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CANADIAN INSTITUTE.

EDITING COMMITTEE:

GENERAL EDITOR,

E. J. CHAPMAN.

I. Geology and Mineralogy: E. J. CHAPMAN, Prof. of Geology and Mineralogy, Univ. Coll. Toronto.

II. Physiology and Natural History: REV. WM. HINCKS, F.L.S., Prof. of Natural History, Univ. Coll., Toronto."

III. Ethnology and Archeology: DANIEL WILSON, LL. D., Prof. of History and English Literature, Univ. Coll., Toronto.

IV. Meteorology: G. T. KINGSTON, M.A., Director of the Magnetic Observatory, Toronto.

V. Chemistry: HENRY CROFT, D. C. L., Prof. of Chemistry, and Experimental Philosophy, Univ. Coll., Toronto.

VI. Mathematics and Natural Philosophy: J. B. CHERRIMAN, M. A., Prof. of Natural Philosophy, Univ. Coll., Toronto.

VII. Engineering and Architecture: SANDFORD FLEMING, C. E.

The Canadian Journal is printed exclusively for gratuitous distribution among the Members of the Canadian Institute, and such Institutions and Societies as the Council may determine; but Members may purchase extra copies at 2s. 6d. per number, and Provincial Literary and Scientific Societies may obtain the Journal at the same rate, by an annual payment in advance.

Communications for the Journal to be addressed to the General Editor, PROFESSOR CHAPMAN, University College, Toronto.

THE CANADIAN JOURNAL.

NEW SERIES.

No. XXV.-JANUARY, 1860.

A POPULAR EXPOSITION OF THE MINERALS AND GEOLOGY OF CANADA.*

BY E. J. CHAPMAN,

PROFESSOR OF MINERALOGY AND GEOLOGY IN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, TORONTO.

Read, in abstract, before the Canadian Institute, December 5th, 1859.

INTRODUCTORY NOTICE.

In attempting to convey to the general reader a practical or really useful knowledge of the Minerals and Geology of Canada, it is advisable to consider the subject under the following heads:

1. How minerals are distinguished from one another.
2. The minerals and metallic ores met with in Canada.
3. How rocks are classified and distinguished.

4. Organic Remains: their use and teachings.

5. Subdivisions and distribution of Canadian rocks.

The term "Geology" comprises, strictly, a knowledge of the physical history of the Earth, as revealed to us by the study of the rock

The object of the series of papers to be published under this title, is twofold: First, to enable our surveyors, farmers, and others, to determine the Canadian minerals that may come under their observation; and, secondly, to serve as an introduction to the valuable reports and other publications issued by our Geological Survey.

VOL. V.

B

masses which lie around and beneath us; and by a comparison of the results of ancient phenomena, with the forces and agencies still at work in modifying the surface of the globe. As geology is thus essentially based on the study of rocks and their contents, and as rocks are made up of a certain number of simple minerals, it is necessary, or at least advisable, to obtain a knowledge of these latter (so as to be able to recognize them when met with), before proceeding to the discussion of the rocks into which they enter. With these minerals, also, it is convenient to consider a few others of economic application and common occurrence, including the more important metallic ores. In this consideration, the characters or properties by which minerals are distinguished from one another will first be explained, introductory to a Tabular Distribution of Canadian minerals. The latter will be so arranged as to enable the reader to make out the name of any one of the included species, with great facility.

I. How MINERALS ARE DISTINGUISHED FROM ONE ANOTHER. Minerals are distinguished from one another by certain characters or properties which they possess: such as form, degree of hardness, fusibility, &c. Hence, it is to these characters that our attention

must be first directed.

Mineral characters are of two kinds : physical or external characters, and chemical characters. The former are exhibited by the mineral under ordinary conditions; the latter, only when the mineral is exposed to the action of heat or mineral acids, by which, in general, a certain degree of chemical decomposition is effected. Hence the term "chemical" as applied to these latter characters.

The physical properties of minerals are somewhat numerous; but many, although of the highest interest in indicating the existence of natural laws, and in their relations to physical science generally, are not readily available as a means of mineral discrimination. These, consequently, will be omitted from consideration in the following pages; and the other characters will be discussed only in so far as they admit of direct application to the end in view-namely, the practical discrimination of minerals one from another.*

In the explanation of these various characters, it is occasionally necessary to refer, as examples, to a few substances of foreign occurrence. The reader will therefore understand. that the present Part of this Essay makes no special mention of the minerals of Canada, but is simply an Introduction to Part II, in which these minerals will be found arranged together.

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