Rock ID

People often ask for help identifying rocks in Facebook groups, but a lower-tech version seems to have worked pretty well.

The October 18, 1930, edition of the Halifax Mail contained a letter that someone with the initials “L. A. B.” sent to the newspaper with a rock. The letter asked, “Would you kindly tell me if the enclosed sample is of any value?” And if of value to whom and where would I apply for information?”

The Halifax Mail turned to J. P. Messervey, the Nova Scotia Department of Mines’ deputy inspector, for help and printed his response alongside the original letter: “I find that upon examination it consists of particles of mica, quartz and felspar. These are constituent minerals of granite and the sample if therefore a disintegrated granite and of no commercial value.”

It was presumably not the answer L. A. B. wanted but that’s how it goes with mineral exploration. Economically-viable mineral deposits are rare. Only one in every 10,000 mineral exploration projects ends up being a mine.

That's why it is important to develop mineral deposits when we can, both for the essential materials they provide and the jobs and economic benefits they create.

Nova Scotia’s mining and quarrying industry employs over 3000 Nova Scotians, mostly in rural areas, and its average total compensation (wages and benefits) is $102,000 per year.