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Red Pipestone (or Cathinite) similar to that from the Cotean de Prairie is found on the banks of Otter Lake near the source of the Mauvaise river. This stone is soft [when] and easily cut when first taken from the quarries, but soon becomes hard and receives a fine polish when exposed to the air. It is much used by the Indians in making tobacco pipes and various ornaments.

Clay is very common but none has been discovered suitable for porcelain or the finer wares. It is much used in the manufacturing of brick and the coarser kinds of pottery. It is often so filled with pebbles of limestone as to render it unfit for brick as these expand when brought into contact with water after being burned, and burst the brick into fragments. The bricks have a light yellowish grey color and buildings made from them have a fine color without the addition of paint.