The study of the distribution of native metals and ores in the metamorphic rocks of North America indicates that in general the older rocks, as the Archean, for example, are less rich than the younger terranes, such as the schist, etc., of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Mountains. This seems to indicate that the older rocks were once deeply buried and their more soluble substances removed by ascending waters, and in part redeposited in higher terranes. Erosion has since carried off the rocks which were mineral-charged and laid bare the depleted terranes beneath. This hypothetical explanation of the general poverty of the Archean rocks is coupled with another consideration, namely, that the younger metamorphic terranes, where they have been elevated, as in the Pacific mountains, are more broken than the Archean rocks, and afford more cavities in which minerals may be deposited. Whether this is a complete explanation or not remains to be demonstrated, but observation shows that the Archean terranes--all of which as yet discovered are composed of either metamorphosed or igneous rocks--are, in comparison with younger metamorphosed rocks, relatively poor in minerals and ores of commercial importance. Among the economic products of the rocks are included mineral waters. The direct commercial value of such waters, not including their use for baths, etc., in the United States, is about $7,000,000 annually. The demand for these waters depends largely on the mineral substances they hold in solution, and which in many instances is in process of transference from one locality to another. Much might be written in this connection in illustration of the fact that the processes by which minerals, ores, etc., have been concentrated are still in progress. LITERATURE An extensive literature is available concerning the geology, minerals, ores, etc., of North America, but only a few of the more important publications can here be referred to. The numerous publications of the United States Geological Survey, the Geological Survey of Canada, and the Geological Survey of Mexico contain vast amounts of valuable information. Several of the States of the United States have independent surveys and have published numerous reports. Of journals containing articles of American geology, the more important are: _The Journal of Geology_, published at the University of Chicago; _The American Geologist_, published at Minneapolis, Minn.; _The American Journal of Science_, published at New Haven, Conn. The publications of a large number of learned societies in Canada and the United States should also be consulted. The most useful bibliographies of North American geology are: DARTON, N. H. _Catalogue and Index of Contributions to North American Geology, 1732-1891._ Published as Bulletin No. 127 of the United States Geological Survey, Washington, D. C., 1896.