nickel. Tron. English new silver 63.34 17.01 19.13 0.52 Vienna '" i 55.60 22.20 22.20 French " x 50.00 31.25 18.75 Aes " i: ie 59.10 30.2 9.70 1.00 ve ue Z 6Y.90 5.60 19.80 4.70

'New Silver' The chief uses of these alloys are for forks, spoons, etc., and various

ee household goods to be silver-played, and for many scientific instruments,

purposes. where brass was formerly used.

Uses Of Nickel 227

A little magnesium, added to nickel when in a molten state increases Addition of its malleability, and thls property has been utilized in the manufacture wae of nickel into sheets, and also in making sheets composed c? an iron salle beiay. plate, with a nickel plate welded upon each side of the iron ; the mass then beconing capable of being rolled to any desired thickness. This rollea nickel plate is an advance over ordinary tin plate, for culinary Rolled nickel and other utensils, pate

Nickel-plated zinc or nickeloid,' as it is called, is being used to @ Nickeloid, considerable extent in the manufacture of retlectors, refrigerator linings, baths, etc,

The most important and extended use of nickel, however, is in the Use-ofniovel manufacture of nickel steel, and, at present, we must look to its more an ay with general employmen: in this direction, as replacing carbon and manganese steel, for the development of the nickel industry. The peculiar

and desirable behaviour of nickel, in alloy with other metals, and peculiar

especially with iron and stee!, has often been remarked, the material "ture of partaking more of a chemical combination than an ordinarily intimate mixture. All these alloys are remarkably homogeneous, and susceptible of a high polish, though rather ditticult of manipulation.

alloys.

In Good qualities obtaining a correct idea of the usefulness or value of alloys of nickel] of #lloyd. with iron and steel, it should be borne in mind that these mixtures con-

tain manganese, carbon, silicon, sulphur and phosphorus, whose

influence must be carefully watched, requiring a long series of experi- Lupurities in ments. A comparison of steel alloyed with 4.7 per cent of nickel, raised M¢k! steel. the ela-tic limit from 16 up to 28 tons, and the breaking strain from 30

up to 40 tons, without impairing the elongation or contraction of area Streuniicot to any appreciable extent. A further gradual increase of hardness was nickel steel, noticed until 20 per cent is reached, when a change takes place, and Physical successive additions of nickel tend to make the steel softer, and more oe egy ductile. The alloys polish well, and the colour of the steel is lightened, alloys.

as the proportion of nickel is increased. They do not corrode as

readily as other steel. The one per cent nickel steel welds fairly well,

but this property lessens with each addition of nickel. It may, there

fore, be said that considerable advantage can be expected from these

alloys, especially where the amount of nickel present is less than 5 per

cent. Nickel steel is now being used for a variety uf purposes, AMONE (-.6y of nickel which may be mentioned rails for railways. These have been tried for a steel, number of years, at Cumberland Gap, in the United States, and have

given very great satisfaction. The first cost is considerably higher, but

they can be made much lighter, and will outlast three ordinary stee! Nintealsstaal rails. Its most important use, however, is for armour plates and rails.

Use of nickel ateel in machine parts

Use in propeller shafts, rock drills, &e.

Nickel steel wire rope.

Co-efficient of expansion of nickel steel.

Compcsition of chromenickel,

Tungstennickel.

Composition of molybdenum-nickel,

The era of nickel steel has just been entered upon.

228 GEOLOGICAL SUhVEY OF CANADA

heavy ordnance. For machine parts, subjected to alternate stress and shock, and where increase of strength and decrease of weight are desired, it is unrivalled. On account of this marked quality, it has been used for engine and propeller shafts, and has proved so much superior to all other steels for this purpose, that it has no rival of importance. Owing to its resistance to 'fatigue' from persistent vibration and concussion, it is particularly valuable for steam hammer piston rods, rock drill piston rods, railway axles, or tank pins ; also for light forged engine frames, bolts for extreme hydraulic pressure, bicycles, etc. It has also been recommended for the manufacture of dies and shoes: in stamp mills, and of wire rope. Nickel steel wire rope would be less corrosive, and have more tensile strength, than the ordinary steel wire ropes, in use at present.

The co-efficient of expansion of nickel steel with 36 per cent of nickel, is only 0.09000087, that of ordinary materials varying from 10 to 20 times this figure. This low co-etticient of expansion will likely be of great value for many purposes. Alloys with 42 to 46 per cent of nickel, nave the same co-efficients of expansion as various sorts of glass, which will make them valuable in replacing the more expensive platinum, in cases where metal and glass have to be welded together.

Other alloys of nickel are mentioned in "The Mineral Industry " Vol. X. They are nicke!-aluminium, with a tensile strength of 40,000 Ibs. per sq. in. and an elastic limit of 35,000 lbs. per sq. in.

Chrome nickel, containing usually 73 per cent of chromium, 23 per cent of nickel, 2.5 per cent of iron, 1 per cent of carbon and 0.5 per cent of silicon, 1s used in making steel for projectiles and armour plates, which is said to be better than Harveyized steel armour plates. Tungsten-nickel has a composition similar to chrome-nickel, tungsten taking the place of chrome.

Molybdenum-nickel with 45 to 75 per cent of molybdenum, 20 to 50

per cent of nickel, 2 to 2.5 per cent of iron, 1 to 1.> per cent of carbon

and 0.25 to 0.50 per cent of sulphur is largely used in the manufacture of forgings, guns, wire, boiler-plate and shells.

The era of nickel steel has only been entered upon, for it was not until 1888, that this desirable alloy was made, on any scale of commercial importance. Canada has the largest supply of the most desirable nickel ores in the world, and the quality of the metallic nickel, as shown by the analyses quoted, is of a very high degree of purity. It is beyond the scope of the present report, to enter tn adiscussion of the manifold merits of nickel steel, and the numerous benefits to be derived from

Uses Of Nickel. 229

its use. In 1899, Messrs. R. A. Hadfie'd ( 1) and David H. Browne

Papers on

. ° : ickel-steel published two very complete contributions on this subject, and the Micki steel by

Hadfield and reader may have reference to these for more detailed information, Browne,

Lately, Dr. Waddell has been employed, under the auspices of the

International Nickel Company, in meking an elaborate series of tests

and experiments, with nickel steel, with special reference to its more Experiments

ande sei i ildi r P ' . ;. for Interna

extended use in bridge building. The general public, and more parti tional Nickel

cularly, that numerous suction of 1t in Canada, who are interested in Company a ' ' : , : Dr. Waddell.

the extension of the nickel industry, will look forward with pleasure

to the appearance of Dr. Wadell's conclusions, which

not be witheld, on the plea that the information is

nature.

, it is hoped, will of a confidential

Production Of Nickel And Copper "Rom The Sudbury District.

It is difficult tv obtain the exact production of the nickel isu ct per ores of the Sudbury District, during the first three years of mining early from 1886 to 1888, inclusive. Thus, R. R. Maffett, Superintendent of iy po the Orford Copper company, at New Brighton, L. I., N. Y., under date Books am of April 18, 1904, answering an inyuiry addressed to President A. ted Turner, of the Canadian Copper Company, at Copper Cliff, Ont.

and cop ,

, States, Returns for that during 1886, 1,040 ton: of ore, carrying 7.2 per cent of copper 1886-87 by 3 aS wre ; yom Canadian and 3 per cent of nickel, were mined at Copper Cliff, and during 1887, Copper *,864 tons car ying 8.56 per cent of copper and 3.31 per cent of nickel, Company, were also raised from the the san, nine. According to details, furni-

F : Shipments of shed the Geological Survey Department, by the

Customs Department, of ore accord 3,307 tons of copper ore were shipped from Sudbury, in 1886, with a Seton declared customs value of $16,404, and in 1887, 567 tons of similar ore Department. were also shipped, with a declared customs value of 53,416. A careful and conservative estimate, to arrive at the total production, would cease place the amount mined during these three years at 30,000 tons, production in averaging about 5 per cent of copper and 3 per cent of nickel, this ee ore thus containing, approximately, 900 tons of nickel, and 1,500 tons of copper. Valuing the nickel, at the average price for the three years, P at 62.12 cents per Ib., the total ultimate value of the nickel in the ore, ee oe would amount to $1,118,166, while the copper, at the average price of Saige 12 cents per pound, woui amount to $360,000. According to the yearly years. returns, furnished the Geological Survey Department and the Ontario Bureau of Mines, the total ore mined in the di trict, including the estimete as above given for the first three years, hes amounted to 2,093,427 tons. The total amout of nickel in matte, sold from 1889 to 1903, Rhutis aca both years inclusive, amounted to 39,827 tons, with a final value in New from iss9-_

: 1908 inclusive.

(1) Proc. Inst. Civil Eng., London, Vol. CXXX., pp. 1-167. (2) Trans. Am. Inst. Min. Eng., Vol. AALX., (Sept.), 1899, pp. 569-648,

cult to obtain.

Witt ee

230 Geological Survey Of Canada

York, at the lowest average prevailing price in the year i: which it was placed upon the market, amounted so $35,603,272, while the copper present in the matte, in the same period, amounting to 37,429, tons Soha ed conga ge valued at the average price of copper in the year sold, realized $9,- nickeland 799,730. If we include the three first years, at the figures already peodinoed, given, we obtain a total amount of nickel sold of 40,727 tons, with a value of $36, 721, 432 ; while the copper amounted to 38,929 tons, with a value of $10,159,739. Estimate of This nickel and copper ore also contains cobalt, and an average of a piensa of large number of assays, would indicate that the proportion of nickel to matte, cobalt as 50 to 1, is a conservative estimate. If all of this could have been saved, 815 tons of cobalt would have been thus produced, and this, at a price of $3.00 per lb., would have amounted to $4,890,000. In

addition, these ores contain appreciable quantities of the precious metals,

Average gold, silver and metals of the platinum group. The platinum metals contents or ne oe : - een ahs average about 1.25 oz., the gold 0.375 of an ounce, while the silver has

re ot pe been calculated on the assumption that 7.5 oz. are present to the ton nickel. of nickel, which is certainly below the average. On this assumption, the value of the precious metals, at the average of the ruling New York price in the years produced, would be as follows: Gold $305,460 ;

Silver, $195,286 ; Platinum, $805,429; Total, $1,306.175, The total

Values of ultimate value in New York, of the various metals contained in these ied gd ores, would, therefore, be as follows :

Val Niokely 7 7t.0- a. ya eccye pobioa eae se

aluesof total

production. Cobaltd so. 10 ok oh ea 4.890.000 Coppers sys: nope ee ir ete aS 9,799.739 Gold Prior RET RAS (eee ae 305.460 SS) URC) ean eee SAuMoule© eee 105.286 PISbIn Uni ete Ne ue ee 805,429

i ee aoe $52,717,346

Of the total production of ore, abcut four-fiftus must be credited to the Canadian Copper Company. This company does not wish, at present, to give the production of each individual mine, but through the court-

erat : Pneror Banacian CoDner tC '

tat ccs esy of President A. P. Turner of the Canadian Copper Company, I am duction of ore authorized to state that the three largest of their mines, have produced from Cana- : Poh 3 . Pp C dian Copper the following amounts of ore, up to the tirst of June, 1904. Co's mines.

Stobie: Mine y3o3)- jin eae rc 419,000 tons

Copper Cliff Mine 366,100

Creighton nine ae sais artes 310,000

Production Of Nickel And Copper From Sudbury 231

Some of the other mines have also produced large quantities of ore, as the Evans mine, No. 2 and No. 3 (Frood mine) mines all three of which have produced bet ween 100,000 and 200,000 tons of ore. The Creigh- Creighton ton mine is, without doubt, the largest mine in the district, and is Pe Bo oe a regirded as capable of producing many millions of tons of high grade ore, The ore at present being mined averages about 5 per cent of 1ickel Large pre

; . duction of and 2 percentof copper, During themont of May last(1904) 19,000 tons high grade

aay

of ore were mined, and, in June, it was expected that 22,000 tons would Cre bata "ehitey be secured. It is proposed, in the near future to erect another rock mine.

house, further west, on this same deposit, when the output will be nearly

doubled. The old Blezard mine, belonging to the Dominion Minera] Production Company, probably produced about 100,000 tons of ore, while 25,000 ee fase tons seems a reasonable estimate for that produced by the Worthington Co's mines. mine. The Victoria mine, belonging to the Mond Nickel Company, Production has produced about 80,000 tons of ore, while the same company, up to Derk the ist of June, 1904, had obtained about 13,000 tons from the North DUDGss Star mine. At the Murray mine 62,193 tons were produced, 'ile oh Btacs the Lake Superior Power Company obtained 33,835 tons from he Murray, Elsie Mine, and 18,000 tons from the Gertrude mine, up to the enu of oe ee Tables of

The following tables are reproduced from the annual reports of production the Division of Mineral Statistics and Mines, of the Geological Survey freed a Department, and of the Bureau of Mines, of Ontario, Both have been McLeish. prepared by Mr, J McLeish, who has charge, under Mr. E, D. Ingall, of this branch of the work. They will show, in a diagraminatic manner, the details of the mining Operations, carried on in the district from 1889 to 1903, both years inclusive.

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Early produc tion of nickel

Karly pro 4 uetion of nickel from New Caledo nia mines,

Large increase in production of nickel.

Canada leads in production of nickel.

Future of Canadian nickel.

World's production of nickel.

234 Geological Survey Of Canada

The Worlds Production Of Nickel.

From 1840 to 1860, the annual production of nickel scarcely averaged 100 metric tons per annum, and in nosingle year was a production of 200 metric tons exceeded. From 1860 to 1880, a very gradual, though distinct, increase was noticeable, up to 600 metric tons, although, about the year 1874, a little over 700 metric tons were produced. In 1830, the product of wie New Caladonia mines became a distinct factor on the market, at first with a production of about 200 metric tons per annum, but gradually increasing until the year 1884, when the production was about 1,000 tons, In the year 1889, the product of the Sudbury mines was placed upon the market, but only 432 tons were sold. In the year 1891, however, 2,018 tons (1,830 metric tons) of nickel were sold which had been produced from the Sudbnry ores, while, at the same time, the product of the New Caledonia mines, which had reached the figure of 2,494 metric tons, dropped to 1,696 metric tons in 1892 In 1893, the world's total production of niekel amounted to 4,412 metric tons, the amount of the Canadian product placed on the market, aggregating 1,807 metric tons ; while Norway, in the same year, produced about 90 metric tons, and the United States °2:4 metric tons.

These figures showed a still further and rather rapid increase up to the year 1901, when a totel of 9,381 metric tons were produced, the Canadian nickel amounting to 4,168 metric tons, and the New Caledonia to 5,210 metric tons, while the United States produced only 3 tons of nickel from domestic ores.

In 1902, the total of the world's production, amounted to 8,473 metric tons, but of this Canada's share was 4,859 tons, while the New Caledonia output showed a decrease to 3,620 tons,

In 1903, the amount of Canadian nickel produced amounted to 6,348 metric tons, while New Caledonia produced only 4,750 metric tons,

The world's total production of nickel for 1903 as stated by the Metallgesellschaft amounted to 9,850 metric tons. It is evident, however, that this is understated and that the actual production is considerably in excess of this amount, for the official returns for Canada aud the United States, as reported to the Geological Survey and the Bureau of Mines of Ontario, give the production as 6,400 metric ton, sinstead of 5,100 metric tons, as stated by this authority. Assuming the official figures as more nearly accurate and adding the production from New Caledonia as quoted by the Metallgesellschaft (4,750 metric tons), a grand total of 11,150 metric touc is obtained, as the aggregate of the world's production for 1903.

The Price Of Nickel 235

These figures are full of hope for Canada, and with the gradually increasing knowledge of the true value and uses of nickel, by reason of its many desirable physical qualities, which is gradually becoming more general, the production of n'-kel should be doubled in the next five years, It is heped and confidently expected, that Canada's share in this large output, will be fully three-fourths of the whole.

The following table will show, at a glance, and in much greater detail, the world's annual production of nickel, from 1889 to 1902. The figures for the foreign production for 1903 are not yet available.

These statistics are obtained mainly from the Metallgesellschaft and Metallurgische Gesellschaft (Frankfort on-the-Main), Aug., 1903, p. 23,

The production of nickel from domestic ores in the United States Authorities is quoted from Mineral Resources of the United States while that of sep apa Canada is from the Division of Mineral Statistics and Mines, Geological ted ila Survey of Canada, with the exception of 1903, which is from the Bu- of nickel, reau of Mines. The figures of Canadian production, include nickel actually, sold while those of the Bureau of Mines, which are stated in a separate table, are of nickel produced, part of which remained in

stock.

The figures for Germany, -esent the production of Prussia. Details of Saxony also produces nickel, but accurate details are not readily rend ee soe ay es : available. Saxony not available,

The Price Of Nickel.

In 1876, the price of nickel per lb., amounted to £2.60. In 1877 it Large prices dropped to $1.60 per Ib., and in 1878, it showed a stil} further decline !r'.s!ling to $1.10 per Ib. In 1879, it recovered slightly to $1.12 per Ib. but in 1880 it again decreased to $1.10, which latter figure was maintained until 1883, when the price steadily declined to about 60 cents. At present, Gradual

the price quoted by loading producers, varies from 40 to 17 cents per ae: ba Ib., for large quantities down to ton lots, according to size and terms

of order. The price for smaller lots, according to quantity, runs as Present price

' " ". - of nickel, high as 60 cents per Ib., in New York.

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