88

sec. 28, tp. 56, range 2, W. 5th mer.); Legal (sees. 28 and 32, tp. 57, range 25,
W. 4th mer.) ; Westlock (S.E. 3 sec. 5, tp. 60, range 26, W. 4th mer.) ; and else-
where. At none of these localities has bituminous sand been found in commercial
quantity, although it is only fair to say that as yet no systematic prospecting has
been seriously undertaken. The deposits are, however, so situated that no great
outlay would be required to finally determine their commerical value.”! Bitu-
minous sands are also reported to occur on Wabiskaw river at Prairie river.
Fragments of bituminous sand are found at the Upper narrows on Buffalo lake,
Saskatchewan. On the east side only small fragments were found; they are low
grade and evidently much altered by water action. On the west side bituminous
sand occurs as large masses of float, the largest weighing possibly 5 to 8 tons.
The beds from which these were derived were not found.”

S. C. Ells, of the Mines Branch, Department of Mines, Ottawa, has carried
on investigations of the bituminous sands of the Athabaska River section with
a view to ascertaining their adaptability to commercial ends? The following
information has been abstracted from his preliminary report.

“Although the area represented by actual outcrops has not been accurately
determined, it is probably not less than 750 Square miles. Extensions of the
deposit under heavy cover, particularly to the south, will greatly increase this
estimated area.

“At various points wide variations occur in the quality of the material, the
thickness and character of the deposits, and, in. those topographical and geo-
graphical conditions which must, to a large extent, control possible future develop-
ment.”

Measurements were made of a great number of outcrops, but in many
instances, earth slides, the growth of timber along the upper part of an exposure,
and the presence of talus at the foot of the slope partly obscured the outcrop, so
that only approximations were made of the thickness of the formation and of
the covering. It was possible, however, to eliminate many outcrops from further
consideration on account of the depth of the overburden, the low bitumen con-
tent of the deposit, variability in the bitumen content, variability in the mineral
aggregate, or difficulties in transportation. The estimated thickness of the
bituminous beds and the overburden, and the conclusions arrived at are based
wholly on surface indications, Extensive stripping and other systematic explora-
tion would doubtless modify to a certain extent the figures and conclusions.

Detailed Description

Between Boiler rapid and Cascade rapid “bituminous sands are probably
more or less continuous along both sides of the river, though the actual outcrop
is frequently obscured. Such exposures as do occur are usually much banded,
and much of the bituminous sand itself is of low grade.” There js also a great
thickness of overburden.

Between Cascade rapid and McMurray examination was made of a number
of sections exposed at bends in the river. It is probable that beds of workable
size and of commercial quality occur in all these sections, but the overburden

1Ells, S. C., “Preliminary report on the bituminous sands of northern Alberta,” p. 3,
footnote.

2 Ells, S. C., Mines Branch, Dept. of Mines, Can., Sum. Rept., 1914, p. 64,
3 Ells, S. C., “Preliminary report on the bituminous sands of northern Alberta.”