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OAITADA

DEPARTMENT OF MINES
•aoMMioAi. nmvBT bbaitok

Hou. W. TutuiUH, MiMiMM; A. p. Low. Ovort Mw
B. W. Bmoi. Dtiwm

MEMOIR No. 4

GEOLOGICAL RECONNAISSANCE

Au>ira TBI LiKi or tbi

NATIONAL TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILWAY

WESTERN QUEBEC

w. 7. wmov

CANADA

NATiOfiAi tl?RARr

I481:0:>i:QU£ NaTIONALE

GOVERN.VXNT PUJiiCATiONS

COUECnON

DiS

PUBUCAIIONS DO COJ\'KNtM.'N7

OTTAWA

OOVERNMBNT PRINTINO BUREAU

1910

No. 1110

.'>

CANADA

DBPAT?TMENT OF MINES

aaoLooioAi. aumTST mwukmam

Hob. W. Tihpumaii, MiNiami A. P. Low, Dwmt Mmmmi
R. W. Bmci, Dimoim

MEMOIB Nu. 4

GEOLOGICAL RECONNAISSANCE

ALONO THE LINK or THE

NATIONAL TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILWAY

WESTERN QUEBEC

W. J. WUSOH

OTTAWA

OOVERNMENT PRINTING BtKEAU

1910

No. 1110

9»1»-1

imXB 07 TBATOIITTAI.
R. W. Bmck.

Director Geological Surrey,

Tkr I oient of Mine*.

^w. — I bt'g leave to tubmit the following memoir on a Geological
ReoonnaiManoe along the National Tranacontinental Railway line
in wMtem Quebec.

I hare the honour to be, air.

Your obedient lervant,

(Signed) W. J. WILSON,

Ottawa, May 21, 1908.

0913-1)

CONTENTS.

Pagp.

Historical introduction 7

General description of railway H

Area examined 9

Trees and shrubs 9

Forest type* 10

General Geulogy 12

Keewatin 12

Laurentian 13

Petrographic deEcription 14

Description of routes 15

Fly river 15

Kakameonnn river l.'j

Makamik lake Iti

Lois lake 16

Height of land portage 16

Xawapitecliin river 17

Alonjf railway eastward from Makainik lakv 17

Kinojevis cache, to Seals Home lake IS

Seals Home lake 4 19

Harricanaw river lit

Askogwash river 20

Natagagan lake and river 21

Along railway eastward from llarriianaw river 22

Wabanoni lake 23

Obaska lake and adjacent railway line 23

Migiskan river 24

Sunday brook 25

Crooked creek 26

Assup river 26

Along railway east and »p>t of Crooked creek 27

Millie lake 27

Smoky creek and Cedar creek 28

The Atik river and adjacent country 28

Durant lake 30

Durant lake to Kekek river 31

Kekek river to Kapitacliuan 32

Whiteshnre lake 33

Description of rock exiHiMires 33

Fly river 33

Along railway eastward from Fly river 35

Kakameonan and Alakamik lakes 35

Height of land portage and Nawapitechin river 35

Seals Home lake and Harricanaw river 36

Askogwash river 37

Natagagan lake and river 37

6 GEOLOGICAL SCBVEY, CANADA

Page.

Description of rock exposures— ronJiniifrf.

Wabanoni river 38

Obaska lake 39

Migiskan river 40

Millie river 42

Atik river 42

Durant lake 44

Durant lake to Kekek river 49

Kekek river to Whiteshore lake 45

Economic geology —

Chalcopyrite 46

Molybdenite 47

Gold and bisiiiutlienite 4S

Iron 49

Clay 49

Asbestos ,. 49

Timber 49

Glaciation 50

Railway levels 51

Index 52

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Plate I. Beaver dam, Nawapitecliin river ^ Frontispiece

" II. Fly river, east of Makamik lake 16

" III. Cache No. 9, Nawapitechin river 18

" IV. Natagagan river. Forest showing dead tamarack ..... 22

■' V. Height of land ou portage east of Lois lake 36

MAP.

No. 1112. Reconnaissance Geological Map of the country traversed
by the National Transcontinental railway from Susie river to
the Interprovincial boundary, Quebec.

GEOLOGICAL RECONNAISSANCE

ALONO THK USE OF THE

NATIONAL TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILWAY

WESTERN QUEBEC
1906-1907

W. T. Wilson.

HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION.

The region covered by this memoir is situated in western Quebec,
and extends ten miles north and south of the National Transcon-
tinental railway, from Makamik lake to the Susie river. It lies be-
tween 75' S<y and 79° SC west longitude, and 48° and 49° north
latitude.

The following work had already been done in this area: —

In 1887, Mr. A. C. Cochrane, Dr. R. Bell's assistant, made a
track survey of the Bell river down to the rapids ten miles below
Shabogama lake.^

In 1895-6, Dr. R Bell examined and reported on the same
river.'

In 1896, Mr. R. W. Brock— Dr. Bell's assistant— made a track
survey of the Migisknn river from the mouth up to and beyond
the border of the map.'

» Geological Survey of Canada. Report of Pronress. 1887, PP. 2*-25 A.

'Geological Survev of Canada: Annual Report (New Series) 1895, i).
74 A ; Annual Report (New Series) 1896. p. 64 A : Annual Report (New
Series) 1900. K.

*G«oloRical Sarvey of Canada. Annual Report (New Series) 1896, p.
68 A.

GEOLOaiCAL SURVEY, CANADA

In 1894, Mr. Henry O'Sullivan, Inspector of Surveys for the
Frorince of Quebec, made a track survey of a part of the Bell river,
and also of a part of the Migiskan and Kekek rivers, and the canoe
nuite from the latter to Kapitachuan lake, and made a short re-
port.*

In ISOn, J[r. John Bignell, P.L.S., surveyed the headwaters of
the Ottawp river in this area, including the Kinojevis and the
Xawnpitechiii rivers, and wrote a brief report on them.*

In 1901, Mr. J. F. E. Johnston surveyed and reported on Maka-
iiiik lake, iind Lois river and lake.'

In 1905, Mr. C. L. Har\ey made a stadia survey of the Fly
river and the canoe route to the Kinojevis cache No. 9, via Maka-
iiiik lake, Lois river and lake, and the Nawapitechin river.

From 1905 to 1907 the engineers of the National Transcontinen-
tal railway have run lines with chains and transit, and sketched the
topography adjacent to the linos, throughout the whole distance east
and west.

During the summers of 1906 and 1907 I made a compass and
lEiicrometer survey of all the larger rivers and lakes in the area,
which had not been previously surveyed, except a few in the eastern
part. Among i'.iose thus surveyed are Seala Home lake, Harri-
canaw river, Askogwash river, Natagagan lake and river, Wabanoni
lake, Migiskan river from the westerly crossing of the railway
line to the head of Millie lake, Atik river, and Atik, Couillard,
ami Diirant lakes, also the lower part of Assup river. Besides
these, track surveys were made of several streams which were too
small to be measured with the micrometer with reasonable speed,
end also the canoe route from Durant lake to Whiteshore lake.

r.FXFRAL DESCRIPTION OF NATIONAL TRANSCON-
TINENTAL RAILWAY.

The Natioi.al Transcontinental railway runs east and west
through 'he area for 1S7 miles. It passes north of the height of
land for a short distance east of Robertson lake, where it crosses
the watershed and runs along the south side up to near Mcleswortli
lake, where it again follows the Hudson Bay slope up to the head-
waters of the Kapitachuan river. Here it crosses the height of land.

' Report of Quebec Crown Lands Department, 1895, p. 100.
' Report of Quebec Crown Lands Department. 1S95, n. 129.
■• flwiliijfical Survey of Cana<la. Summary Report, 1901, p. ISO A.

GEOLOGY ALONG X.T.R. WESTERN QUEBEC 9

nnd for a short distance runs along the south slope, but soon re-
crosses, and continues on the north side boyond the limits of the
sheet,

(lEXEHAh DESCRIPTION OF AREA EXAMINED.

The country traversed by the line in the eastern part is about
1,000 feet above sea-level, and is comparatively flat. It is well
watered, rivers and lakes being abundant. The general flatness is
occasionally broken by hills, rising 100 feet to 200 f{>et above the
eonimou level. These hills are mostly granite.

The soil is largely clay, or a clay loam, and, especial^* in the
river valleys, is rich, free from stones, and well adapted for agri-
cultural purposes. In places it is sandy and dry, and there are
areas where the rock either protrudes or Uas only a light covering
of soil; such places, however, occupy but n small portion of the
whole country. The largest areas of waste land are due to muskeg
and swamp, and both these owe their present conrlition to lack of
drainage. These conditions prevail as far east as the iligiskan
crossing at Millie lake, and in some respects beyond it, but the
eastern part of the sheet presents a different appearance. Large
tracts are sandplains, on which is growing an open Banksian pine
forest. This country is underlain by a quartzose granular gneiss,
which weathers deeply and has produced immense quantities of
sand. This • .rt of the country is in places hilly, the elevations
sometimes reaching 500 feet above the general level, which at the
Susie river is 1,394 feet. There is very little good agricultural land
here, but this condition is characteristic of a strip of varying width
along the height of land both in Ontario and Quebec. The best
agricultural soil is farther north, where there is a deep covering of
clay anil better draimigi'. The lower level seems to compensate for
the higher latitude, and vegetation is very rapid.

Trees and Shrubs.

The principal trues and shrubs in the district are: white spruce
(Picea alba), black spruce (P^cea nigra), poplar (Populus trcmu-
loides). Banksian pine (Pinvs Banlesiana) , canoe birch (Betula
papyrifera, and variety cordifolia), fir (Ahies halsamea). balm of
Gilead {Populus halsamifera), black ash (Fraxinus sambucifoUa),
cedar (Thuya occidentalis), white pine (Finns strohus), red pind

GEOLOGICAL StJRVET, CANADA

(Finus retinoaa), red maple (acer ruhrum), v.ild red cherry (Pyru4
I'ennst/hanicus), rowan tree (.Pynia americana), tamarack {Larij)
americana), alder (Alnus viridus, and Alnus incana), red osier dog-
wood (Cornut ilolenifcra), mountain maple (,Acer ipicalum), withe-
wowl (Vihurtium casaenoidea), high bush cranberry {Viburnum
opulus). hazel (Corylua rottrata), moo8ewood (Dirca paluatrua), and
\vill(i\v»>. block spruce, poplar or canoe-birch, and Banksian pine from
the (Treat bulk of the forest. The moat abundant and valuable tree
is the black spruce, the wood of which is particularly well suited foi'
the manufacture of pulpwood, on account of its closf firm fibre.
Poplar frequently reaches a diameter of 1 foot to 20 inches, and
< uiioe-birch nearly as great, but the majority of these trees are of
smaller size. Banksian pine grows tall and straight, and is usually
free from branches on the lower part, but in most places it is not
large, rarely exceeding 15 inches in diameter; the average is prob-
ably nearer 8 inches or 10 inches. Some of the larger trees will make
railway ties, and they are much used by the railway parties for build-
ing storehouses and dwellings. Red maple was seen in only a few
places, the specimens being small and dwarfed. Balm of Gilead grows
to a good size, but is chiefly confined to the river valleys. Fir is fairly
common, but does not grow large. Cedar is common along the
strciims and lake shores, but is usually scrubby and covered with
branches. Over most of the area examined, especially in the western
part, there are large, numbers of dead tamarack trees. These were
killed some years ago by the larva; of the imported larch sawfly, but
•nre still sound and make excellent firewood. In the eastern part
there are many young green trees of this species springing up.
White and rod pine ars only seen along the southern border of the
area. On the Assup river a mile south of the Migiskan, there are
two large white pines, the most northerly seen. One of these
measured 9 feet in circumference 1 foot above the ground. It
was tall, clean, and straight and without branches for 25 or
30 feet up, and seemod sound and healthy. Most trees as they
approach tht ir northern limit become small d stunted. This
is particularly noticeable in the black ash and red maple of this
region. The pine, however, seems to grow in all its vigour up to its
most northerly limit, and as both climate and soil are more favour-
able farther north, its abrupt termination at this point would seem
to be due rather to a lack of means of spreading its seed than to

C.KOI.fMiV AI.OXO X.T.R. WESTEHX QUF.nEC

unsuitable conditions. Red wild cherry and rowan tree are not
common. Hazel and mountain maple are found on the better
drained slopes where the soil is rich, and alders, willow^i. and rod
osier doin^ood form almost impenetrable masses along the bunks of
rivers and brooks.

Forest Types.

These trees and shrubs are grouped according to soil and mois-
ture so as to fonn distinct forest types, which iire repeated all over
the area. Among these types are: (1) The black spruce swamp;
which is the most common and comprises the largest arens. These
awamps arc flat, and consequently therr> is little or no drainage, and
the ground is so deeply covered with moss that the moisture is re-
tained for long periods even in dry weather; the forest forming an
effectual shade from the sun's rays, and preventing evaporation.
These swamps sustain a dense growth of tall, clean, black spruce,
ranging up to 40 or 50 feet high; but are usually comparatively
small, averaging from 4 inches to H inches in diameter. Alders (.1.
incana). are frequently found in the wetter parts of these swamps.

(2) Where the soil is good and the ground rises suiRciently high
and has slope enough to afford drainage, white spruce, poplar, canoe-
birch, fir, and shrubs such as mountain maple and hazel grow
lu.xuriantly, and form a forest which protliices some of the larg(^<t
trees in the district.

(3) What may be culled a distinct ioni'* type, but closely allied
to number two, is found along the rivers and lakes. Adjacent to
these there is a belt, sometimes of considerable width, which is well
drained, and on this is found the largest and best forest in the coun-
try. It consists of spruce, poplar, balm of Gilead, canoe-birch, fir,
cedar, and sometimes Banksian pine. Close to the water, covering
the alluvium deposits, are alders, w-'lows, and other shrubs.

(4) Where sand predominates in the soil there is usually an
abundant growth of Banksian pine. This is one of the most beai
ful forests in the country, the trees growing tall and straight, wi
out branches on the lower parts. Many of them measure from
10 inches to a foot in diameter, but the majority are not so large.
There is usually very little underbrush, so that the forest is open
and an unobstructed view can be had for a long distance. In places

OEOLOOIOAL BDBVibY, CANADA

where the trees arc scattered and exposed their hnliit uf growth is
very ditforent, bt-ing then low and buahy, with branches from the
ground.

(5) Thero are also dry areas, which are covered by a small
pcrubby brush «'onsi8tiiig of low spruce, small po^Mar, etc. This
forest is esj«eiully common alonp tho height of land, where the soil
is rocky or barren.

(t!) Coiiipiiratively large areas are open muskeg. This is covered
vith stunted spruce and dead tamarack, with an occasional green
(•hoot springing up. The spruce are seldom more than 10 feet high
nuil -2 inches to li inches in diameter in the most open parts. In
>uiiie uf these muskegs there are not enough trees to obstruct the
\ iew, iiiiil one can see objects for a mile or two. The largest muskeg
1 i^aw was about three miles long and one to two wide. All grad-
ations between the o|)en muskeg an<l the dense spruce swamp exist.

(T) Where the original forest was burnt a separate condition
prevails. After a forest has been tire swept it takes foiir or five
years for the young shoots to get a good start. The deciduous trees
always spring up first in this district, so that poplar and canoe-
birch form the chief forest growth for a number of years. Then
slowly the sprucr> begins to push up and overtop the others, and
when the forest is thirty to Hfty years old it lieeomcs fairly well
mixed.

CEXKRAL GEOLOGY.

-Much difficulty was experienced in working out the geology of
the district on account of the scarcity of rock exposures. The rail-
way trial and location lines run on or near the height of land>
plateau, where the country is flat for long distances and the rocks
are deeply covered with clay and moss. Except in an occasional hill
tho oiitorops were found along the shores of lakes and the banks of
rivers. This is especially true of the western part. East of the
^ligiskan river in many places on the higher gnjund rock exiwsures
are frequent.

Eeewatin.

From Makamik lake to east of the Bell river the rocks consist
largely of green hornblende schists, chlorite schists with small areas
of diabase and altered porphyries, and an occasional hill of granite.

OEOr.OOY Al.OXCi N.T.It. — WESTKIIX (JIF.nKc

The scbiatii vary iniieh, even in small exposure*, and are intimately
nssociated with the tliiiha^e ami altered porphyries, the one ttradinK
into the other without iiny aharp dividiiiK line. I'nder the miero-
ficolM' these rockn jire seen to have undergone much alteration. In
tlio diabase the augite is often largely replaced l>y hornhlende, and
the fcidspiira ore charged with much secondary material. The
chlorite schists are frequently considerably decomixwed, and in niiiny
of tlie hornblende sciiists the hornblende is sci-ondary in appearance,
while many of the thin sections show that the rocks have been
shearc<l and crushed.

In a general way these schists strike east and west, ani are
cither verticol or dii- nt a high angle. They contoin large quantities
of pyrite, either in cui)ic crystals or disseminated specks. Carbon-
ate of lime is also present in most of thcni, often filling thread like
fissures.

As the country is entirely wooded and diificult to traverse there
was not sufficient time to separate the different types so as to repre-
sent them on the accomponjring map. Lithologically they seem to
(•orrespond with the rocks of the Kecwatin syste.j, and they have
been provisionally so coloured. The Keewatin rocks occupy most
of the area from the western border of the sheet to the Bell river,
and east of the latter on the south railway line. They are also
found on both sides of the Assup rivei a short distance from its
mouth, and on the ^.[igiskan river below the mouth of the Atik.

laurentian.

Elsewhere in the eastern part of the district the rocks ore Liuircu-
tian gneiss or gucissoid grnnite, striking from northeast to south-
east, in the nuijority of places observed varying less than 20°
from east anil wo>t. In some places the granite rises in hills
400 or .500 feet above the general leve\, and gives the countrv
a rugged and broken appearance. Owing to the clay covering the
contact between the schists and gneiss was not seen, and the rela-
tions could not be worked out; but there seems to be an area of some
miles where occasional outcrops of first one and then the other
appear, the intervening distances being covered with clay. Only
an approximate line of separation can, therefore, be drawn.

The gneisses and granites were traced for over seventy miles
east in a straight line, and, from other explorations, they are known

(tKOLOOICAL SUXVEY, CANADA

to uxtciul uiuc-h farthvr ea*t, an well as north und louth. They pn-
•cnt the suine chnruvter over all the un>n, except that from the Atik
i-M'hf eustward thi-y are hivhly Kunietit'uroiui.

PetrofnpUo OeMription.

Mr. (i. A. VuuiiK, petruvrupher of thin departu.eut, hait examined
tlif kJiik'D friiiii the r>cki brought ia from this area, and the niiero-
scopic descriptioua herein are by him. Of the giieisHic rocks he says:
amuHKHt &'} thin eei-tiuns submitted for microscopic examiuation
a few represent undoubted grauiteti, either virtually unchanged or
partly defornied through dynamic agencies. These granites are of
normal types, and in ever>' case the coloured constituent is biotite,
thouKh this mineral is vprj- siwringly present in three instances.

The remaining sections arc of gneissic rocks, varying amongst
themselves as regards texture, structure, and proportions of the
chief constituents, but usually having the mineralogical compositions
nf normal biotite granites. In a few instances garnets arc present,
nnd in ten cases, common green hornblende accompanies or entirely
replaces the mica. Some of the sections present fair evidence that
the gneisses represent crushed granites, while none huve any dis-
tinctive feature that would indicate a clastic origin for the rocks.

In many casea, however, the thin sections reveal gneissic struc-
tures, virtually unaccompanied by deformation due to stresses. In
such rockj) the chief constituents, quartz, plagioolase, and orthoclase
feldspar, tenii to occur in rountliil or polygonal forms. Possibly
the ')liati(>n, nnd at times pronounced banding of these varieties
are ufiginal, and were assumeil by the rocks as they first solidified
from a state of igneous fusion. Their general appearances, however,
-»>em to indicate that the structures are secondary, and that they
were superimposed on an earlier mode, by some process of recrjstal-
lization. In .nany cases such gneisses exhibit cataclastic phenomena,
evidently sec up after the individuals of feldspar and quartz had
assumed their rounded or polygonal outlines.

A few of the rocks show microscopically an augen structure 'ith
larirer grains of feldspar, or composite individuals of quartz lying
in a fine textured ground largely composed of the same minerals.
In some instances such varieties seem possibly to have been derived
from granitic types, while in other cases they appear originally to
have been gneissic forms. Besides such cases there are examples of

IIEOI.OOV ALOXO X.T.B. WENTFRX QfKBKr

both foliated and banded xikt, in which the itriicture* Mem to
I'livt' resulted directly frum the cruihiiiK or •lu<nring of onr*i> conno-
liruintil rocki, in some initanoiit at k-ait, oriKimdly vranitp*.

DESCIUI'TION OF ItOUTES.
Fly Biver.

Beginning ut the eu8t <>ud of the nhi-ct tho tint work was duiio
on the Fly river, which i» ■ '2 chain* wide at the ni<iuth, .iikI
flows frou the ea«t into Idakamik lake. It i» na.'igablc for caii< ^
fur about fifteen mileti frum the mouth. At this p-iint it forkn, u
omali branch criming frum thu north. Uctwecn thctic branchcH Owl
mountain, which i» 275 fe«>t above the river, is situated, some high
hills being visible to the northwest antl also to the south. The
whole (.uuntry is forest covered, and tho soil is a rich clay loam.
Spruce -2 feet in diameter is found growing along the banks, but
trees of this size are rare. The priucipal tree> ui'c white »pru<'t',
black spruce, poplar, balm of Gilead, fir, Banksian \iine. on sandy
soil, and a few canoe-bircl.. The muui tain maple and the hiizi-l
bush grow on rich clay soil back from the river. Numerous shrubn
grow (long the river Lanka, as alders and red osier dogwcxxl. Bliu-k
ash and cetlar are also found along the stream.

The Fly river at the forks is forty feet wide, but ubovc this it
is small. A beaver dam a short distance up and just above u .^nuill
rapid, backs the wnt<'r and raaket^ the river passable for eantx's for
two miles. There is a rapid about two miles below the forks, which
is pasHed by an H chain portage on the north side. T1k> fall is
about fifteen feet. A short distonce farther down the second portage
occurs. It is also on the north side and is 8 chains long, with a
fall of eight feet. Below this there is no obstruction until within
three-quarters of a mile of the lake, where there is anothc jwrtoge
(111 the north Rile. ."• chains loiijr. with ii fall in the r'wer of feet.

Xakameonan Biver.

The Kaknmeonan river enters ifakamik lake less than a mile
south of the mouth of Fly river, and drains Robertson lake, which
is crossed by the location line of tho National Transcontinental
railway, and is not far north of the east end of Lake Lois. This river,
as fnr us exaiiiiiicd. flows through a tlut country, with good soil.

<.»:OLOaiOAL AURVII.Y, CANADA

Miiit of thu fun*at i* Mwiiiid irruwth, nut more than twenty jroarn i>ltl,
iiikI part hH« l)U>n burnt recrntly. Tho Hmt portutft* i« twu and thrtH*-
i|>iiirt('r mill'-* l'r»ni tin' Inki*. It i* on tho north «i(lv, it 11 cliaini
lonir. and ha* u full ot ID fm't. When I waii on thi> river it wu*
l>|iH>ki'd hy fallen tmii and loir jnmii, but thoM havo *invt< been <-iit
out, nnd now it forms a k<hm1 canuo route to Uola-rtiton lake.

Makamik lake, Loii Lake, and Heifht of Land Portage.

.\fiiknmik lukt- in «hullow, the Muter is muddy, und the shore* are
iri'nerally low. It is somewhat ciruular in form, with a diameter of
ii' out six mile*. It is draine«l by the WhiteKsh river, which flows
into Abitibi hike, ond receives from the south tho Lois river and
u small stream called the UKiuisntan. The Loi;) river, which drains a
lake of the same name, i« eighteen mile* long, und has Ave short
liortiiirt'". It in about ■'! ehains wide ut the mouth, but is con-
KJderably wider just below Ijike I^i«. where it flowH through a
swiunpy country for some miles.

I^ke Lois is nini' miles Iohb, ond ncor the middle narrow* to u
i|uurter of • mile in width, and is nowhere more than two miles
wide. The overage depth is *ixt<!en *i?et. The Indian nomo of tl.i*
lake is Wikwosiko. For fuller description of Makamik lake, I^ii
river and lake, see Mr. Johnston's report olready referred to.

A piirtage over four miles long starts from a small stream at the
eni^terii end of Lak ' Lois ami leads across the height of lontl to the
waters of the Nawapitechin river. Kxccpt ot one or two places where
4niall streams cross this portage, the land is iM)or, either rocky oi
tsand.v, and covered with Banksian pine; or liwampy, approaching
muskeg. By climbing elevations a good view of the neighbouring

I- itr.v was obtained. Looking northword from near the middle of

the portage the country presents the appearance of a flat plain, with
two blue mountains in the <li»tunce. Looking south, one mile from
tlie we!-t end, a low Tanitc of hills is visible. Like most of the
country along the watershed between the St. Lawrence waters and
Hudson bay, the land is flat and of little value for agricultural
purposes. A few miles on either sidt; the drainage i» letter, the
rucks -"re more deeply clny covere<l, and conditions generally are
more favourable for vegetation of every description. on<l for the
successful cultivation of the soil.

;

lOlS- p. Ill

^^.

GEOr.OGY AI.OXO X.T.R. WESTEHX QUEBEC

Nawapiteohin Biver.

Till' stream into which the portage leads at the east end is only
few feet wide, and if it were not for beaver dams it would not
have been possible to have used it for a canoe route at the season we
passed over it. For about five miles, or almost to the upper forks
of the Xawapitechin, the stream flows through a beaver meadow,
with lavjre open areas, on which grows an abundant supply of wild
grass. A rocky barrier half a mile from the forks necessitates a port-
age, which leads into the river three-quarters of a mile farther down.
The north brunch of the Nawapiteohin, which is the largest of the
two, runs southeast for five miles above the forks, and from this
point to where it crosses the railway line its general course is south-
west. The country through which this branch runs is level, and the
soil is 11 sandy loam, covereil chiefly by small Banksian pine and
spruce. From the forks down, the Nawapiteohin drains the best
area of country in the whole region examined. The soil is chiefly
a olny loam, and much of it would undoubtedly yield abundant
crops, if cleared and cultivated. The banks are heavily wooded
throughout its whole course, with large spruce, poplar, canoe-birch,
and numerous shrubs. Except in a few places the soil is free from
stones. The river is very crooked and its total length is over forty
miles. The location line of the railway touches the river at a point
about fifteen miles west of the Kinojevis cache, and will open the
country for settlers when completed.

Along^ Railway Eastward from Makamik Lake.

In travelling along the northern exploration railway line from
Makamik lake eastward the country shows an alternation of spruce
swamp, covered thickly with small spruce which averages 6 inches to
8 inches in diameter; and higher ground covered with larger spruce,
poplar, fir, and canoe-birch. As usual at the stream crossings, there
are narrow strips well (lrniiie<l and producing a much more luxuriant
forest growth.

The country is flat, and although the line runs comparatively
straight for long distances, there is only a dilTerence of a few feet
in the levels. Eight to ten miles cast of ^Makamik lake there are
some rather high granite hills which give the country a rugged and
broken appearance. These hills continue for some distance north of
the line. East of these hills, along the line, spruce swamps prevail,

9913-2

GEOLOGICAL SUKVEY, CANADA

xvith a large number of irees fit for pulpwood, and at the larger
streams poplar and canoe-birch, some of the poplar measuring 20
inches in diameter. Farther east there are areas of bouldery ground,
and others dry and sandy, covered with scrub spruce and Banksian
pine. Very little of the land along this part of the Une is fit for
cultivation, as it is practically on the barren belt along the height of
land. The land near Muskeg lake is low and swampy, and covered
with small spruce growing close together. East of this to near
Molesworth lake there is a larger growth of spruce. From Moles-
Aorth lake to Spirit lake the land is mostly dry and sandy, and
covered with Banksian pine. This area was completely fire swept
during the present summer (1906), so that for two or three miles
there is scarcely a green tree. In following the trail from the cache
on the Kinojevis river to Molesworth lake, the first two miles are over
trood soil heavily woo.ied with spruce and poplar, followed by an
open, dry, mossy country, with small scrub spruce and Banksian
pine. North of this there is nearly a mile of muskeg, almost with-
out trees, and from this to the railway line is the sandy plain burnt
bare already referred to.

Along the line from Spirit lake to the Harricanaw river there
are miles of spruce swamp growing an abundance of pulp wood.
The trees are tall and straight, and are from 4 inches to 10 inches in
diameter with an occasional one of larger size. Near the river, where
the land is drained by small streams, it is dry, and the soil appears to
be of excellent quality and free from stones.

Kinojevis Cache to Seals Home Lake.

Going from the Kinojevis cache to Seals Home lake by way of
the Nawapitechin river, Kewagama and Newagama lakes, there is
an excellent canoe route. There are two slight rapids on the Nawa-
pitechin river a short distance below the cache, after which there is
smooth water flowing through a rich clay soil, up to within two
milos of Kewagama lake. Here there is a small .>id, passed by a
portage five chains long. One mile from the lake another portage
20 phains lonp passes another rapid. The shores of Kewagama
lake are rooky in places, but heavily wooded with all the trees found
in the neighbourhood; and besides these red and white pine are found
in limite.1 quantities. Stunted black ash is common at the mouths
of strenms, and low scrubby cedar line the shores. Newagama, or

'.p'.pi:)

GEOLOGY ALOXO X.T.R. WESTEBN QUEBEC

l-ittle Turn Back lake, is on the same level as Kewagama, nud is
I'onnected with it by a broad, glugglah, marshy stream. The route
to Seals Home lake follows a river flowing into Newagama lake on
the north shore, the mouth of which is easily missed, as it is in a
deep grassy bay.

The portage to Seals Home lake, over the height of land, leaves
a small branch of this river flowing from the east, about one mile
from the lake. The portage is two miles long and passes over a
level well wooded country. At the east end it stops at a small
stream, which in midsummer is almost dry, necessitating a farther
carry of a quarter or half a mile. The stream winds through a wide
marsh almost a mile before reaching the lake.

Seals Home Lake.

Seals Home lake is made up of three expansions, connected by
two narrows. The most northerly narrows is quite river-like for over
a mile, although at ordinary water there is no visible current. The
south part is the largest. It is irregularly circulnr in shape, having
the longest diameter northeast and southwest, and measuring eight
and a half miles. There are numerous islands in the southern part.
Counting in the lower expansion the whole lake measures twenty-
four miles from north to south. The shore line is indented with
numerous bays, and bare rocks are frequently exposed, forming low
cliffs. The shores are well wooded with spruce, poplar, etc., and an
occasional pine.

Peter Brown creek enters the lower expansion of Seals Home
lake from the east. It is 100 feet wide at the mouth, and is easily
n ivigable with cnnocs to within less than a mile of the railway line,
which crosses this creek nine miles east of the Harricanp.w river.
There is some t.-%>lleiit, well wooded agricultural land along this
creek.

Harricanaw Biver.

The Harricanaw river drains Seals Home lake, and for twenty-
two miles flows a little east of north, then it flows northwest as far
as it was followed. The railway line crosses four miles below the
lake. At this point the river is 5 chains wide, and it averages
between 4 and 6 chains as far as it was surveyed. At the
cache a half mile below the crossing of the railway line there is a
rapid, with a fall of three feet, which can bo run by light oanocs.
9913—2}

OKOLOGUAI. SirRVEY. CANADA

next rapid « a mde and a q^^r ^ ^.^^^ ^^^.^,^ ,„ooth

only two and a half feet ^^^\ .^ ^^^^ler rather strong
water for nearly «- -'^^' t^.^t^ .lown all of these without
rapid, but we were able to let - ^^^^^^ ,,p,„ds into Obalski
portaging. Six miles farU»er north the r ^^^ ^ ^^^^^ ^.^^ ^^

,„Ue, which is six m.les long a^^ om J .^^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^j^^

the north end. This lake has a number ^_^^ ^^^ ^^^^

„Mh. The shores are mostly tow an ^ ^^.^^ ^^^ ^

^bowing in the distanj. <^ J^^J^ /.tJla sluggish, with low
half below Obalski ^f «/^^ ^''^^ J I, i,ke there ave three rapids
banks. Three and a »-« J f .j, :1^^^ feet. These can be passed
close together, having a *«" ''\'** The river was surveyed

in ordinary ater with partly loa<^ed jan^j^ ^ ^^^^^^^ ^^ ^„ „^
two miles below these -P' J'^ ;;;^^ ^^ Mol.worth lake enter.
;, „ canoe was ^'^^'>'lJ^,^^\[,, point, but as I was informed
the llarricanaw «" ^'^'^XI^X I^ncluded it must be ona of
it was only two m.l^ j-^ ^^^^ j, ', the present condition of the
the sniall streams I had ^^^J^f^^^ Lm Indians and pros-
water was too small *» "*'>87- . ^ ^^^^ the river is one con-
peetors that a short ^^^^^tlnt ^nT ■. consequently not ^u.ch
tinuous rapid for a l»"«/'^^«''''*;; , ^he banks of the Ham-
used as a canoe route. *»' *« ^^^^J j, „ost places the land
canaw are low. and composed of clay loan ^^^^^ ^^^^^^^

Hses gently back from the "^ ^;'^^. ^^^ ^.^ into ridges by
level, the slopes adjacent .to the rner

rivulets. .

Aikogwash Ewer.

.he Askogwash river, which flows ^^^^^ IZX
east, wa,.urve,.a almost to Upourceflowiu. ^^^.^^

branch. Where it enters ^^^^^^^^'^^J^^ ^o Natagagan lake.

^vUle. I this width -77J^,;^f :rma«hy. and covered with

and some distance beyond The UnK ^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^

grass, in some f'^'^^'"^ [^^^^ „, three lake expansions, one of
The current is «lugg.sh and here ^^^ ^^^ „,

which is said to extend ^f ^"/^^^ wj^, f„, ^ix miles. In thi*
Wookey lake the river ,« about a en ^^^^^^ ^^^^^

distance there are several sha low rapids o gr_^ ^^^^^^ ^^^^^
where canoes cannot pass except at high wate

OlOLOOT ALOKO II.T.B. — WTOTEBN (JUEBIC

six miles from the lake, and divides about equally, one branch com-
ing from the north, which is probably the stream called Cedar
creek at the crossing of the railway line, and the other coming from
the east, near Wabanoni lake. The latter branch was followed almost
to its source, beaver dams on the upper part facilitating ean<je travel.
From this branch a portage nearly two miles long leads south,
mostly through muskeg, to Wabanoni lake, which discharges into
the Bell river.

Hatagagu Lake and Biver.
Between twenty-two and twenty-three miles east of Seals Home
lake, on the Askogwaah river, a canoe route leads south to Natagogiiu
lake. There are altogether four portages and three small lakes be-
tween the river and Natagagan lake. The first portage is 150 chains
long. There 5s n low hill rising from the river, which ia heavily
wooded for nearly half a mile, then an open muskeg and swamp for
a quarter of a mile. The remainder of this portage is through a
rather thick spruce swamp, in places decidedly wet. The water in
this lake is clear, nnd differs from the other rivers and lakes described,
the waters of whioh are more or less dark and muddy. So much is
this the iHsi" in some of them that it is impossible to see rocks or
other obstructions, though only a few inches below the surface.
The second portage is 96 chains long, and is through a spruce
swamp. For a short distance there is a dry Banksian pine knoll,
and about « chains of muskeg. The small lake between the second
and third portage is only 15 chains long. It is also clear water.
The third portage is one mile long, and for the first half passes over
a dry sandy Banksian pine plain. The northern half is over a low
hill covered with a luxuriant forest growth of spruce, poplar, canoe-
birch, and fir, with mountain maple abundant. I noted acer ruhrum
at the third lake, but it was of small size. The third lake ia also of
clear water, and is 33 chains across. The fourth portage is a mile
and a half long, and parts of it are over good agricultural land,
on which are growing some of the largest trees seen in the district.
Be"^ the ordinary varieties Betula papyrifera, variety cordi-
folia, was also noted on this portage. The trees are tall and straight,
and 3 inches to 4 inches in diameter. The hazel and wild red cherry
also grow abundantly. This portage ends at n stream which flows
from the third lake. Where the portage reaches it the stream is only
wide enough to allow a canoe to pass, and at the present stage of

UEOLOOICAL BOBVKY, CAKADA

.ater hardly dc.p enough to doat a parUy '^'^'^/^'^'J^
brook i. followed for 2o chain., when Natagagau lake x. euUred
Thi« lake is five mile, long aud not nxuch over a m.le wide A
long point project, from the we«t .ide. and u dc^-p ba> i« on
r ir Th lake gradually narrow, toward the north end.
tL e« are low. and ri^ back fro.n the lake in gentle slope,
111 hSht of a hundred feet or more. The Natagagan nver How.
ml north end of the lake. It U narrow and ha. many ^.or
3.. but the general eour.e i. fairly Htra.gl't, be.ng ab ut
5 ' ;«.t of north. At four and a-half n.il» beiow the lake the
ailwaT inc crosses, and nearly five miles farther d-n U- r-r
iJa long curve to the west. In order to -eh ten m. les eW
the line it was necessary to make over seventeen - "f^ '^J^
I„ this distance there are only three rap.ds and two short portages,
the greatest fall at any rapid being 8 leet.

Along Railway Eartward from Harrioanaw River.
Ooing eastward along the railway line from the Uarrica.mw
nver the forest has been largely burnt during the present surfer
cHpeciallv on the drier parts. This condition prevails up to Pete
Br^wn creek, and for a mile east. East of this for five rniles the
fjuntry is largely muskeg, with spruce swamp having small spruce
uH lOinche- Tbcixth mile isthrough an 0P«" ^ank-an pme
Plain which is followed by drier ground drained by a large brook rtow -
S t'oth no th. Between this and the Katagagan river there is an
tor atn of spruce .wan.p. Banksian pine plains, and some high
rl^having Lirly good soil. The J-ger "eas are eovere^ wU
Vvpuisions north and south of the line between
r;rrsLwrt~e :eneral character of the eoi.ntr.- is the

^""G;i„g cast from tho Natagagan to the Bell river. Jo^owing the
railway line, the fivst n.ile is through " ^^^^/^^^^f ^^;, ^s ,
follow three miles of muskeg, after which to Cedar creek a
follow three n ^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^^

spruce swamp. Ine tirst mue cu

muskeg followed by wet spruce swamps and knolls of dry
To md About nine miles from the Natagagan nver there ,
:iJr large open muskeg, extending three miles «!-. *1>^'";
from one to two miles wide. East of this muskeg there is a spruce
swamp, followed by n mile of dry rich ground, growing spruce 2

I'LATK IV.

!i!ii:f p. tJ

Nat«(,'a>r:iii liicr : firt-st ""iKiwintf dtad tun; mc!;.

OEOLOOY ALOXO N.T.B. — WHTEKir QCEBCC

fMt in diametpr, and Urge cunoe-birvh. i'tom thit to the B«ll river
the country is the wne aa that already deacrii>ed. There are tome
areai covered by large quantitie* of iipruce up to lu inclio* iu dia-
meter and 40 to 50 foet higii, whioli will make excellent pulpwood if
the forest is protecteil from tire. Fur about u mile from the Bull
river, mi the south lino, there i» u ileii»e growth of »mull ipruce 2
iiichei* in diameter.

Wabuoni Lake.

A track survey was made of the stream forming the hcadwuters
of the Askogwash river, and the portage from it to Wubanoni hike.
In order to fix the south end of this iwrtag"! a compass and micro-
meter survey was made of Wabanoni lake, and tied to station
eighty-four of D. if. Mill's survey of the Bell river.

Wabanoni lake is rectangular in shape. Its greutest length is
five miles from soutl ast to northwest, and it varies in width from
two to three miles. It receives a large stream near the middle point
of the west shore, and another at the northwent angle, where the
iwrtage above referred to leaves the lake. Tin- shores are mostly
low and well wooded. Several rock exposures oceur along the cost
and south shores, whieli iu places ore also lin»wi with walls of
boulders. The outlet is from the southeast bay into Obaska lake
nnd is through swampy ground. The stream is broad and sluggish,
and about halfway to Obaska lake expands into a lake nearly a mile
long. This expansion receives a slow winding stream of consider-
able size, from the smith.

Obaska lake and Adjacent Railway Line.

Obaska lake is eleven miles long, and, except in one place, is not
much over n mile wide. There is a long narrow island near the
north end and a few small ones near it, but for the rest the lake is
open. It is bordered in the northerr part by low clay shores densely
wooded, but southward hills of considerable size rise from the lake.

The south railway trial line which crosses Obaska lake at the
outlet was examined to the east. The land sroes back from the lake
comparatively level. Near the river there is a second growth of small
spruce and poplar, followed to the east by a dry sandy Banksian
pine knoll. This is succeeded by a spruce swamp, where small black
spruce with alders abound. At two and a half miles from the river
there is an open muskeg, with a low hill to the north. This proved

24 ur.OtOOICAI. BUBrKY, canapa

t., I* n l.,w rocky ri.lit.', with iroo.1 ol.y wil on the •lope*. cvon-J
«ilh tr.*. of a fair liii-. Thi. it tlvt- K.-niTiil chur.cter of the iroui.try
through t.. thi. fir.t .r—ing of the Mi|ii»kuu river, u .li.tuno o£
obout twi'lve milw from H«ll river.

TW rnilwBy lino in-w.* the MiKi^kaii rivir about twelve miU««
from it. mouth in 8h«boir«iiia lake. Tlie approximate location line
join* tho fiwt or touth lino a little over a mile and a half
x^ttt of the river cro«.inB. but only u «hort dirtaiK-e from the
«tr.«m. HI. the river iit thin point How« wi-t. In wulkiuK wcatwunl
en the locntii.n line the u»uol good f..n*t wan Hot.><l along the river,
but buck from the river tho land i. Hat. and eover»l with a denM
growth of »mulUpru««linchto4imhe* in diameter, with (KTa«ional
.lum|» ..f HHukMan pine. Thin U the .-..nditi..!. U> t'hri.tn.uH ereek.
whieh riow» through a low i-ountrj- to l^ike Shabogama. and. 1 wai
told, i* easily navlg«t..d with oanoe*. F-r u .•..n-id.rable di«tuueo
wentwanl there U a low flat country, drained by thi. «re«m. the
f.rct being a necon.l growth of .pruce. In a northwe.t direc-
tion there .eems to be an extennive muakeg, followed by a low r.dge,
to the southwest of which Bell River mountain ri«-». Thi« moun-
tain shows three roundel peaks. Along the line to the o..*t ol
Christmas creek the soil is a white clay, into which the roots of tho
tr.^s do not iHjnetrate far. n* upturne<l trees show a net-work of
T(M>t8 only n few inches below the surface.

In goi ,g east along the railway line from the Miginkan river
thero is a suc-ession of black spruce swamp, muskeg, and an
occasional knoll or hill, with good .Iry soil coven d «-'^ laige spmee.
poplar, and cnnoe-birch. A mile and a half from th. r.ver there h
a granite ridge which runs to the northwest, and apparently crosses
the river at the first rapid above the railway line. At the foot of
this hill there is some goo<l soil with large trees. Tho top of the
hill is 250 feet higher and is rough and rocky. As viewed from this
elovntiou the country is generally level, with an occasional mountain
showing in the distance. About half way to Sunday brook there .s
an open mi.skeg. from which there is a view of a prominent range
of hills, four or five miles to the north.

Migiikaii Biver.

The iligiskan river empties into Lake Shabopania, and from the
mouth up to the railway crossing, about twelve miles, is almost all

<it:i>l.<NtV .\M>.\0 N.T.R. — WKNTRRX qrEBRC

3ft

/npiiln •ml tliilivult t» imvigMto with cmiovt. One luilo above the mil-
uu.v iiiM' thi-n- i» u rupiti iiuhmhI by u 13 chain portage, on th«
Wfst bunk. I'p to thi» iMirtiiKo thu banks arc low and well wo<nIo«I,
except in ont! jilac-e whi-n (lu-ru aru ntoi'p ulay bank* lo to |.'>
f«t hiich. Till- I'luy i« to <h iunl of u \vhiti>«h colour. Tho river
avtraKm about H chain* lu width up to the railway cache, and
Keni-rally Iium low MiopinK bunk* of ko<mI clay *oil. From tho ruil-
way line tti tho mouth of Sunilay brook »ix *troam« enter thu
rivtr, each from I.'( to 20 feet wiUo. One from the south, two
mile* U'low Sunday brook, i* troiwiderably larKer, iiud form* part of
II cnnoo route lictwoen the MiyiKkun anti Oarden Uland lake, li^^•
Hides thv*e tlier<> arc numerou* rivulet* cnteriuK from both aide*.
lu aacendiuK the Migiakan, two milef above Sunday brook, there i*
u rapid which in pa*«(«l by a l.> chain |iortiiKi' oii tho north »ici. ,
but canoes cun be poKnl up and run down witli liwht loaiix. Two
jind a quurtcr mile* farther up there is a slight rapid, up which the
ennoe* were pulletl without makiiiK n iHirtuge. Two and u half
miles above this there i* a rather bad rapid, which has a portage
14 chains long on tho north »iile, but it can be run with light
ejiumti. One mile above this rapid t'rotiketl creek enters from the
north. Below Oooked creek the forest is all green and of the usual
kind, but up to the ruilway (luhe, one mile and a half, the foreat
ha* be«>n recently burnt. Six observation* fir latitude were tuken
nt the cache opposite tlu; mouth of the As»up river, the avenige
b«ing -IH" IJ' ;j,V'. At this point the Miginkan is 500 feet wide, and
it keep* thi* width for mo*t of the distance up to the jiortuge into
Millie lake. It is deep uiid has couHiderablo current, with four or
five pliice* where there I* swift water or slight rapids, but none of
these reiiuire a portage. A rather bad rai>id is half a mile below the
mouth of the Atik river, and the worst one a mile and a half below
Trout brook. The portage into Millie hike is over n mile and a half
lonjf, the river in this distance being n riipid with n fnll of about
•!0 feet. The soil on the portage is sandy, and was covered with
a smHJl second growth of Banksinu pine, but it has recently Ixen
burnt, and is now praetically bare.

Snnday Brook.

Sunday brook enters the Migiskan river fmm the north, iilx.iit
eight and n half milw above the railway crossing. It is n er(Mik<<l

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, CANADA

Mx>ur„ tKv. Mg thn.uKh good clay soil well wooded with s.uall
,,, „,.'„•..' .anksinn pine. No rock w.is seen on this streum, hut
n..^ ... uranitc boulders ore conmiou.

Crooked Creek.

Crooked cr.ok empties i.ito the Migiskuu river eighteeu miles
nhove the railway line, following the bends of tlu.' river. It winds
in a very sinuous course through low clay banks which rarely reach
more than 10 feet in height. The forest along the lower part, for
Hve or six miles, was burned in 1900. Above this the forest is small,
the spruce sel.lom reaching more than a foot in diameter. .Several
isolated hills were noted in ascending the stream to the rail-
wav line. Some of these are 75 to 100 feet high and are
n.ostlv bare and rocky. No»r the railway line the soil is poor and
sandy, covered with Banksian pine recently burnt. North of the
railway lino the creek runs through a scraggy bush, with clay banks
often coverwl with grass. At a distance of eight miles north of the
railway line the hills close in on the stream, which at this distance
is small. Looking down the cr.ok from an elevation, a ridge of high
bills is seen to exten.l along both sides of the stream at some dis-
tance back from it, and to the north and northwest similar hills
■stretch for a long distance. Seen from this point the country is
.loci<le<lly hilly, with some low swampy tracts. The hills are covere<l
with green forest, some trees being apparently of large size. I not.xl
on a hill 250 feet above the creek some large spruce, canoe-birch. an<l
tir growing on rich soil; Banksian pine large enough to make good
railwav ties was seen in some places. The ha/.el bush and mountain
n,aple'are also abu.ahmt on the rich slopes. The valley of Crookc.l
ereek can be seen for a distance of four or five miles wuMl.ng amontr
the hills to the north.

Assup River.
The Assup river is locally known as the Yukon, but as the per-
p,.tuation of that name wouM lead to confusion I have calle.1 it the
Assup, an Indian wor,l meaning fishnet. At the mouth and for hve
or six miles up it is a deep sluggish stream, flowing fr. .u the south
through a wi.le swampy valley, with low hills on each side at a .hs-
tanee of one or two n.il.'s. It forms part of the canoe route from
Grand Lake Victoria, and is connected with Matchimanitou lake

GEOLOOT ALONG N.T.H. WESTERN QUEBKC 27

by a four mile portage. When the water is low the stream is too
•hallow ill the upper part to float canot^s, so tliat the (Kirtage is cou-
siilcralily lengthened.

Along Bailway East and West of Crooked Creek.

On the railwi.j hi, ■ ;,.;,!, of Crooked creek there is a liauksian
pine plain bun . mvk: i^ur.ti, u. be line there are several bare hills
at a distance o orw lo two wil, ,, and northward there is a range of
hills 300 to 40' *'eul abcve the line, or about 1,500 feet above sea-
level. One mile i.iui a l;.:.f cist of the creek the soil is sandy on
top, but is underlain ly boulder clay of a greyish colour containing
small boulder,-. :! iiicln>^ t-> -t iiu'hes in diameter, and in one pluce
shows stratitit'd s^and and gravel. At two miles east of Crooked creek
low hills close in on the line, the soil is poor, and the forest i- nearly
all destroyed by tire. This is the general i-haracter of the country to
Trout brook. Trout brook empties into the iligiskan. a mile and a
quarter below the portage to Millie lake. It is bordered on both siiles
by ranges of high hills, some of whieli rise to a height of l.tlOO feet or
more above sea-level.

In following the railway line west from Crooked creek the first
four miles is through oi)en muskeg, some of it very wet, interspersed
with areas of spruce swamp. Hills of considerable height rise to
the north of the line three miles west of the ereek. These hills are
two or three miles distant and are well wooded. The country bor-
dering on Sunday creek is drier and has some good spruce forest.

Millie lake.

.Millie lake is an expansion of the Migiskan river. It lies in a
northeasterly direction, and for nine and a half miles is from a
nnle to a mile and a half wide. Above this it narrows to a quarter
of a mile in places, but seems to continue at the same level three
or four miles. It is a beautiful lake, with many sandy beaches and
points, and is everywhere surrounded by rounded hills, which rise
to a considerable height. They are generally well wooded. Throtigh
depressions between the hills several streams enter the lake. The
principal of these from the south are Cedar creek, Smoky creek, and
Bear brook. From the northwast there is only one largo stream,
which enters near the north end and rises not far from Crooked
creek.

GEOLOGICAL SCKVEY, CANADA

Smoky Creek and Cedar Creek.

Smoky creek is bordered with low hills showing an abundance of
rock exposures. Near the lake there is some good soil and good
forest of large poplar and canoe-birch, but along the trial line far-
ther inland the country is either burnt or coveretl with small second
growth, and the soil is poor. These conditions prevail along Cedar
creek and down to the foot of Millie lake. Smoky creek abounds in
small specklid trout, averaging about 6 inches in length.

The Atik Kiver and Adjacent Country.

The Atik river is the largest branch of the Migiskan, and has a
total length of sixty-five or seventy mil&J. It was surveyed by
compass and micrometer from the mouth to the north end of Durant
lake, a distance of sixty-live miles following the sinuosities of the
river. It is probable that the source of this river is in a stream
flowing north, and entering Durant lake at the south end. This
stream was ascended in canoes for over five miles, when it became
rapid, but of considerable size. For the first iwenty-three miles,
or up to the Hill cache, the Atik is very crooked, and has numerous
liipiil-. The first portage is one mile from the mouth, and is seven-
teen and a half chains long over a burnt, sandy, Banksian pine plain.
The river at this rapid falls about 15 feet, and is full of boulders.
TluT.' is (,n each side a morainic ridge which seems to have caused
the rapid and supplied the liirge number of boulders. No solid rock
is seen. Tlie country along this part of the river was all burnt in
1900, though there are a few green clumps of trees still standing.
The Atik flows through a sandy country up to the Hill cache, with
occasional strips of alluvium along the banks. The banks are
usually from :> to Kt feet high, but near the mouth of Canon creek
the sand banks are very much higher and continue so up to the
Hill .•ache, where the western <'nd of the portage is up this steep

hill.

The principal forest trees along this stretch are Banksian pme,
spruce, and poplar, the two latter being found principally on the
lower ground. Some of the Banksian pine are large enough to
make railway ties, but such trees are by no means abundant.

Cnfiou <-rcek enters the Atik about a mile below the Hill cache.
It is a small winding clear stream flowing over a sandy or gravelly
bottom, with san.ly banks from 10 to 100 feet high, covered

OEOI.OOY ALONG N.T.K. WESTERN QUEBEC

with Banksian pine. In walking east alongp the railway line from
the crossing of Canon creek the country is an open Banksian pine
plain, «.th groves of tall straight trees, sonic of which are a foot
in diameter, but most of them are small. T-o the west, between
Cufion creek and the Migiskun river, the line runs through a level
Bundy plain cut into deep gullies wherever there are streams. These
gullies are from 50 to 100 feet deep, with aides as steep as
Bandy elny will remniu at rest. Several holes were dug along the
line, and these showed sand or gravel. The forest growth is oiwii
Banksian pine, mostly small second growth, but a few trees reach
a foot in diameter. For three miles east of the Jligiskan the country
has been burned within the la«t three years. An abuiidiint crop of
blueberries was growing over this region. Viewed from the top of
a hill, the country t-o the north and northwest is hilly, but soiith-
wiird there are no high elevations in sight.

The Hill Cnche p;irtagp on the Atik is 60 chains long and,
except at the west end, is a good trail over level ground. An
examination of the country south of the Hill Cache portage showed
the same conditions as described on the north. Banksian pine
plains, with an oeeusional spruce swamp mixed with canoe-birch,
prevail over the area explored. Two miles south of the river there
is a narrow lake a mile and a half long, with an outlet from the
eastern end. Xo hills or rocks could be seen. Above the Hill Cache
portage the river is not so crooked, but much more rapid, with several
lake expansions. I'p to the outlet of Atik lake, a little over sixteen
miles, there ihirteen rapids, the longest being nearly half a mile.

Most of tl ■ '« can be run with partly loaded canoes, but they

have to be , , or the canoes dragged by hand. There are no

gooil portagt , cut out past any of these rapids, but some of the
worst have poor trails. In this distance there are two lake expan-
sions of considerable size. The most easterly is called Mark lake,
and is a mile and thn'O-quartc- ; long, but narrow.

At six miles and a half above the Ilill Cache portage a trial line
runs north to the north line at .Maher lake, a distance of five miles.
This lini' follows the valley of a small stream, and is through rather
poor soil with scru'^ Banksian pine and low shrubs. At the lakes
on the north lin ..ere are several kame-like ridges of sand and
gravel, with areas of wet swamp and muskeg.

An examination was also made south of the Atik, opposite the
trial line, for a distance of five miles. In this distance there is an

:J0

OSOLOOICAL SURVEY, CANADA

alternation of Banksian pine plain and epruce swamp, with a num-
ber of green tamarack trees.

In proceeding up the river there is little change in tho appear-
ance of the country. The banks are densely lined with alders and
willows, and the land back from the stn-am is sandy and covered
with sit ider Banksian pine up to 3 inches or 4 inches in diameter.

A shallow stream a mile long, with two rapids, drains Atik lake.
The lake is divided into th ee parts by two narrows, and is five
mihs long and from a half to one mile wide. The south pnrt is
tilled with long, narrow, sometimes crescent-shaped islands, which
are kame-like in appearance, ami probably of glacial origin, as they
are composed of sand and gravel. The shores are mostly sandy, and
lined with small water-worn lobbies. The middle expansion is the
largest, and is free from islands, but some of the bays have beauti-
ful sandy shores. The third part is also free from islands, except
three small ones. The forest aloi.rf Atik lake is small second growth,
but there are some hills with larp-e canoe-birch and spruce.

Couillard lake is connected with Atik lake by a small stream
thirteen chains long. The lake is a mile and a half lonp, and irre-
gular in shape. In the south it is swampy, and is surrounded with
black spruce. In the north, kame-like sandy ridges form long
points, enclosing deep bays.

From the outlet of Atik lake to Durant lake, a distance of nine
miles and a half, there an- eleven rapids, one of which is a chute,
and two ai quarter of a mile long. The only regular portage is
at the chute, all the others can he run and poled up. There is more
spruce for some distance from the outlet of Atik lake than on most
of the lower part of the river, but from the middle of Buckle Hake
the forest was burnt in IDOfl. At the Atik cache, three miles below
Durant lake, there are some fair-sized Banksian pine which will
make pood railway ties. From the cache up to Durant lake the land
i-: sandy and poor, with scrub forest.

Dnrant Lake.

Durant lake has a bay on the west a mile long, from which the
.\tik river flows. From the southern part of this bay a narrow
channel leads southeast into the main lake, which lies in a north-
east direction for four miles. This lake is d* . lUed into two parts
by a narrows, where the National Transcontinental Railway line

OEOI.OOY ALONG N.T.R. WESTERN QUEBEC

crosses. The lake is in mast places surrounded by low shores with
considerable areas of good Boil and large forest growth, especially
along the west side. I walked back northwest from the lake at the
north end, and ascended a hill 200 feet above the lake and 1,500 feet
iiliove sea-level. This hill is well wooded and has canoe-birch on it
a foot in diameter, and Banksian pine 15 inches. I noted ali-o wild
red cherry 7 inches in diameter and over 60 feet high. The variety
of the canoe-birch, cordifolia, grows here.

The route up to Schulfer lake is through a poor, hilly countrv.
From a hill to the north of the lake a good view of the surrou nixing
roimtry was had. Close to the hill, to the ea?t, there are low ridges
running east and west, with muskeg and swamp between. Farther
east, at a distance of over live miles, there are ranges of high liill
To the north there is a low burnt sandy plain, and to the wost is
Diiiant lake, with a rolling country beyond.

At the south end of Durant lake a stream of con^i 'cinble •size
enters. This stream flows north and is probably the coiiliimation
of the Atik river. The country drainetl by this river i* hiHy, iiud
in places there are large granite boulders. About two miles 8o\ith
of the lake a largo moraine crosses the stream and runs southeast,
and farther south there is a sand hill, or ridge, running in the same
direction. The country has been recently burnt, so that the surface
features can readily be seen. For five miles the g neral features are
the same, with high hills three miles south.

Durant Lake to Eekek River.

East of Durant lake there is no regular canoe route, but a num-
ber of small winding streams and lakes, with long portages between,
have been used by the engineers of the National Transcontinental
railway. This was followed, but time would not permit me to make
more than a track survey. The stream followed flows into Durant
lake on the east side near the north end. A portage of 8 chains
starts from the lake north of the mouth of the stream. This stream
is a mile and a half long, and flows from a narrow lake a mile long,
through a poor swampy country, recently burnt, with low hills a
short distance back. A portage of 10 chains over a Banksian pine
knoll leads to a larger lake a mile and a half long. From this a
portage of 70 chains leads south to Armstrong lake. This portage
is through a burnt Banksian pin country, with small areas

(iKOLOOICAt SURVEY, CANADA

of muskeg. Annstronij; luko is also narrow, ami uliout a mile loug,
with slopiiiR shor.'s and low hills. The portage from Armstroii«
lake runs south to Jack lake and is 93 chains long. It is
over hilU and muskeg, and is partly burnt. It has soma green
fiMcst, with fnir-8ize<l trees on the southern part. Jack lake is about
a mile long and not nmch more than a quarter of a mile wide, aiid
is surrounded by green hills fairly well wooded. All these small
narrow lakes lie nearly east and west, agreeing closely in direction
with the strike of the roek. A portage of ttO chains leads south-
eant to Steele lake, which is over a mile long and irregular in shape.
A two mile portage leads from Steele lake to the Kekek river, over
a Banksian pine plain. The Kekek river was followed to the cross-
injf of the railway line, and northward for several miles. This
stream where the portage reaches it is small, and for miles winds
through grassy banks and alders. On the south side there is a range
of hills at least 200 feet above the river. There is only one short port-
age until the railway line is reached. There are several fresh beaver
dams on this stream, and beaver cuttings are strewn all along the
river. Three miles below the railway line I walked back east from the
liver, and found the country a succession of hills and valleys trend-
ing east and west. Some of the hills rise 300 feet above the general
level. Small narrow lakes occupy many of the valleys, and the hills
aro well t-overed with large spruce, poplar, paper-birch, and Banksian
pine, some of the latter over a foot in diameter. 1 noted large
viM rod cherry and rowan trees up to 4 inches in diameter. On the
slopes of many of these hills there are tracts of good agricultural
soil. Going northward down the river the same conditions prevail.
Tli(! country is rolling, the granite hills alternating with muskeg
and sv.amp. Some of the hills are covered with spruce, poplar, and
canoe-birch, while on othevs there is little elee than Banksian pine.

Xekek Biver to Eapitachnan.

The canoe route from the Kekek river to the Kapitachuan waters
leaves the former where the river turns north. A portage of 2S
chains leads to a small pond, near which the National Trans-
continental Railway line crosses the portage. From the small pond a
portage of 9 chains leads to a long narrow lake, which after a
mile becomes a narrow winding stream for two miles, again expand-
ing into a series of lakes and ponds joined by short streams, until

• iEOr.OOV AI.OXO X.T.R. WESTERN QUEBEC

the height of land botwoeii thu Kekek und Kapitachuan waters is
reached. lioforo reaching the last lake, on the north slope, there is
a portage of 30 chains, and the height of land is 52 chains.
From the height of land less than two miles of small lakes, and a
brook hardly wide enough for a canoe to pass through, leads to the
Kapitachuan river. The soil is generally poor and the forest growth
small along tiiis route, from the Kekck ri^cr, but along the Kap''*'i-
chuan down to the lake there is good clay soil, and a thick forest of
small spruce with no Banksian pine. From Kapitachuan lake the
river was as'-^mled to Blacksand lake. It is very crooked, winding
through clay soil, wooded chiefly with small spruce. Blacksand lake
is over four miles long and about a mile wide, and has many islands
and deep bays. From Blacksand lake a portage leads east for
25 chains through a muskeg to a small lake, and from this
lake a portage of 50 chains leads to a small brook ranning into
Whiteshore lake. This stream is a chain wide, and in places expands
into long narrow lakes. It has one fall of ten feet, which is passed
by a short portage on the south bank. There are tmall areas of
good alluvium along the river, but the banks are generally sandy
and covered with Banksian pine. This river has also several fresh
beaver dams on it, and recent beaver cuttings are common.

Whiteshore Lake.

Whiteshore lake is so named because of the white sandy beaches
along its shores. It is surrounded by low hills well wooded with
small spruce, poplar, and birch.

The railway line passes close to the south end of the lake, and
runs eastward for the first half mile through an open Banksian pino
wood, and beyond this to the Susie river through wet spruce swamp
and small areas of muskeg. The Susie river flows into Whiteshore
lake and is a stream of considerable size. Where the trail crosses
there are two falls, atrKrcgntlu!? twenty feet, over a typical garneti-
ferous gneiss. The exploration was not carried farther east than
the Susie river.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ROCK EXPOSURES.
Fly River.

About one-half mile up the Fly river there is an exposure of a
fine-grained, dark hornblende schist, composed largely of small,
irregular prisms of green hornblende with irregular oval or lonso-like

991.1—3

OKOLOOICAL SURVEY, CANADA

areaa, streaks, and imiHrftct l>niuls of plagitaluse feldspar, und quartz.
It also contains specks of pyrite. At the tirst portage, about one
mile from Makamik lake, the rock is a hornblende schist striking
N ^'' W vertical. It contains small lenticular masses of a rusty,
reddish quaitz. Near the middle of the rapid the rock is more
disturbed, and there are several quartz veins parallel with the strike
and containing pyrite. The same kind of rock extends up the river
for 10 chains. Three-quarters of a mile farther up the river there
is a similar rock, but of a lighter colour, which probably contains some
mica. In ascending the river the next rock seen is a small exposure
of hornblende granite, medium grained, composed largely of feldspar
of which plagioclase is the chief variety. This exposure is covered
at ordinary high water. A half mile above this, green schist holding
considerable pyrite is seen, and a short distance east of this, where
the river bends to the northwest, there ia a massive, fine-grained,
reddish granite, composed largely of feldspar. It is traversed in
places by fine veins of red feldspar. Next above this there is a
hornblende schist, which is a fine-grained aggregate of green horn-
blende, plagioclase, and crthoclase feldspar, with considerable mag-
netite and a small amount of biotite. A short distance above the
second portage there is a small outcrop of hornblende-granite. At
the third portage mica schist occurs, and seems to strike north and
south, vertical. This schist contains numerous veins and pockets
of quartz, but no minerals of economic value were observed in any
of them. At the forks west of Owl mountain there is a dioritic rock
composed almost entirely of large green hornblende individuals,
with a small amount of interstitial feldspar. Two miles above this
on the south branch there is> an exposure of diabase, and this • i
succeeded by a fine greenish g-ey hornblende-schist, which e.vte.ds
a> fur as the river was followed, strike, N 26° K vertical.

The ridge along the top of Owl mountain is diabase, flanked by
n dark fine-grained hori blende schist. The same schistose rocks
form a low hill half a mile to the east. The strike is east and west,
vertical, and forms in places perpendicular walls of considerable
height. Through all these rocks large veins of white and pinkish
quartz extend for long distances. These veins are not continuous,
but in places are of considerable width, and are said by prospectors
to extend for nt least three miles to the east.

flEOUKJV Al.OXn X.T.K. WESTKltX Ql'EBEO

Along Railway Eastward from Fly Biver.

In goiiiK »n»t\viii<l iiloiiK tliL" northern exploration line from Fly
river the roc-ks ure much the buiuu as seen on Fly river. They congist
of ginnll, widely separated exposure* of chloritic and hornblende
shifts. There iirc two arcoH of a fine-grained granite and one of
diabase. The granite occurs in a considerable elevation on the line,
and north of this point there is a hill about a mile distant which
is also granite. (Iranite boulders are plentifully scattered over the
ground in this area. An amygdaloidal schist occurs at one place,
the cavities beinjf elongated and fille<l with calcite. Another cal-
careous expostnrt is cated to the depth of a quarter of an inch with
ochre. Other tnnds are full of cubes of pyrite. This is the geacral
character of the rocks as sei'n for a distance of eighteen miles, then
the line passes through low swampy ground and muskeg, and there
are no rock exposures until Spirit lake is reacuad, where there are
txiH)suri"s of calcareous and hornblende schists, with dikes of dia-
base. Between Spirit lake and the Harricanaw river no rock was
seen, either on the line or adjacent to it.

Kakameonan and Hakamik Laket.

The rocks, as far as examined on the Kakameonan river, are
green schists. A short distance above where the north branch enters
there is a spring whicn has deposited u considerable quantity of
brown ochre. Rocks of the Keewatin group outcrop along the south
shore of Makamik lake, and Mr. Johnston reports similar rock along
the west side also.

On the south exploration line the only rocks seen were horn-
blonde and chlorite schist, and small dikes of diabase. About half
a mile from I^iis river there is an exposure containing many quartz
veins, some of wliich hold copper pyrites, but in small quantities.
These rooks arc iniuli disturbed. They strike nearly east and west,
and are mostly vei-tical.

Height of Land Portage and Nawapitechin Biver.

In passing over the four mile portage from Lois lake to the
Ottawa waters glaciated rock exposures are seen at soverol points.
They are mucli altered, and vary from chlorite schist to light green,
fine-groined, ashy rocks, broken and cemented again by quartz

9913— 3i

.-so

OKOLOOICAL BUnVtV, CANADA

veins. Truces of iron ore are »oeii olontc the iwrtugo. At the we*t
omi of thi! thrco-qimrtor mile portuKe on the aoutliwoit l)runch of
the Nuwiipitcohin river, there are bunilj of a flanilo sericite ichiit,
fitrikiiiK N CO" \V vrrticul, uiul Krudiii^ into tiiis i» a oulfuroouii
groenisth rotk wonthorinjf to the ih'pth of half on inch, the weathered
port being n rusty lirown ochre. Small (luortz veiiin cut both the«o
rock«. Opposite thin, on the west side of the brook, there i» o vein
of (luurtz over n foot wide, containing large crystals of pyi'ite.

The northwest branch of the Nawapitechin showed nothing but
green schists much altered, and a porphyry which seems to be
sheared and decomposed, in which can still be distinguished plagio-
claso phcnocrysts lying in a quartzoso ground. In coming down
the \awui)itechin valley the same kind of nx-ks are seen in Hmall
exposures very widely separated.

The only rocks exposeil on the Kewogaiua river are at the two
rapids, ' At both of which there ore exposures of a rusty, somewhat
(iucissic biutite schist, striking uorthea>t.''

Seals Home Lake and Harricanaw Rivsr.

Uock exposures are of frequent occurrence along the shores of
Seals Home lake. In going down the west shore from the height
of land ivirt"., • *he first rock met with i. a fine-grained diabasic rock,
much alte-nd . •■■'■ containing cubes of pyrite. This is followed by
a chlorite schist, also holding pyrite, and north of this there are
small areas of acid granites and foliated mica gneiss. Near the
middle of the first narrows, at a projection on the west side, there
is a dioritio rock composed largely of hornblende and quartz. About
half a mile west of this point the rock is a diabase, and is followed,
going north, by green chloritio schists which are altered and decom-
posed. On the west side of the second expansion there is a very
acid niuscovite granite, which changes into a coarse pegmatite,
composed largely of vitreous quartz and feldspar, probably ortho-
clase. For a considerable distance north of this there are no rook
exposures, the shores being low and marshy. In the southern part
of the second expansion there is a small island of rusty weathering
granite cut by veins of whito quartz, some of which are three feet
wide, and others mere thread-like streaks, ilolybdenite in small
quantity was found in one of these veins. On the east shore, south

' Geologicu! Survey of Oanacla, Summary Report, 1901, p. 137 A.

',•".113 11. :«;

(iEOMKiV ALOMO N.T.II.— WKHTKHN QirilEf

of the inlaiii], • biotit« dchint wvun. dippiiiR X 11 K <50\ Along
the Beoond nurrows there it a knob of dolomitic rot'k iiiuoli broken
lip. ftrikitijf N 00" W, with a Miiall qiiurtz vfiii .rnHMHK the Mtrikc.
Ill the nouth part of the third expansion there i» u iilnto rock dip-
I'lnif N <7o°. It contain* pyritp, and In cut by Hnall quartz veini.
Xorth of this the ordinarj- green ichisti, gtriking ca«t and wcft,
are necn. These achists apiwar at the rapids, whicli occur at con-
nidorablo inter vuls down the river. In nio«t piacca they arc much
altercl nnd allow Kn'at variety in the different exposures. At the
fourth rapid, which i* between seven and a half and eitrht miles
north of the railway lino, the rork ooi.Hists of altored dinl.nse much
disturlifd. nn.l north of thii., but not ahowinic contact, a reddish
Brey granite. The former is cut by quartz veins, which hold copiicr
pyrites in amnll quantities. Below thi«. as far as the river was
followed, hornblende and chlorite achists are the common r,)ck, and
these are well stvn on the shores of Obalski lake, and ulao at the
rnpids two and n half miles farther down. On a projecting point
half n milo northeast of the entrance, Mr. I{. Ilurvie, of Montreal,
reports a 2 inch vein of copper pyrites, which rung across a maw of
^"Imerpred rock and is visible for twenty-five feet.

AikogwMh Sirer.

The Askogwash river shows very few ro*'k exiwsures. ns the buiika
arc low and marshy for a loriR distance back from the river. Those
seen on the west part were green schist. About two mile.s above
Wookey lake, going east, there are several outcrops of an altered
diabase, and above this altered porphyries and chloritic schists occur
at considerable diatances apart. Besides these one or two exposures
of typical diabase were seen.

Four miles east of the Ilarricnnaw river, on the railway line,
there is n chlorite schist holding pyrite, and cut by thread-like veins
of quartz, and at seven miles, on n hill some distance north of the
line, Mr. J. Obalski, Superintendent of Mines for Quebec, saw ser-
pentine cntnininp small threads of asl)estos not exeeodinp a quar-
ter of an inch, but he found no fibre of commercial value.*

Natagi^an Lake and River.

No rock exposures were seen on the first three portages into
Natagagan lake; on the fourth, or most northerly portage, there is an

• Mining Operations in the Province of Quebec, 1906. by J. Obalski.

OEOLOOICAL SUBVEY, CANADA

exposure of a dark green chlorite sehist, strikiug N 57° W vertical.
>Dhis schist is cruuipled in places, and contains specks of pyrite and
chalcopyrite. On Natagagan lajie, on the east side near the point
where the brook enters, there is an exposure of rock dipping N E
<30°. This rock contains much light coloured pyrite and weathers
a rusty brown. There are no rock exposures on the west shore for over
one mile below the marshy point. Here there is a diabasic rock con-
taining stringers of quartz, and showing foliation running east and
west. Along the northern part of the lake there are several outcrops
of chlorite schist, and also on the river for eighteen miles below the
lake. At the first rapid the schist contains small quantities of cal-
cite, and at the portage two miles farther down there is a sericite
schist striking N 72° W vertical. Small bands of a bluish quartz
run parallel with this schist. There are also one or two small out-
crops of granite on this river. On the railway line, over three miles
west of the river, there is a grey micaceous schist holding numerous
cubes of pyrite. A little over a mile west of this there is another
exposure at a camp ground, where the rock is a fissile, crumbling
schist, holding large masses of quartz, and in places much pyrite.
For nearly a mile west these fine schists are common. Considerable
<iuantitie8 of ealcite are also present. The dip is N 18° E <()0°.
At eight miles from the river there is an exposure of green schist
weathering a greyish-white and dipping X S° E <65''; and asso-
ciated with it there is a massive ashy rook.

Ascending the small stream flowing into Wookcy lake from the
east, the first rock exposure is about two miles up. It is a chlorite
schist but only of small extent. Farther up for half a mile there
are several small outcrops, somewhat granitic and diabasic in char-
acter. Aiiove the forks there are two small exposures of tlie ordi-
nary groon schists. Xo more rock is seen on this route until Wab-
anoni lake is reached.

Wabanoni lake.

At the point opposite the outlet of Wabanoni lake the rock is
an altere<l diabase, but parts of the thin sections look like a horn-
blende schist. Rock of a similar character is seen round the point,
and for a mile or more along the east shore. This rock in places is
quartzitic, where it contains large quantities of disseminated pyrite.
On the south shore there is a gneiss, probably a crushed granite.
The section is almost wholly composed of feldspar and quartz, with

OEOLOOY ALOXO N.T.R. WKSTERN QUKBKC

secondary minerals resulting from tlie <ieoomi>osition of the feldspar.
There is scarcely a trace of any original coloured constituents.
Quartz is very abundant and furnishes complete evidence of the
results of defonning stresses. The individuals often appear to have
been crushe<l to fine aggregates. The feldspars include both plagio-
clase and orthoi-lasu varieties. The structure is that of a djnami-
cally deformed granite, possibly of a pre-existing gneiss. This is
followed, going west, by an altered diabase, in one place grading
into a green schist. The diabasic rock occurs in several exposures
on the south shore, and for more than a mile north along the west
shore. The northern part of the west shore is low and swampy, and
the north shore is low, being either sandy or bouldery.

Obuka Lake.

On the west shore of Obaaka lake, three miles and a half north
of the mouth of Wabafnoni river, there are two small exposures of
chlorite schist. A slide from this rock shows it to be very finely
pranular, and the bulk of it seems to be a mat of green chlorite, in
places thickly peppered with tiny grains of epidote. In other parts
the chlorite is replaced by quartz or feldspar, with abundant epidote.

Two and a half miles cast of Obaska lake, on the south exploration
railway line there is a low ridge where the rock is a dark green
hornblende schist. Under the microscope, in thin section, it is seen
to be composed of numerous large irregular masses of green horn-
blende lying in a mat of fine-grained, fibrous hornblende, epidote,
and quartz. This rock is cut by .small veins of quartz, showing
pyrite along the contacts. On the same ridge there is an exposure
of an ashy rock, weathering white. On this railway line, about three
miles west of the Migiskan river, tiiero is a hornblende, pyroxene
rock, which looks like a narrow dike. In thin section it set .s to
represent a rock once composed essentially of green hornblende and
colourless augite, often in intricate intergrowths with one another.
Chlorite and other secondary products also are present. A short
distance oast of the above exposure the rock is a biotite gneiss,
composed largely of quartz and feldspar, including both plagioclase
and orthoclase. The slide suggests a once coarse granitic rock
irregularly granulated. The biotite is greenish brown and not very
abundant; with it oc<ur3 some epidote apparently formed prior
to the mica. The ridge in which this rock occurs runs northwest

GEOLOGICAL 8UEVET, CANADA

and southeast, but the strike could not be determined definitely.
Four chains south of this ridge, and parallel to it, there is another
low hill, composed of hornblende schist, which shows in outcrops
for a quarter of a mile back; then the land goes off level, and is
covered with clay, no more rock shewing, as far as examined.

On the location line to Christmas creek the only rock seen was a
banded biotite gneiss, essentially composed of a very abundant
microcline and orthoclase, much plagioclase and quartz, and some
biotite. The individual grains vary much in size down to very
siiinll forms. There is a distinct banded structure, marked not only
by the occurrence of the small shred-like flakes of biotite along
certain bands, but also by the variation in the size of grain of the
colourless cons'^ituents in alternating zones. Granite and gneiss
boulders are common in places.

On the railway line at the base of a hill, a mile and a half east
of the Migiskan river, the rock is a quartzose granite of light grey
colour, and farther up the hill there is another exposure of the same
character, but slightly yellow. Near the top there is pinkish biotite
gneiss, which in thin section is seen to be essentiaUy composed of
abundant plagioclase feldspar, microcline, and quartz. A few small
flakes of green biotite arc also present. The rock is of medium to
■fine grain, and presents many of the structures of an ordinary
trranite, somewhat modified by crushing, and possibly accompanied
by a certain amount of recrystallization. The Rneissic structure is
not prominent in the hand sijecimen, but in places in the field it is
distinct. Half-way to Sunday brook there is an exposure of de-
formed biotite-hornblende granite, which is medium to coarse-grained
and composed of very abundant quartz and microcline, and much
orthoclase and plajrioclnse feldspar. Considerable biotite, often
with associated epidote, is present, and many small irregular prisms
of hornblende occur. The structure is much like that of a normal
grnnite, but modified by pressure. East of this to Sunday brook the
rock, wherever exposed, is a fine even-grained biotite granite.

Migiskan River.

The only rock seen in place on the Migiskan river between the
western crossing of the railway line and the Migiskan cache is at
the rapid one mile above the railway line. The rock at this rapid

GEOLOGY ALONG X.T.B. WESTERN QUEBEC

J8 8 grey granite with an abundance of quartz, and resembles closely
tbe rock already described from the railway line east of the river.

The rocks on the hill on the west side of the Assup river, about
two miles south of the Migiskan, are hornblende schists. One
specimen under the microscope seems to be closely allied to the dia-
baLcs. It is larfTcly a matted aggregate of fibrous horablende, with
shreds of biotite and chlorite, and comparatively large grains of
epidote. Another specimen from this hill is a hornblende gneiss
or schist (amphibolite). The section is a fine-grained aggregate of
green hornblende and feldspar, largely plagioclase. The r 3

evidently metamorphic, and is possibly derived from a tuff, or some
basic igneous rock, volcanic or plutonic.

On the east side of the Assup river and about one mile south
of the Migiskan, there are exposures of chlorite schist and chlorite-
hornblende schist, dipping S 60° W <75°. Some of these outcrops
contain veins of calcite intimately mixed with the schists, and hold-
ii;g small grains of pyrite. There are also masses of quartz of con-
siderable size.

On the Migiskan, two miles below the m 'th of the Atik follow-
ing the river, there is a small exposure of a fiuc-grained hornblende
schist. The section shows the rock to be composed largely of horn-
blende and plagioclase feldspar, with the hornblende in excess. This
is the most easterly exposure of the Keewatin rocks. The next out-
crop is nearly two miles above the Atik, at a strong rapid. The rock
here is a biotite gneiss, composed chiefly of quartz, plagioclase, and
orthoclase feldspar, abumlant biotite, much epidote, with associated
allanite, and a few small garnets. Mixed with this biotite gneiss
there are bands of a coarser, lighter coloured rock, composed largely
o{ white and pink feldspar, with a little quartz and biotite. There
is another exposure of a similar gneiss at the second bend below the
mouth of Trout brook.

On the portage into Millie lake, one mile from the south end,
there is a reddish weathering biotite gneiss containing small crystals
of magnetite. The rock is cut by pegmatite dikes, in which there
are small irreg\ilar masses of magnetite. The thin section shows
n rather fine-grained mosaic of quartz feldspars, biotite, and epidote,
the last two in small quantity.

OEOLOOICAL 8UEVEY, CANADA

Millie Lake.
The hills surrounding Millie lake were found to be, as far as
examined, composed of granitic rock with gneissic structure. The
strike varies considerably, but is generally N 40° W to N 65° W.
There are many pegmatite dikes, of which the most abundant con-
stituent is feldspar. On the east side of the lake, near the outlet,
the rock is a biotite gneiss. It is rather decomposed, and secondary
chlorite, calcite, epidote, sericitic mica, and kaolin are abundant.
Below the mouth of Smoky creek the rock is a hornblende gneiss or
schist. It is a line and even-grained aggregate of green hornblende
and feldspar, largely plagioclase. IJear the north end of the lake the
rock is a slightly foliated granite. It is composed of quartz, ortho-
clase, microcline, and acid plagioclase feldspar. Three miles from
the outlet, on the northwest shore, the rock is a biotite-hornblende
piR'iss of medium grain, and contains, besides quartz, feldspar, and
biotite, small grains of sphene and epidote. Close to the outlet on
the same shore there is a well foliated biotite gneiss, which is almost
wholly composed of quartz and feldspar, with a small amount of
green biotite in roughly parallel flakes. Besides the above speci-
mens, which were examined under the microscope, there are ex-
posures in almost every hill surrounding this lake, presenting practi-
cally the same characters as those described.

Atik Eiver.

In ascending the Atik river the first rock in place was found
in a hill on the north side, two miles and a half below the Hill cache.
This rock is a hornblende, biotite gneiss, and dips N 30° W <
30°. The examination of the section leaves the impression that the
rock represents a crushed, pa/tially reconstructed hornblende
granite. The chief constituents are acid plagioclase, orthoclase, and
quartz, together with hornl)londe and greenish biotite. The indi-
viduals are, in the main, so arranged as to give a very pronounced
foliation.

On the railway line three miles west of Caiion creek there is an
acid granite composed largely of quartz and feldspar. The biotite is
greenish, and the flakes are charged with regularly orientated minute
needles, possibly of rutile. On a hill north of the line, and one
mile west of the creek, there is an outcrop of biotite gneiss of the
ordinary type, and a fine-grained gneiss occurs near the creek south
of the line.

GEOLOGY ALONG N.T.B. WESTEHN QJJEBF.C

On the Atik river the nest rock is at the east end of the Uill
Cache portage, where a well foliated acid b'itite gneiss occurs, strik-
ing N 51" E. The section consists of very abundant quartz and feld-
spar (plagioclaw?, orthoclase, and microclinc), with not very much
greenish biotite, in comparatively large flakes, with some associated
muscovite. This is one of those uncertain types suggesting a recon-
structed rock, which either once was coarse-grained, perhaps a
granite, and had been arrested in itf< progress toward complete
granulation, or else was a fine-grained type, stayed in the pro-
cess of recrystallization into a coarser one.

One mile above the portage on the south side there is an exposure
of fine-grained gneissoid granite, made up largely of quartz and feld-
spar. The same rock outcrops in several places, up to where the
tie line runs north to Maher lake. In going north along this line
biotite granite or gneiss is the common rock. The first exposure is
in a low hill near the Atik. The rock is a biotite granite, and is a
medium, rather even-g:rained aggregate of quartz and fel(lsi)ar, with
considerable green biotite and associated epidote. Over a mile and
a half along the line there is an exposure, 10 chains wide, of typical
diabase, slightly decomposed. Constant exposures of biotite, granite,
and gneiss, striking nearly east and west, occur up to Maher lake.
I went west alonjr 'he northern railway line for some distance, and
found gneissoii' -> and gneiss in several places. At the outlet

of Lena lake thi o n exposure of gneiss, striking N 53° W,

and dipping N 37° E ^cO°. An exomination of the country south
of the Atik and opposite the tie line, showed only granite and gneiss.
At four and a half miles south there is a biotite gneiss, which is a
medium-grained rock largely made up of acid plagioelase, feldspar,
quartz, and biotite. With the abundant greenish biotite occurs much
epidote. A few flakes of muscovite are also present. Near this
there is a foliated gneiss of regular bands of hornblende, quartz,
and a little feldspar.

■ Ascending the Atik river, there are many exposures of gneiss up
to the outlet of Atik lake. Some of the rock is foliated, and strikes
east and west, vertical, but some exposures are more massive.
Quartz and feldspar are abundant in these rocks, with small quan-
tities of biotite and hornblende.

In Atik and Couillard lakes the only rock seen was gneiss. On
the west shore of the middle expansion of Atik lake there is a much

fHi

44 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, CANADA

contorte<l hornl.lende biotite gneiss, which is of medium to fine
t'rain, and is composed of plagioclase feldspar, with much biotite.
and some green hornblende and quartz, with a few grains of epidote.
In going up the river from the outlet of Atik lake the next rock
observed was on the railway line south of the Atik cache. This is
a gurnet iferous-biotitc-homblende gneiss, striking N 80" W verti-
cally. The section is largely composed of quartz and plagioclase feld-
spar, with considerable biotite and a less amount of hornblende.
This rock shows in a most marked way the effects of pressure.
Along the rapids above the cache, garnetiferoua gneiss is common,
and at the fall and portage a mile farther up the same rock occurs.
At this point the gneiss is full of small, well formed garnet crystals,
much weathered and decomposed on the surface. The gneiss is
distributed and broken up by a dike-like mass of diabase, and is
also cut at a sharp angle by a pegmatite dike, which in places has
the appearance of augen structure. The thin section shows the dia-
base to be a typical one, though the augite is somewhat decomposed,
and the individual grains often changed to hornblende. Olivine
does not appear ever to have been present, and iron ore is notably
small in amount. Just below Durant lake, on the south bank of
the river, there are a number of exposures of biotite hornblende
gueiss, striking east and west. The thin section shows a finely,
granular rock, composed mostly of quartz and feldspars, amongst
which plagioclase predominates, with much green hornblende and

brown biotite.

Durant Lake.

Several exposures of gneiss were seen on Durant lake, especially on
the east shore. The strike is nearly east and west, and they dip at a
high angle, or are vertical. At the narrows the rock is a biotite
gneiss, which is composed of plagioclase and orthoclase feldspars,
abundant quartz, and considerable greenish-brown biotite. The
pock varies much in size of grain and its structure is decidedly

granitic.

On the small ponds and streams, up to Schulfer lake, the
common rock is garnetiferous gneiss, dipping S <80°. On the top
of the hill north of Schulfer lake the rock is a gametiferous horn-
blende schist, of which garnet is a prominent constituent, occurring
either as isolated grains or occupying large areas enclosing numer-
ous grains of hornblende or quartz.

GEOLOGY ALONG N.T.R. WESTERN QUEBEC

The hills along the stream flowing into Durant lake from the
south abound in rook exposures. About two miles south of the lake
there is a garnetiferous-biotite gneiss, which is a good example of
a dynamically formed rock. South of this the ordinary biotite
gneiss occurs, and iit a distance of live miles the rook is a museo-
vite gneiss in which the quartz is in distinct bands.

Durant Lake to Kekek Biver.

Only a limited number of rock exposures are seeu along the
route between Durant lake and the Kekek river. A well foliated
uud acid gneiss is exposed at the east end of the portage out of
Durant lake. On the portage north of Armstrong lake, 35
chains from the north end, there is a good exposure of garnetiforius
gneiss. The strike is east and west and the dip S <50''. A
2 inch band of quartz and plagioclase feldspar, packed with small
garnet crystals, runs through the whole exposure. Exposures of
gneissic rock were seen in the hills surrounding Armstrong lake,
and on the portage south to Jack lake. At the south end of the
portage at Jack lake the rock is a much altered gneiss contaiuiu;?
Inrgc quantities of pyrite. Outcrops of gneiss occur on tU.! portage
between Jack lake and Steele lake, and on Steele lake there is a
much weathered garnetiferous, biotite gneiss, largely c..«niposcd of
quartz, plagioclase, feldspar, and very abundant reddisli '»rcwn
biotite. The mica flakes are often comparatively large, and so
arranged as to give a marked foliated structure to the rock. On
the portage from Steele lake to the Kekek river a fine, unevenly
granular biotite gneiss occurs, which is composed chiefly of quart's
and plagioclase feldspar, with much orthoelase, and considerable
green biotite. On the Kekek river the only rock seen was gneiss
and granite. The general strike is east and west, and the layers are
mostly vertical. In nearly every case they contain garnets in fairly
well formed crystals.

Kekek Eiver to Whiteshore Lake.

Along the route between .he Kekek and Kapitachuan rivers a few
exposures of gneiss and gueissoid, quartzose granite were noted.
On Blacksand lake, near the outlet, there is a gneissic rock, and on
the east side of the middle expansion there are several exposures
of the same rock striking N 70° E, dip S 20° E <85°. The rock

UKOLOOICAL BUBVET, CANADA

here is a Id-tite, hornblemlo gnei»». Under the microscope the rock
is seen to be tiiie-Kraiiied, and to poHsew an eminently granular
structure. Feldspars, amongst which plagioclase excels, are very abun-
dant, exceeding the quartz in bulk. Small flakes of green biotite
are common, and with them often occur small rough prisms of green
hornblende. A number of small irregular grains of garnet occur
here and there. On the first small lake east of Blacksand there it
nil acid granite, which is coarse-grained and composed largely of
quartz and acid plagioclase feldspar. Scarcely any colouret" con-
stituent is present in the rock. The quartz grains show prominent
strain shadows and other phenomena, the result of pressure. At
the fall on the stream into Whiteshore lake there is a rather rotten
biotite gneiss, distinctly foliated, mixed with fresher bands showing
less foliation. The dip is S 20° E <60°. On the south shore of
Whiteshore lake there is a hornblende gneiss, dipping S 15° E <80°.
Along the east shore ordinary gneissic rock is exposed near the
i>outh end of the lake, striking N 63° E, and farther north there is
a beautiful gametiferous biotite gneiss, which is a medium to fine-
grained aggregate of quartz and plagioclase feldspar, with onsider-
able brown biotite and a number of irregular grains of garnet.

ECONOMIC GEOLOGY.

A large part of the eastern half of the area examined is under-
lain by Keewatin rocks which contain numerous quartz veins, but so
far as examined, no minerals of economic promise were found,
though careful prospecting may reveal such minerals.

Chalcopyiite.

On the location line of the National Transcontinental railway, a
half mile east of the Lois river, crossing the rock, is an altered dia-
base, which contains veins of quartz from half an inch to a foot wide.
Some of these veins contain chalcopyrite, which has coloured the
rock green, but as far as could be seen on the surface the quantity
of copper ore is small.

On the Harricanaw river, about eight miles north of the railway
cro«infr, at a rapid, there are small quantities of chalcopyrite, in
the quartz veins which traverse the rock, and farther north on the

OEOtOOr ALOXO N.T.R. WESTERN Ql'EBEC 4*

laine rivor, at the «4)uth eiul of ObaUki lake, there 18 a 2 incli vein
ot the »nine niateriHl, which h exposed in a submerged rock for 25
feet.

Molybdenite.

An examination wag made of the area in Kewagonia lake where
molybdfiiite was found by ilr. J. F. E. Johnston in lltOl.' The
prnnitc in which the molybdenite occurs occupies most of the penin-
sula which divides the lake into two parts. It outcrops at intervals
for over three miles on the east si<le. Mr. Johnston also fi)und it n
mile and a half north of the narrows on the west side; and it forms
hills almost up to the north end of the peninsula. It, therefore, has
an area of approximately seven square miles. It is a biotite granite,
composed of orthoclase, microcline, plagioclase, feldspar, and quartz,
with a relatively small amount of biotite, and associated musco-
vite. The rock is in part at least deformed, the quartz is usually
fractured and in places granuloted, and to a lesser degree this is
true of the feldspars.

The molybdenite is best seen at a narrow point which projects
about 15 chains, near the middle of the east shore. Here the
granite is cut by vitreous and reddish-rusty quartz veins. Irom holf
an inch to 4 feet in thickness. Many of these veins run north-
west and southeast and are cut by others running in different
directions. Somo of them have cleor-cut walls and are very dis-
tinct. They all contain molybdenite, usually in thin crystals, the
largest seen being an inch in diameter. Bismuthenite in small
quantity was found associated with the molybdenite. Along thtf
shore, to the south, the granite is seen in occasional outcrops for a
mile and a half, and contains quartz veins with small molybdenite
crystals. Some of the hills back from the lake were examined, and
the same conditions were found to prevail as at the shore, except
that there were fewer veins and less molybdenite, but the latter could
be found in all the veins.

In the middle expansion of Seals Home lake there is a small
island compose<l of prey (jranite, which is traversed by quartz veins,
some of large size. In one a few crystals of molybdenite were found,
but the amount, as far as seen on the surface, was too small to be of
commercial value.

' Geological Survey of Canada, Summary Report, IWl, p. 138.

OKOI.CXIU AI. HUBVEY, CASADA

Mr. J. ObaUki. ^ niorinUndcnt of Miiiw for Quebec, report*'
thut ho visiteU the KewaKaraa river in September. 1007, and found
that the Height of Lan-l Mining Company had prcpected the coun-
try between the two rapida on that river. He aoys: 'The Company
has taken out a mining lict-nce on the woat aide, and, a little above
the lower rapid, has aunk a ahaft, which wa. thirty-tive feet deep
at the time of my viait. The shaft tirst cut through a vein of
,H.gn.atite six feet thick, and afterwards another at the bottom.

•These veins, wherein quarts predominates, have an east and
west .lirection, and seem to cross th. river. Molybdenite, in crystP.s
and in masses, is found in it. also bismuthenite. or oxide of bis-
muth, in fairly considerable quantities, and native bismuth. The.o
minerals seem to be regularly scattered throughout the masa A
little chalcf pyrite and native copper are found more accidentally,
and only in small quantities. Accompr >ying the pegmatite some
crystals of a yellowish mineral are also found, which seems to be

berjl. ,

' It is impossible to give a definite opinion regar.ling the value o/
this prospect, but the presence of these minerals in fairly abundant
quantities is an encouragement to continue the work.'

Oold and Biimnthenite.
A sample of quartz from Dhe point on Kewagama lake, collected
by Mr. Johnston, was assayed under Dr. Hoffmann's direction, and
gave 0-117 of an ounce of gold to the ton of 2,000 lbs. Other
adjacent quartz veins carrietl bismuthenite.

Iron.

Slight indications of iron were noted at a few point- at no-
where in sufficient quantity to be of economic value. R. . resem-
bling those associated with iron ore in other Koewat districts
were seen on the portages from the Nawapitechin river to Lois lake,
and on the railway line to the north, but whether they represent
the regular Lake Superior iron ore formation I could not determine.
As most of the area is not readily accessible, and few rock exposures
are visible, only careful and thorough prospecting can decide whether
this or other valuable mii.erals occur.

' Mining ' .irations in the Province of Qufbec. 1907. hy J. ObaUki.

OEOI.OOY At,OXO X.T.H. — WESTEBU QUEBEC

CUijr.

Four milea ea«t of the Natuvutfau river, on the railway liue,
where a hole waa dug to get water, a sample of clay was collected,
which ia probably of glacial origin, but reiembles cloaely the Ixnla
clay of the lower IcvcU. Mr. F. (>. Wait, chemist of the Miui-i
Branch, Department of Mints, reports ai follows on a sample sub-
mitte<i to him for examination: 'The sample of day, from a point
on the National Transcontinental railway four milas east of the
Natagagan river, has been exorained and found to be:—

(a) Rather strongly plastic.

(b) Slightly ferruginous.

(i) Somewhat strongly magnesian.

It contains little or no siliceous gritty matter— sand. Wien
moulded into form and burned it yields a very strong, but readily
fusible product. It would be suitable for the manufacture of bricks,
tiles, and coarse pottery.'

Farther east, about seven miles from Bell river, at another open-
ing in a moss covered swamp, the clay thrown up is a typical bouldar
clay. Fifty boulder* were counted on the heap, varying from 2
inches to 1 foot in diameter. They were partly rounded and well
striated. Eight were granite and gneiss, and the rest green schists
or diabase. This clay is of a bluish-drab colour, and extends over
a large area.

A*b«fltM.

Seven milea east of the Harricanaw river, ou a hill a short dis-
tance north of the railway line, there is a serpentine rock contain-
ing small threads of asbestos, not exceeding a quarter of an inch
jn length.

TIMBER.

Spruce trees large enough to make sawlogs grow close to the
rivers and lakes, and wherever the laud is sufficiently elevated to
afford good drainage. Such areas are found all over the western
part of the sheet, but especially on Fly river, Makamik lake, Lois
river, Nawapitechin river, Harricanaw river, Peter Brown creek,
Natagagan river. Bell river, and Migiskan river; and to a less extent
on the Atik river, and other rivers and lakes to the east. The

9913—4

:.o

I Mii.UdlCAI. Ul ttVEV, CANADA

M>rui-c ill »ouuf I'l" < i'u<hf* a tliauii'ttr .if M iii.-ht?!., but thin «li.e
i. rurt'. th»' Bv«'r(*Kt' l"'>i'H » *""' '" •"' ">"•'"■». »»"' ♦'''■''• "^ ''•'* *''■'■
uri' not itliut».lii)it. I'l I i>r aud cuuot-liin-h up to a foot iu diiimetur
Kri.w ill the Mime K ■ .ilitiei.

Hy far tU most l.ui ■!. nt, and i>robal>lv the most valuable tre««,
are the bUck *pruco, w! . i ifrow tall and cloio touethor, and art

frum 4 lu 1<» inobi ■"

llllixt lif the SI MCl "

tin lit»t trfi's a. '
iiiK l>ajf«' this tr ■ »

Bankninn pine r-'
inirt of the sheet, 'n
I'ient oiase to mnl

ifter. Ivfv* «i thi-i ^ize are plentiful in
IIP whiih abound ov> r the whole area, liut
. -I ..f IVll rivLT. As explain" 1 in a preeed-
uil- cxi'clleiit pulpwodd.

Ml. dantly on the sandy areas in the eastern
,1 . vUk'cs n f w if the^>^ trees reach a suffi-
' », liut ni.-t of tlii'Hi are too small.

r, .'.t i

iON.

The whole ooi. try h. i heavily glaeiated by ice moving

from the north ove. he he . I'ind. Almost ev.-ry rock exposurt;

in the Keewatiu woa i» jifliMud md grooved and well rounded on
the north side, wliile the south *i"!" i« abrupt and broken. This is
well seen on the i«ilands and shores of lakes, especially so in Seals
Home lake. Eastward, as far as Ik-U river, well marked stria are
common, exposures sometimes showing two courses crossing each

other.

On tin l.aureutiaii area the stria' are not well preserved, as the
rwk weathers na.Uly. There is, however, other evidence of glacial
action, such as the kaine-like ridg^-s of sand and gravel an 1 the
kettle holes which arc iK.asionally seen in the sandy plains; also
the generally smoothed surfa-'.- of rock exposures which, though not
showing strise, bear evidence of erosion.

The following stria' were noted: On the height of lam! betwe<?ii
the Xawapitcchin river and Jjikc Lois the course is S 10° K and
S :*"' K true meridian; mi the south side of Makamik lake, S
10° K; Obnlski lake, >u ilie llarricitnaw river. S l!t° K; Seals
Homo lake. S I!*" K; Wnl.anoi.i lake. S 3s' W., Obaska lake, S
1S° W. The boulders observed were chiefly granite, gneiss, and
green schists, such ns are found in i>laces all over the area.

In many places the shores of the lakes are lined with boulders
piled on top of each other to a height of several feet, and forming a
solid wall for a long distance. These boulders are usually smooth

»ir.01.oOV .\U»>« N.r.lt. — WKSTKHS m KIIKf 51

nud well rounded, but »i'l.lom .h..w ^tri«. Thfir pn-sent po«iti.m U
tnidcntly due to rutwit ic- m-ti<>n. Similar plMMioiiiBim liuv.- Ik-.u
notfd oil the princi|»Bl UkcH in northern Ontario.

An interestinK tVatun- in th^ pU'istoci'ne Bfology wu» iA>»vt\M
in connexion with tho oiwn mu»k«'if-, pi.rticulurly »* to their ni.j.le
of formation. In some cases they seem to bo llio rvmuin* of slmllow
kkes. Originally the water ooiupied the whole »pa«f i»ow covertfd
by the nnitkeir, l»ut luuth plants and nio^s U-gan to entroach on the
water. Uginniiitr iit the outer rini and working towniil the <iiitrf.
The margin kept <in «lowly wideninpr a* eaeh dry season euus.-<l ih.-
water to nK-ede. until in time only the d.«eiie5t parts remaii..><l o|*-ii
water, and finally the whole lake was filled. In many of thei»e mu-
kegs Mnall pontU of elear water may still be seen, which have t.. U-
opproaehe.1 with eare a« the moss it easily pr... mted. In some
ponds I examined I could not reach the botU-T. n.th any poles 1
could secure. On the second lake on the route into Natagagan lake
this process of filling up is well seen, as it is now actually in i>r..-
giess. The small lake at the south ettd has a rim of quaking vege-
table matter several chuiii" wide, which occupies more than half the
original siw of the lake. H.-side9 the mo-.«, Kalmia glauoa. Ledum
MifoUum. and Cantandra calyculala grow abundantly on the rim.
At the iKMnt where the cane's arc put into the water it is necessary
to lay poles an.l brush on the trail, as there are only a few feet of
vegetable material floating on the wafer. When this mass was iH?ne-
trated there seemetl no further obstruction to sinking a pole as far
as it woul.i reach. The outline and general shape of many mus-
kegs at once sugKest the form of ii lake, the margins having bay-
like indentations and points corre-ponding to those seen on lakes.
It is probable, however, that lakes tilled up in this way arc such us
have little or no outlet.

RAILWAY LEVELS.

The following levels on the line of the National Trauseontnen-
tal railway were obtaine.l from Mr. K. Weatherbee, as^istaut engi-
neer of District C. and are above mean sea-lev! 1 at Queb. ;—

Fett. Bm.

Lak« Abitibi. Muh water level *^"

Whitefish river, w iter level »|"

liois river -.,

Kakauieonan river, watt-r level "'■• ""

52 GEOLOGICAL BCBVET, CAHADA

Tmt. Bb.

RobcrtMii l»k», w»tor l«v*l l.***

Suniinit. 2J inileii west of crouing of branch of ih*

NawapitocWn river •" ^'JJ*

Branch of th» Nawapitmshin ri»»r, water l«v»l.. .. »78 sas

Ifoleaworth lake, water lerel ».0M

Spirit lake, watar Ut«1 I.*"

Harricanaw riTar, watar Iwel Wl •**

Peter Brown oreek, water lerel l.***

Summit.S miles east of Peter Brown creek 1.1**

XataRagan river, water level 1,<00 986

Sitiiiniit, 2 milr* west of Codec river l,flM

Coflee river, water level l.W

Bell river, water level ••* **

Miiriskan river, west croseinR, water level 1,071 1,0M

Sunday brook, water level 1.0»a

Crooked creek, water level 1.1**

MiRiskan river, east croeaioR, vster level 1,158

("auon creek, water level 1.1*9

Atik river, at outlet from Atik lake, water level.. 1,277

Durant lake, water level I.**'

Steele lake, water level l.*5»

Kekek river, water level 1.8M

Hamilton lake, water level l.**7

Suaie river l."*

INPEX

Pase.

..„,,. 9,16,17,19,22.31.83

ARricultQral land 31

Armstrong lake jY, 49

Asbestos 21,23

Askoxwash river _ 20

" character of ^

" rocks of g

" survey of a-

t\ssui> river, character of ^^

" rocks of g

" survey of ^^

Atik lake, character of " '■ ^■

" rocks of g

survey of 28

Atik river, character of ■' ^„

" rocks of g

•* survey of

Btar brook 16,17,33

Beaver dams ' __ _ 7

Bell, Dr. B., survey by ' " " " | 24

Bell Kiver mountain ..7, 8

Bell river, surveys of ' " ''_ _'_ _ g

BiRUell. John, survey by ..".."..'"..47,48

Bismuthenite 33

Blacksand lake " " "' 45

" rocks of.. "_ 21

Blueberries 7

Block, E. W., Kurvey by

Canon creek ^ 2i, 28, 27, 28

Cedar creek .."..'..'.. ..44. 48

Chalcopyrit* ]........ 84

Chrietmaa creek " '" " 49

w»y •• • V. *.. .. .. 7

Cochrane, A. C, survey by •

Copper (see Pyrite and Chalcopynte). ^

Couil'ard lake, character of ^

" rocks of g

survey of ."..".."..M, 26

Crooked creek

-S

64 GKOI.CMiKAr. SIRVKY, CAXADA

Paoc.

Diirant lake, character of IW

rocks of ' M

" survev of 8

economic s«o1ok.v 46

Fish 28

Fires, forest destroyed by 18, 22. 25, iM, 27, 28. 29, 30. 31

Flora of the district 9,51

Fly river, character of 15

" rock exposures on 33

" survey nf 8

I'i>re>t, clmrncU'r of.. ..9, 11, 13, IG, 17, 23. 24. 25, 26, 28. 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 49

Ot-ology of tlie district 12

Ulaciation 33,50

Gold 48

Harricanaw river, character of 19

" survey of 8

Harvey, C. L.. survey by 8

llfiKht of I.and Mininx Co 48

" where crossed by N.T.Ky 8

Hill Cache portaxe 39

Historical 7

Hiiflmann, assay by 48

(ion ore 36, 48

•I

Jack lake 33

" rocks nf 45

Johnston. J. F. K., xold and bismuthenite found by 48

" molybdenite found by 47

" survey by 8

Kakameonan river 15

" rocks of 35

Kapitachuan river 33

Keewatin rocks 12, 35, 41, 48

Kekek river, character of 32

" rocks of 45

" survey of 8

KewaRama lake 18

" river, rocks of 36

Ktnojevis river, survey of 8

'i'

INDEX ^^

^ Vkbe.

13, 50

Lnnrentian ,j

Irf-vfls nlonn National Transcontinental Rv

I.ittle Turn Back lake <s»p Newauama). ^^

Lois lake, character of ^

"""•'■>■"' ; ;.' ;; '/. w

I,oi* river ^

" hiirvev of

Makaniik lake, character of

" survey of

Mark lake '^.

Mixiskan river, character of -^

■-"^•"v •;.•.•.■;. V. v.r.l

" survey of '

Mill, 1). M., survey of Bell river by, referred to •-»

Millie lake, cliaracter of • -

" rocks near _' "

Molyliilenite '"

Muskesjs, formation of

Nataxavan lake -

rock- of "-

survev of

Nataxaxaii river

,, r K'ks of "*

V 8

survey of

Nuliouiil Trnnsc.intiiiental railway K, 1", 22, 27

•' " levels on ■'•'

•• " rock exiMisures 33. *0

NawaiMtichin river, character of '■• '

rocks of ^

" survey of

, . 1«

Newaxania lake

Obalski, .T., report on visit to Kewaxania river ♦«

•' serpentine seen by ^'

Obalski lake • ^

0))aska lake ^

" rocks oi

Oxassasan river

o'Siillivan, Henry, survey by ^

■ •ttawa river, survey of headwaters of ^

Owl mountain

" rocks near

OEOLOOICAL 8UR7EV, CANADA

Pfter firnwn cr<>«>k..
I^ioetreos. northern limiVoV.

Piilpwood

Prrite, prpsenc« of ..

Pasc.

;; •• 10. 28,50

■". 34. 33, 3fi, 37, 3X, 39

Robertson lake.

•'<^« Is Home lake, character of

^ molrbdsnite at.. ..
rocks of _"

u ^ ' surve.v of.. ..
nfrpentine

Shabo);ania lake .'

Smoky creek.. ,.

•Spirit lake "

Steele lake .'.

rocks of.. ..

Sunday brook

Survev.. of district by'N.T.R. engineer;"
»'>s,e river, characte. of.. .. ^"*'"**"
elevation at ."

Timber

To|)o(fraphy _

Trout brook

of sample of clay by..

Wabanoni lake

rocks of . .
... . " survey of..

"ait. F. G., e.\amination
"eatherbee. K., levels by.

"Iiitefish river

Whiteshore lake

rocks of.. .

"ikwasika lake

\Vilson. W. .J., surveys bi..
Vvookey lake

V)unK, G. A.. miero,copic de^crintm,,- c
Yi>kon river (see Assup). "'"'"*"'" ^ °f 'ocks

.. I»

• ■ 47

.. 30

• 87, 49
■ • 24

•27, 28

• . 3.5
.. 32

• • 43
.. 23
.. 8
.. 33

'. 23
38
8
4»
SI
16
33
46
16
8
20

Pasi.
•• .. 19
.. .. 10
■0, 23, 50

37. 3H, 3»

• •■ 19

• .. 47
■ .. 36
. .. 8
.•»7. 49
, .. 24
••27. 28

.. 35
.. 32
.. 45
.. 25
.. 8
.. 3S
9

't 2.1
38
8
4»
51
16
33
46
16
8
20

L*"

AREAL CCOLOGY. EXPLORATORr

III

LEGEND

Otrft

1.^11 mi ti«n

SvinbolH

0«^fat)r ^Wy tory

Strfll*

<llnl»u4 4(r

■ •ui,w\^ -' •' '- ^f- - T' - -^ -^1. H i I I , ' il

I-^\ PAI' SK

fY^ .^P H E I •■> SAC i > j

hpoAttxttd 0f jihtrs

OIOIOOICAI •UNVCV

Hon W Tcm^liman MtNisrcn : A P Low. Dcputy MiMisTtn.

RWBkOCII DlNICTM

I9IO

7*^

77m

4, ,^

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IT \»

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Wa. k^i V Jiat^^ >i<.4»H»

ik/«>.M^Jb..M

Svinbiii<i

«■■ ■!■«.■ .1 W.U.J.,

ritartat »lri.-

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Smto 04 4if

1. DIIFRES>

t wi^.-^ ^^ ;:

H O IT Y N

XfjSi I-- /^, f •»-:

S if

IL ji^X

•:, ■/

I) ll^FAY f.'^ ;MONTBEIL1.AKJjC^

B E lj L E (' U M B £

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M <> N T AJ* I tt R ^

SITKIMK Air

■\

w..

Kf) in-l N IK HK

ffivA llo/n /.u>.

-i >._ ,

7H-M

7H I

•»»*■ IIH'.tilr'. ■;■ /<u*

MAI» I2A
^l«»iiiily of Ili<>

XATIOXAi. TR.V>SCO>-riXKNT.VL R.VILWAY

ABITIBI DISTRICT

S«i,l,.

•*' *«nit »Hr«^

• M- f S TO I INCH

sill K« Ks (IK l^•^nH^

'i K#il /»*7 is«t >*fi

ini».. nllll^lr- « .
IIIIS.Ur>^n •*.. It,-. I
t H>t— 41 / /

\HI«tm, /Ml
l.PRui '•-.
Vali>a4l Ir... .,....,.. :-

■*ro

« ■ W.i.fc ,

SOCRfES or IKFOaUAnON

■INLm

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Sterr^'-

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ill2

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