| Abstract | Occurrences of minerals, rocks, and fossils are described from about two hundred easily accessible localities on either side of the Ottawa River from Ottawa - Hull to North Bay. They are reached by
following Highway 17 in Ontario and Highway 8 in Quebec. Most of the collecting localities are in Renfrew County. Ontario. A wide variety of minerals are found in this area, and some localities are known for the museum-type specimens collected from
them. The earliest mines were the apatite and iron mines that were operated in the 1880s. Other deposits that were subsequently worked include corundum, molybdenite, zinc, celestite, garnet, pyrite, beryl, marble, limestone, feldspar, rare element
minerals, and dolomite. The only mine currently in operation is that of Dominion Magnesium Limited at Haley Station. In the Nipissing District there are numerous former feldspar mines as well as deposits of kyanite, garnet, muscovite, niobium, and
brucite. Some of these deposits are accessible only by boat. The region north of the Ottawa River was formerly mined for mica, apatite, uranium, lead-zinc, feldspar, molybdenite, and limestone. The Hilton iron mine is the only current producer. In
addition, there are occurrences of brucite, pyroaurite, szajbelyite, cordierite, and asbestos. Minerals and/or rocks that could possibly be used for lapidary purposes include: feldspar (peristerite, sun-stone), rose quartz, graphic granite, and
corundum from Renfrew County; feldspar (peristerite, amazonite), jaspilite, and graphic granite from the North Bay area; peristerite and cordie rite from the Quebec side of the Ottawa River. Ordovician fossils may be collected from numerous road-cuts
and quarries in the Ottawa Pembroke and Aylmer areas. |