IRON ORE.
Hematite.—Excellent specular and kidney ore is known to exist a short distance east of Nest lake, but the locality was not visited owing to the more urgent requirements of other portions of the district. Specimens of the ore obtained, however, proved to be of excellent character, with little admixture of silica or other foreign matter. The ore body is thought to be of vertical tabular form, occupying a fissure-like space. Its limits are not known, consequently nothing can be yet stated regarding the commercial possibility of the deposit.
Specular ore was seen on mining claim T.R. 2009, near the north-east end of Firth lake, occupying a fissure in the Keewatin. The ore is of good quality, but the outcrop is of insignificant size, the fissure being only about 2 feet wide, and no ore occurring in either the chlorite schist or reddish granite which lie on either side.
Specular ore also occurs in the basal conglomerate of the Huronian series, filling the interstices between the pebbles where an original cement was deficient. At the south end of Kenisheong lake the conglomerate appears at the water’s edge, and the hematite may be observed while paddling near shore. The same thing occurs at the narrows on Duncan lake, just south of the central expansion. In neither case is the ore in commercially valuable quantity.
Magnetite.—Keewatin iron formation exists about one-half mile to the north-east of Gowganda lake. A brief visit was paid to some claims belonging to Mr. Cryderman where the formation is well exposed. The Keewatin, which is partially overlain by Huronian and traversed by diabase, consists of dark grey or black, banded chert or quartzite associated with chlorite schist. The dark bands, usually only a few inches in width, are full of disseminated magnetite grains. No concentrations were noticed and the richest bands would probably yield less than 30 per cent metallic iron, consequently the present showings cannot be considered valuable.