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Un des symboies suivants apparaitra siJr la dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbole —^ signifie "A SUI\ RE", le symbols V signifie "FIN". Map>, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre filmds A des taux de reduction diff6rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul cliche, il est film6 d partir de Tangle sup6riaur gauche, de gauche h droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 wmf^mmmmimiiiffmmm^mmfm^ ■^aw^— ^P"-!^^ pwr" !^i^HmP^'«P!WSR^^H9H!!irapP BROWN ON THE GEOLOGY OF CAPE BRETON. M December 13. 1843. The Rev. Thomas Image, M.A., was elected a Fellow of this Society. The following communications were read : — I. On the Geology of Cape Breton. By Richard Brown, Esq.* In a letter to Mr. Lyell, dated Sydney Mines, Cape Breton, Oct. 20. 1843, the aulhor stated — " I have made a survey of some forty miles of coast on the eastern side of our coal-field ; and have since devoted a few days to the examination of the shoreri of the Island of Boularderie, which is four miles wide, and twenty- six miles long, and exhibits natural sections on both sides from end to end. Nothing can be more defi- nite than the position of the masses of gypsum in this island. I have examined them this summer in four different places, scores of miles apart, and find the following, with little variation, to be a section of the accompanying strata : Section I. (Ideal). General sequence of the Coai. Measures and Gvrsi.'ERous Formations near JSvDNEy, Cape Breton. S.W. :R>v N.E. j- g. Coal measures. f. Coarse sandstone with coal plants —Shale. e. Limestone in thin beds — Fossils. d. Gypsum. / e c. Soft red shale. ft. Coarse concretionary limestone and shales. a. Coarse conglomerate, highly inclined. "Wherever I have had an opportunity of making observations, they have confirmed your views as to the relative age of the gypsum." Subjoined is the Memoir received from Mr. Brown. The following is a sketch of the north-western end of the Sydney coal-field. Oh the W. side of Sydney Harbour, the coal- measures can be traced transversely, without interruption, for 5200 yards, dipping to the N. E. at an angle of 7°, which gives a thick- ness of 1900 feet. The coal measures, generally speaking, are very free from faults. * This paper and the next (Mr. Dawson's on Nova Scotia) are both illus- trated by tile map of Nova Scotia appended ; but the map was originally prepared by Dr. A. Gesner to illustrate the paper of which a notice has already appeared in the " I'roccedings," vol. iv. p. 18(j. One portion of the map is repeated, and coloured according to Mr, Brown's survey. f These references arc continued throughout the paper in the other Sections. c 4 mmmmmmm 24 ruocEEinNGs or the oeolouical socikty. The coal-measures are underlaid by a series of sandstone beds, with some beds of shale. The thickness of the sandstone, in some places, exceeds 2000 feet ; but to the west of the Little Entrance it is much thinner ; and, finally, when it approaches the granite ridge that lies between the Great Entrance and St. Anne's Harbour, it has thinned out. The sandstones, witli their superincumbent coal-measures, are very uniform in their dip to the north-east. Next to the sandstone is the limestone ; and this accompanies the sandstone very uniformly, along the whole course of its out- crop, from the southern branch of Sydney Harbour to the Granite ridge Avest of the Great Entrance. On both branches of Sydnej' Harbour, and at George's River, the limestone dips distinctly be- neath tlie sandstone. Tlie shoi'e, from George's River to Long Is] and, gives the following Section, Section II. Long Island to the Coal Measukes East of Geoiige's River. I Long Ibliuiil. Uuuiiit Inland. Micaceous Beds. e f 8 Fir,-<t we have the limestone {e) ; then a Ioav, flat space of half a mile, where the stratification cannot be observed ; tlien beds of a red and l)rown micaceous slaty rock, dipping at high angles in various directions between south and Avest. The base of Round Island is of the same kind of rock ; but the Isle is capped Avitli a limestone Avliich, to judge from its fossils, is quite ditfercnt from the limestone * aboA^e described beneath the sandstone. Long Island, on its eastern side, is 200 feet high, and very precipitous ; but, in a Avesterly direction, it slopes gradually to the Avater. It is com})Osed principally of Porphyritic rocks. On the opposite side of the channel, the shore exhibits the alloAving section : — Section III. .,-l-07S- t-^*^'''*^'^!^^''?!^^ .'"*^^^^^\.^^iiS?^^^ -./N-^.^,.'^ ^ .--^ c c d e f e f ef d f First, the sandstone ( /') Avhich underlies the coal-measures, and can be traced to Avithin a fcAv hundred yards of Roe's Point. At Hoe's Point the limestone (containing here Proditctus Lt/elfi) slioAvs itself, having an easterly dip. This limestone, both in its local position, dip, and genei'al ajjpearance, corresponds Avith the limestone on the other side of the clumnel, at George's River ; Tills limes) one contains Tcrehratula thngntu, and a Modiola. beds, UROWN ON THE GEOLOGY OF CAPE BltETON. 26 and these circumstances lead i . the supposition that in both in- stances it dips under the sandstone. Between Roe's Point and Campbell's Cove, on the western shore of the Island of Boulai'derie, the strata are very much broken and disturbed by faults. It would be difficult to describe tliese disturbances by words ; but the Section will give the most distinct idea of them. Gypsum appears along this line in two places, which are shown in the Section. First, to tlie N. W. of lioe's Point, we have solitary pinnacles of gypsum appearing on tlie beach. Next, three beds of limestone, with two of' sandstone interposed, these beds all dipping in an opposite direction to those at Roe's Point. The mic'dle bed of limestone contains Productns sphiosus. The tliird and upper of these limestones is cut off' by a vertical fault, which is succeeded by a flat arch of limestone, i osting upon sandstone. This again is cut otf by a vertical fault, Avhicli is succeeded by a horizontal bed of limestone. This is followed by a level space ; and beyond that we have a series of beds dipping in the same direction with those of Roc's Point. 1. A thin bed of limestone. U. A bed of sandstone. 3. A thick bed of coarse limestone. 4. Gyjisum, IS feet thick. 5. Rich marl, 6 feet. 6. Green sandstone, with veins of gyp- sum, 2 feet. 7. Red marl, with grains of gypsum, 1 2 feet. This is followed by a level space, when no beds are seen, and beyond that we have limestone, dipping in the same direction with the gypsiferous mai'ls. Section IV. Cajitbell's Cove, near Lime 1'oint. N.N.w. s.s.i': .y-~: / fes, and Proceeding from Campbell's Cove along the shore of the Island of Bouliirderie in a south-Avesterly direction, we have similar lime- stones, lying in a horizontal position, lor tlie space of two miles, until we arrive at Lime I'oiiit, where a small cove exhibits tliree beds of limestone with two interposed beds of sandstone di[)ping to the S. S. E., and apparently underlying the sandstone with coal- {dants ; but separated from it by a space Avliieh affords no section. The lowest of the tlirce beds of limestone contains Spirifer glabcr (Lyell); the middle l)ed contains shells. Tlu; writer mentions in his letter to IVIr. Lyell that, " on the eastern side of tlie Sydney coal-field, he has found beloAv the coal- seams, in every instance, beds of fin!-ehiy, containing the long fibrous leaves ol' Stifimarin, matted together. " In the black bituminous Shale, wliich lies about twenty yards 26 PROCEEDINGS OV THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. above the Main Coal at Sydney, ho has found the scales of dif- ferent kinds of fishes, as hard and bright as enamel ; one tooth, and a number of Coprolitcs ; also the Cypris in great abundance, and a Modiola." 2. On the Lower Carboniferous Rocks, or Gypsiferous Form- ation of Nova Scotia. By John William Dawson, Esq., of Pictou, Nova Scotia.* The coal formation of the eastern part of Nova Scotia consists of a great thickness of sandstones, shales, and conglomerates, of va- rious reddish and grey colours, the former being most prevalent. The lower part of the series is distinguislied by the presence of limestones with marine shells and gypsum. T , central portion is charactei'ised by a greater prevalence of grey and dark colours, and by containing an abundance of vegetable fossils and beds of bituminous coal. The upper portion of these productive coal measures appears to pass into a thick dej)osit of reddish sandstones and shales, containing few fossils, eitlier animal or vegetable. To examine the structure and relations of the lower, or gypsiferous part of this series, is the object of the pi'esent paper : it will, how- ever, be proper in the first place to notice the general disposition of tlie I'ocks of the Carbonifei'ous system, in the region more par- ticularly observed, whicli extends along the. shores of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, from Tatmagouclie to Antigonish Harbour. The coast section between these points cuts at acute angles across two great coal troughs, tlie one beginning at Pictou, and thence stretching to the west along the northern shore of the Basin of Mines ; the other beginning at Antigonish, and thence extending westward to the Stewiacke and Shubenaeadie Rivers. The»e two troughs are separated by a hilly range composed of igneous rocks and of distui'bed lower-carboniferous and Silurian strata. This range beginning at Cape St. George extends west- ward to the East River of Pictou ; and beyond this it is continued along the outcrops of the oldest carboniferous rocks in the di- rection of Truro. The southern boundary of the Antigonish trough is formed by the region of Palaeozoic, metamorphic, and Plutonic rocks which occupy the southern side of the province. A chain of hills, similar in structure to the range of Cape St. George, but of greater eleva- tion, separates the Pictou trough from a region belonging to the coal strata which extends beyond Tatmagouclie in a northerly di- rection. The chain in question commences at tiie New Annan Hills, and extends westward tl-.rough the Cobequid Mountains! to the Bay of • See the map of Nova Scotia. * t lir. (jesnur, many years since, described the Cobequid chain as forming a ridge separating the coal-formation of the north side of the Hasin of Mines from that of Cumberland county. Mr. Logan first noticed the existence of a trough of carboniferous strata between Antigonisli and Windsor. DAWSON ON Tllli GEOLOGY OK NOVA SCOTIA. 27 Section I. Tatmagouchk to Truro, 24 miles. N. TttmaKouclie, Ntiw Annan Hilli. Piclou Trough. Truro. 8. c a b ft d. Horizontal red sandstone. c. Red and grey sandstones and shale, with concretionary limestone, con- taining c<)])per ore, liynite, Endogenites, and footmarku of birds j dip near the hills, 30° ; at Tatmagouclie only 10°. b. Sandstone and coal — coal-plants, a. Limestone, dark slate, 'shale, and (frits, with shells and encrinitcs — In- truding bands of granite, syenite, amygdaloid, &c. Fundy. To the eastward it does not reach the coast of Nor- thumberland Strait, though its underground continuation in that direction is indicated by an Anticlinal line which traverses the newer members of the coal formation that lap round the eastern extremity of the Annan Hills. Tliese trough-shaped arrangements of the strata are subject to many irregularities. The hilly region of Mount Thorn is placed nearly transverse to the Pictou trough. In consecjuence of the separating ridges and anticlinal lines Imving been elevated, either during the carboniferous period, or at a still later epoch, the car- boniferous strata are traversed by numerous faults and minor lines of disturbance, the prevailing direction of which is from east to west. In spite of these disturbances, however, the strata in the troughs have a general synclinal arrangement which can be traced in the hilly regions, such as that of Mount Thorn. This will be seen by examining the accompanying map. East liivcr. Section TT. The gypsiferons formation ap- Valley of tlio eastern branch of East pears in several plac<?S on the south River. rictou TrouKh. side of the Pictou coal trough. In these ^<' noticing its appearance at points, I may begin by stating some facts respecting the section on the East River of Pictou in addition to those already described by Mr. J.yell. Tlu; members of the gyp- siferous formation seen in that sec- tion consist of hard, brownish-red shales and sandstones (c),with beds of marine limestone and masses of g3rp,sum(A). These latter are seen in the valley of tlie river between the sandstones and the Silurian strata (a) ; but there are no good ^^^ i^'^''^ — ,,^r^cm3 c. Hard sandstone. I). Gypsiferoiis formation, with beds of limestone and gypsum alternating, and drifts overlying. a. Silurian slate. 28 riJOCEi;mN(JS Ol" THK CiEOLOUICVL socikty. sections to be found in the nci^liliourliood. Witli the view of ascer- taiiiiiifj their true relations, I exiunined two nypsiun roeks, within three miles of that seen by Mr. Lyell. The Hr.st of these eonsisted of white granular jrypsun), eontaimiig, like most similar beds in this ])rovinee, minute disseminated grains of eai'])onate of lime, and having, in one part, large rounded masses of aniiydrous gypsum, enclosed in the common species, an appearance which I have not elsewhere observed. No other rock was seen in connection with this bed, Avhich appeared to be upwards of 100 feef thick, and to have a strike corresponding with that of the nearest visible sandstones and limestones. Tlie other bed examined was on Lime Brook, a tributary of the East River. Plere there is no good section, but the gypsum may be seen in connection with soft sandstones mostly Avhite, and liaving lime- stones both below and above, separated, however, by intervals ■without section, which have ])robably once been occupied by soft sandstones removed by denudation. The limest(me, underlying tlie gypsum at Lime IJrook, is without fossils, and rests uncon- formably on the edges of slates with Silurian fossils, angular fragments of the slate being included in its lower portion. The limestone above the gypsum is of a ligliter colour, and more pure than any other limestone on the East River, and is also distin- guished by containing a species of coral, not found in the other beds. These limestones are seen at several other points, appa- rently resting on the older slates ; and in some places a])pear to be penetrated by fissures containing haematite and other ores of iron, peroxide of manganese, and sul))Iiate of barytes. * The limestones and gypsums tlius resting on the Silurian strata at the East River are separated from the productive coal measures by hard reddisli sandstones and shales, apparently of great thickness, and containing (especially in tlieir lower part) beds of marine limestone. Where they approach the coal measures, however, the sandstones are very much disturbed, and for this reason I was anxious to obtain some additional evidence of the actual super- position of the coal measures. I therefore examined the section shown by the Middle River, and found there a series of beds dii)ping in the same direction with those at the Albi(m mines, tliough at a higlier angle, and beginning at about 5000 fi et '"low the main coal at the Albion mines. Tlie ujipermost of these rucks is a thick lied of hard grey sandstone ; underlying this are alter- nations of grey and reddish sandstones and sliales, containing in one ]>la('e a bed of bituminous shale, with Cahuuites above, and cylindrical leaves or roots, perhaps of Sfit/unirta, below. Beneath these are several lumdred feet of red and vai-iegated sandstone, witii shale and conglomerate. ITei'e there is a break in the section, * The balls of luLMiiatltc scattered over tlic country, near tlie n;y])suins of the East River, have been derived Iroiii tiiese fissures in the {fypsiferous rocks ; and their ahiindaiiee is an additional evidence of the denudation which tlie^e rocks have Millered. •|: I DAWSON ON TIIK (JEOLOOY OK NOVA SCOTIA. 29 \v of asccr- ;ks, within i c'on.Histcd u' boils in e of liine, anhydrous ncc which s seen in pwards of th that of otlier bed ist River. 36 seen in k'ing lime- ■ intervals led by soft anderlying 3t3 uncon- 3, angular ion. The more pure [so distin- the other nts, appa- ipear to be es of iron, rian strata I measures thickness, of marine however, ison I was Lial super- he section 'S of beds on mines, feet li'loAV hese rucks are alter- taiuing in ibove, and Beneath sandstone, lie section, sums of the •rous rocks ; wliich tlie.e and these roeks are succeeded, farther up tin; river, by disturbed sandstones and limestones, winch I was unable to examine, but whicli I believe to correspond witii those of the East River. From these observations, in connection with thosi; formerly mad*; by Mr. Logan and Mr. Lyell, it is apparent that the lowest members of the Carboniferous series scjenon the East River consist of limestones, gypsum, and soft sandstones, above which are hard reddish sandstones and shales, witli limestone ; and lastly, red and gr(!y sandstone, shells, and conglomerate, with carboniferous plants, and probably these beds pass into the productive coal measures. On the south sid(! of the West River of Pictou, limestones, having the same fossils with those found on tiie P^ust River, are seen in several jdaces, and are associated with reddish sandstones, hard grey shales, and white and purple sandstones. Farther westward, near the Salmon River, tliere are sandstones, limestones, and gypsum, identical in fossils and mineral character witli those of tlie pjast Riv(>r, and like them connected with ]>roductive coal measures, which they appear to underlie. Still farther westward, the gyp- siferous fornuitions of Onslow and the De Bert River probably form a continuation of the Pictou lower carboniferous deposits, being, like them, succeeded to the northward by the middle and newer members of the coal formation. • Meriffonish. Section III, MERiaoNisii to Malignant Cove, i'O miles. M'Cara's IJrook. Arisai^. E. e e d c b a e. Coloured sandstones and shales, with occasional bands of ironstone and concretionary limestone in the upper part — Calainites and other coal plants. Coal ?. d. Limestone and conglomerate — fossil shtUs. c. Amygdaloid and conglomerate overlying sandstones and containing ;)/uh/s. h. Dark shales with thin beds of limestone, a little conglomerate, and reddish grits — marine shells, Encrinites, Trilohites, Sfc. a. Altered red sandstone and conglomerate with dark shales, beds of amyg- daloid, and intriidiiig masses of greenstone. Eastward of the East River, the band of carboniferous rocks in( |\i(U'd between tlic shores of the gulf and the hills to the south- ward, shows a series of beds, amounting to 10,000 or 12,000 feet in thickness, and dijiping to the north-west at an angle of 20 degrees. Tlie upper part of this section, beginning at the entrance of Meri- * Tlic salt sprii:<Ts of the West River rise from lower carboniferous rocks, those of Salmon Iliver fn)m the productive coal measures. In both instances they rise from verticiil strata on lines of fault. F ! ' 1 ii ( i ( 80 I'llOCEEDlNCiS OK TUB OKOLOOICAL SOCIKTT. {jonish litirboMi', hIiows proy and brownish-rod Handstonos and sliali's, hiirt'-coloured sandstones, impure iron-stone, and coarse oon- cretionary limestone, these beds eontaininfj Caiamites, conilerftus wood, and one or two small l)e<ls of coal. This part of the section is, however, very imperfect, thonph, wherever the, rocks can be seen, there is a perfect conformity of dip. Tlieir <reneral as[)ect and fossils correspond with those; of tlio middle part of the coal- formation, and they occupy about six miles of the coast section. Eastward of the rocks last (h'scribed, the section is bettor, and shows a groat thicknc^sa of brownish-red sandstones and shales, with some prey beds, in which I could not find any fossils, cxcej)t some ciirbonised fragments of plants. These strata occupy about three miles of the section, and are underlaid by reddish conglo- merates, containing two beds of (hirk grey limestone, having an aggregate thickness of about 80 feet. These limestones contain numerous fossils, among which are Productits Martini, Spirifer (glabra, and other shells, all common to these beds and the lime- stones of the East River. These conglomerates and limestones are succeeded by a few hundred feet of thinly strntilied, reddish and grey sandstones, with a few fragments of fossil plants in bad preservation. Beneath these, red conglomerates again appear, associated witli amygdaloidal trap. The latter is of a grey colour an'l earthy aspect, and has its ci-lls filled with white carbonate of lime. It constitutes two conformable Ix'ds, whose lower sides are more compact tiiaii tlu'ir upper. Their njiper surfaces are also partially broken \\\) and intermixed with conglomerate. At this point the carl)onifer<)Us rocks are cut oM' im the coast section ; some hard brownish grits, however, seen in a neig]d)ouring brook, eaUed M'Cara's brook, probably underlie the rocks last mentioned. The section between M'Cara's brook and Arisaig is occupied by dark shales and thin layers of limestone, with a few beds of reddish shale and conglomerate. These rocks dip S. W., but become much fractured as they ap})roach Arisaig. They contain niunerous fossils, including species of the; genera Tentaculites, Graptolitcs, Trilobites, Orthoveratites, 3lndiola, Producttts and Conularia, and remains of Encrinitcs. T'hough mostly Silurian, a few of these species appear to be the same with those of the slates of the East Kiver. Kocks having the appearance and fossils of the latter are, however, found a short distance inland, to the southward of the shales. There can be little doubt that, in the sandstones, limestones, and conglomerates of this section, we have the representatives of at least a part of the Gypsiferous foi-mation of the East River, and, resting conformably upon these, an equivalent of the coal- measures. Arlsaiy. At Arisaig, lo miles from INferigonish harbour, we enter on the disturbed district, separating the coal-trough of Pictou from that of Antigonisli, From Arisaig to Malignant Cove, the shore I 3 I i -I I I i I I DAWSON ON TIIK OEOI.OCiV 01- NOVA SCOTIA. 31 tones nnd oarso, C'on- conitVtrouft ht! section ^rt can hi'. ■ral a.H[)('ct ■ the eoal- ^I'ction. jt'tter, and nd Hhales, lils, except 'iipy about sh eonglo- havin<r an e.s contain I, Spirif'er I the lime- limerttones I'd, reddish mtrt in bad in appear, ;rcy colour i\rbonate of sr sides are e» are also ?. At this St section ; i"in<!; brook, mentioned. s occupied ew beds of S. W., but ley contain 'cntaculifes, liicfKS and ly Silurian, if the slates (1 fossils of iiul, to the limestones, ■ntatives of \;ist River, the coal- 'c entcn* on Mctou from ', the shore displays hard brownish-red (piartzose and Jaspery rocks, witli tliick lieds of hard };rey shales, v.-d conj^lumerates, and coars<' pur- plisii firits. Associated with tliese, are beds of amyjjdahiid, which are evidently interstratilied with the acconij)anying rocks, and are ]»rol»ably, like those of IM'Cara's brook, of contemporaneous ori<i;in. 'i'lie whole of these beds are vertical, and are, without doul)t, lower carboniferous rocks (fK'rhaj)S a little lower in the series than those last seen at M'Cara's brook), but in a much altered condition. Heyond Malij^nant Cove, syeiiitic <jrcenstone is seen on the shore, and, is said to appear in diflercnt places as far as Cape St. Georpfe. Eastward and soutlnvard of JMali;:nant Cove, the iiiils, in many |)laces, show masses of compact felspar and other ifrneous rocks, accompanied by altered and disturlx'd <frits. After passinj; this disturbed re^rion, we enter on the (Jypsiferous rocks of th(^ northern side of Anti;;onisii liarbour, liavi.i;,' a <re- neral dip to the southward. Of these rocks, 1 examined two in- teresting sections. Antigonish. Sfx'tion IV, llroiiT's IlivF.ii, Antioonish. (/. (Jypsiffious buds — gypsum, limustono, and sandstuiie. c. LiiiH'slone. /;. Hod ooiiglomcratt' and coarso red sandstone, dark sandstone and sliale. (I, Dark and grey sandstones ami sliales, reddlsli sandstone ; — ])hinls. The first of these sections is that represented above, and is seen extending about five miles. Near the mouth of tliis river, at the head of Antigonish luirboiir, is a thick bed of white gypsum, dipping to the soutii-west. Succeeding this, in de- scending ordei", after a small interval (which a|)pears to have been oc(!Upied by sandstones, ncnv iiearlj^ removi'd l»y denuda- tion), is a bed of dark-coloured limestone, in which, at different points where it appears, I found Produvtus Martini with other shells also occurring on the East River ; and Prvductus Lyelli, a shell not yet met with in the East River limestones, but very characteristic of the gypsiferous formation in other parts of the province. lielow this limestone there is another break, also show- ing traces of sandstones and a bed of gypsum, and then a thick bed of dark limestone, partly laminated and partly brecciated without fossils, and containing in its fissures thin jdates of copper ore. Beneath tiiis limestone is a great thickness of reddish conglomerate, composed of pebbles of igneous and metamorphic rocks, and vary- ing in texture from a very coarse conglomerate to a coarse-grained sandstone. In one place it contains a few beds of dark sandstones and shales. Tiiese are succeeded by red, grey, and dark sandstone and dark shales, in a disturbed condition, but probably underlying 82 rUOCEEDlNGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. the conji^lomerate ; they contain a few fossil plants. This section on Right's River includes a thickness of probably 8000 feet. Section V. Ocdkn's Lake to South Lake, near Anticonish (4 miles). y i d. Grey samlstono, and red conglomerate. c. Soft red sandstones and clays ; Iv^nite, cahwiiten, &c. a. Altered dark sandstones and shales; intruded greenstone. b. Grey and soft red sandstones and shales. e. Limestone. f. Gypsum. Another section, near the mouth of Antigonish harbour, displays a series sojnewhat similar. At tlu? north side of the outlet of Ogden's Luke, about eiglit miles from Antigonish, is a bed of gyp- sum, probably nearly 200 feet in thickness. Its iij)p('r part is composed of white granular gypsum, in thick laminae, and with disseminated particles of carbonate of lime. Beneath tliis is a con- siderable thickness of foliated red gyi)sum, in its lower part alter- nating with layers of a grey argi'hiccous non-crystalline limestone, on wiiich it rests, and which is penetrated by small veins of white fibrous gypsum in its ujiper portion, while below it becomes brec- ciated, and then laminated. It is probably 100 feet thick, and ap- pears to contain no fossils. These great beds of gypsum and lime- ston(.> dip to the S. S. E. at an angle of 25°, and rest unccmformably on soft red sandstones and shales, Avith some grey sandstones and reddish conglomerate, dipping nearly in the same direction, but at an angle of oO°. Following this underlying series in the descend- ing direction, it becomes more highly inclined, and is finally ver- tical, resting against a mass of altered and contorted dark shajes and sandstones, with veins of greenstone containing much epldote. This part of the section is connected with a ridge o." igneous rocks running in an east and west direction, and wliich a few miles fartJKn" inland attains a considerable elevation. It consists of a reddish syenite, (juartz, comi)act felsi)ar, and greenstone. After passing these disturl)ed rocks, there is a break in the section, which is next occupied l)y tliirk beds of brownish-red sandstcme and clay, supporting a thin bed of conglomerate and some thick beds of grey san<lstone, containing Cala/tiifes, Stcrnheriiia, Kvdogi iiitcs, Carpo- lifcs, and pieces of lignite. The relati(msof tliese beds to the otiier parts of the section I could not determine. They dip to the north- east, and prol)ably belong, eith;'r to the npi)er part of the gyi)si- ferous formation, or to some newer member of the coal seri.s. These sections dilfer from that of the Kast River of Pictou, cliiefiy in the jjresenee of large masses of sandstone and conglomerate be- neath tlie limestones, and in tlie non-ap[)earan<'e of the lliiek series of sandstones above the gypsum, so conspicuous in the Pictou sections. I his section ['eet. s). tone. ir, displays J outlet of )e(l of ?yp- KT part is aiul -with is is a con- pavt alter- liniestone, IS of white omes brec- ;k, and ap- i and linie- )nforinably stones and ion, but at le descend- inally ver- ark shales eh epidote. of i;zneous V few miles iisists of a ne. After tion, whieh and elay, L'dsof grey tes, Ciirpn- o tlie otiier the north- the ?ypsi- seri.'s. ton, cliiefly imcrate be- lick scrii^s the Pietou I I)AWSON ON Tin: LUWKII CAUUONll'KUOUS KUOKS. Shube7iacudie. 33 I Having thus described the Lower Carboniferous rocks, as thuy a|»i)ear in some of the best sections near the Gulf of St. Lawrence, it may be interesting to compare their ai'rangement and lithological character with tiiose of the Gypsifcrous formations of the central l)art of the province, formerly supposed to be newer than the coal- formation, but referred by Mr. l^yell, principally on the ground of its fossils, to tile lower part of the Carboniferous system. The rocks seen on the estuary of the Shubenacatlie furnisii a good sj)e- ciiiien of these deposits for the purpose of comparison. Tlie sec- tions on tills estuary show several extensive masses of stratilied deposits, ditfering considei'ably in their mineral cliaracter, and scparat('(l by faults in such a manner that tlieir true I'elations Ao not appear. Most of these masses consist of Red sandstones imd marls, with beds of gypsum and limestone. These, wlien compared witli the corresponding rocks in the Pietou and Antigonisii sec- tions, appear to differ only in their ap))arently greater mass, and especially in the thickness of the deposits of red sandstone and marl. The u])per bed of gypsum on liight's River is succeeded by a level tract allbrding no section ; and from the two sections, repre- senting the outline of the surface near the gypsum of Ogden's hike and tiie East River, it will be seen that tlie present outline ol" tlie surface is caused by a great removal of the softer beds. Section VI. Near Ociien's Lake, Antigonisii (sliowirig dciuidutioii). N. S. ('. CJypsum aiul limestone. Ik (irt'v and soft red sandstones. (I. .Syenite and greenstone. One of tlie most remarkable rocks on the banks oC the Shubena- cadie is a great bed of compact and laminated non-fossililerons lime-Stone, ii(>ar the mouth of the estuary. This lied has its upper surl'aet; broken U]) into a kind of Itreeeia, and supports a great thickness of soft red sandstone and conglomerate, with beds oi' gypsum. Jt is also traversed l)y fissures tilled with luematite and ores of manganese. It rests upon a great thickness of hard, brownish grits and siudes, whieh appear in dill'erent jjlaces on the road from Sliubenaculie to Truro. The horizontal reel .-andstone of Truro lests on tli.' edges of these grits, whieh, near Truro, be- come citlier vertical or dip rapidly to the north-east, aixl perhaps also underlie some of the gypsiferous rocks of the Onslow hills. From a consideration of all these cireumstanct's, it appears probable that these hard grits are the I'lpiivaleiits of the lower grits and conglomerates uf Antigonisii ; ;ind tiiat the bed of limestone whie'i VOL. 1. D 84 PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. they support is a representative of the lower limestone at Anfi- gonish and Pietou. To the lower grits I would also refer the mass of dark red sandstones and shales at Eagle's Nest, three miles from the mouth of the estuary of tiie Shubenaeadie. The mass of contorted dark sandstones and shales at Five-mile River resembles some parts of the productive coal formation more nearly than any of the lower carbonifei'ous rocks : and the horizontal red sandstone, a few miles farther up, is analogous to many of the beds both a' ove and below the gypsum at Antigonish and Pietou, From a comparison of the appearances of tlie lower carboniferous rocks in the various sections which I have examined, I have drawn out the foUoAving table, which, 1 think, exliibits very nearly their general arrangement. It commences with the productive coal measures. Loiver Carboniferous or Gi/psiferous Formation. 11 t«' Rocks. . Brownisli-red, mottled nnd grey sandstones ; brownish-red shales ; some conglomerates ; the beds containing small quan- tities of copper ores. . Brownish-red hard sandstones and shales, often rippled ; some grey sandstones, conglomerates, and limestones ; copper ores in small quantity. 3. Reddish and white sandstones and marls, usually soft ; beds of gypsum and limestone (tiie lowest bed usually a non-fossi- liferous limestone); veins and fissures with oris of iron, man- ganese, copper, &c. 4. lleddish-brown conglomerates and hard grits ; some dark and grey sandstones, and brown and dark shales. Fossils. Endogonites, Cala- mites, Lepidoden- dron. Fragments of plants and fucoidal mark- ings ; I'roductus (especially P.Mar- tini), Terebratiila, Spirifer, and other sliells. Productus (espe- cially P. I.yelli), Terebratula, En- crinites. Corals, Spirifer, Pecten, Avicula, &c. &c. Various plants. Where seen. Merigonish, East Uiver, Middle R., Shubenaeadie ? East River, Merigo- nish, West River, Middle River, Economy, Ward- robe's, on Shube- naeadie ? East River, Antigo- nis'.!, Shubenaea- die, Onslow Moun- tain, De Bert R., \Vindsor,Pugwash, Wallace, &c.' Antigonish, Sliube- niieadie, 'I'ruro, Salmon R. Newer Coal Formation, Sandstones, Sfc. In several parts of the eastern section of Nova Scotia, there are extensive deposits of sandstones and shales, principnlly of a brownish-red colour, and including some thin beds of concretionary limestone and grey suudstone. Tlwy contain n few ciilaniites and other carboniferous plants. Tlicse beds constitute, I believe, the newest member of the carboniferous series, and are connected with the productive coal measiires by a tliick series of reddish-brown and grey sandstones, shales, and congloinerates, often abounding in at Anti- rt'f'er the [hrec miles (lie mass of resembles than any sandstone, beds both Ivboniferous lave drawn learly their luctive coal on. here seen. jnisli, Eiist r, Middle R., lenacadie ? liver, Merigo- West River, lie River, iioiny, Ward- "'s. on Sliiibe- idie ? River, Antif^o- ] , Slmbeiiaca- Onslow INIoun- , De Bert R , idsor,I'ii!»\v<nsli, I lace, &c. jonisli, Sliiihe- idie, Truro, TlOll R. itia, there ar<', leipiilly of a eonerctionary ealaniites and I Itclieve, the onneete<l with 'eddish-brown aboundin^jr in (Icological Map S\&u .Scotia. 1 {(icJ(/ ■ t'ffiihmfe*^' ('ape brelou, ?TLn''"i i'V F'eve '^\ \\ ■5-.t%^\/--' , ■•' .■■■■ \ \, . ^/X / \..y ^^^ ■'■" "4^ ^ "^ -^A:^Y^'''^""" c -•' c-7 O y>'> -"^^t'-'-' >- PortKtu « ...-^^ 'V- As ■..x^" \, '-^^^j-^p-v- .y -t •'■ " -^-K^' ^^r liv^'ci . . . •r*>i >r \Jlivan ,,--' at''-' W •^^ xV*- i* - .^ / Qr< „..it H' ,0"' s^/^ J^ Q ("fattieny T ^'^'L-^' ^ •J^- 1 r^ ■ huinl^ (' (i(M)l()gical Map by IcfneoiA.^ Rvc/m. ,Ue/.anwrpAic ^ Silwna'Vi. (/id nd .i'dffAfto^^e ^ Gypsif&rous sfrcfA". «<•/<'« \ty Portion *)t Nova Scota. mm if' /Ji.nwcH-^' ■':iiriK,tf .V>y/.v ' Cape Breton, nv7ft Mf^'s '"'VAj ^y.suih i /fnnvh^ SiATV Yruiled bv Ki*.ev^ KrotliTS. HENSLOW ON CONCKKTiONS IX TIIK CKAG. 35 fossil plants. As those upper red sandstones have, howevei', lieen eont'oun(l(Ml with the gypsit'eroiis formation, some of whoso sainl- stones they often mueli resemble, I may siiortiy describe a section on tlie Waugh's and French rivers of Tatmagouehe, exhibiting a portion of them, and at the same time illustrating the structure of a part of the Cobequid cliain. At the mouth of the Fi'ench river are grey sandstones and shales, containing a i'tiw endogenites, calamites, and pieces of lignite, impregnated Avith coi)])er ores. lieneatii tliese appears a series of brovvnisli-red sandstones and sliales, with a few grey beds, occu- pying, in a regular descending series, about six miles of the river section. They contain, in a few places, nodules of coi)per glance, they are often rippled, and contain branching fucoidal marks. On one of the rippled slabs 1 found marks consisting of four foot-prints of an animal. These we;-" three inches and a-half apart, and each exhibited three straiglit marks, as if of claws. * The dips of these sandstones gradually increase in approaching the hills, and the lowest seen is a bed of grey sandstone, dipping at an angle of 30°. Tliere is then a small break in the sections, succeeded by hard dark shales and slates, and hard brown grits, with a bed of limestone in which I could find no fossils, i-xcept a fragment of a Productus and a few fragments of encrinital stems in bad [)reservation. Tliese rocks are much disturbed, but gene- rally a))pear to dip at high angles to the northward. They are associated with masses of greenstone, amygdaloid, reddisii syenite, and otlu^r igneous rocks. They appear to rise uncon formal )ly fnjm beneath the sandstones of the low country; but whetiier tliey belong to tiwi loAver carboniferous or to some' older system, I cannot at present determine. I hope, at some future time, to be able more particularly to state the structure and relations of the newer members of the coal formation, but have not yet collected a sutHeient quantity of I'acts to determine accurately their relations. T!u' horizontal I'cd sandstone of Truro, which skirts the Basin of Mines, has no connection witli the red sandstone of Tatmagoiu-hc, but is prol)ably newer tlian any part of the coal formation. It is destitute of th(! grey sandstcmes and shales, and in several sections of it which I have examined, I have not found any fossils. 3. On CoNCUKTiONS in the Kkd Ckao at Fklixstow, Sukfomc. By tlie Rev. J. S. IIknsloav, M.A., F.G.S., Professor of Botany in the University of Cambridge. I I'LACK on the table a selection from a large assortment of a peculiar descriptiim of concretions obtained from the Ked Crag at * Tliuse tracks rcscMiibli- tliu ni.irks of tlic claws of an aiiiiiiiil cm/ou'w// over a niodorati'ly firm surface, or climJiing u]) an inclined j)liino. They are not unlike the marks left hy the claws of small individuals of tlie Uiver Tortoise on the sides of nuul hunks, bi.t diHer from them in showing traces of two feet only. I) 2 a() I'KOCKKDINiJ.s OK TIIK (itOLOLllCAL SOCIKTY. Folixstow, in Suffolk. Iv 1842 I was niucli puzzled to iicoount for tlic iiiitiiiv of these concretions. At a cursory "fiance one niigiit almost be inclined to jiass them by us wati'rworii pebbles, as they lie abundantly intei'spersed among the couiminnted shells which form the npper parts of the ditfs. 1 found more than one eminent geologist disposed to agree Avith me in considering them to be rolled masses of London clay which had been indurated subse- quently to their deposition in the crag. On my again visiting Felixstow diu'ing tiu! summer of the present year (1843), 1 deter- mined to give them a particular examination ; and although a Ibrni- ation whi(di has been so thoroughly worked as tlie crag is not likely to afford a casual visitor the opportunity of gleaning much of novelty, I believe I have satisfactorily ascertained the origin of these concretions, and liave added to the list of ci'ag fossils the jietro-tympanic bones of at least four species of Cetaceans. These latter, 1 am |)ersuaded, have been overlooked among the many concretions of this formation. They are, however, of a dif- ferent composition, and clos(dy resemble, in this respect, the silici- iied fragments of bone so abundant in this locality. 1 believe the s])ecimens I have procured will range under two tyj)es, each con- taining at least two species. I am not com[)etent to the task of throwing any '>steoU)gieal light ujion theses fossils, but am hajipy to state that l*ri ossor Owen has undertaken their examination ; and we may tliei'cfore expect before long to be in possession of all that can be said about them. It seems to me not a little remarkable, tliat all these specimens shoiild have been pi'ocured Avithin a very narrow compass, for I found none beyond the limits of two con- tiguous indentations in tiie cliff, a short distance to the north of Felixstow. IJut, to return to the concretions to Avhich I am more particu- larly desirous of directing attention. They exiiibit a very great variety of forms. I\Iany are more or l(^ss spherr)idal, fusiform, and cylindrical ; many are perfectly amorphous. They appear to be composed of a fine-grained compact ferruginous daystone, of a dark choct)late brown colour ; but the surface, which is very snu)otli, and even ])olished, becomes pale by exposure. They often separate by natural flaws into thi'ce or more fragments, Avhieii are bounded internally by nearly plane siu'faces. Many of them offer traces of organic association ; and the result of an extensive ex- aminati(m has convinced nw that they must all be considered as of coi)rolitic origin. I am not aware Avhether any analysis has ever yet been made of them. 1 Avill now direct attention to the following peculiarities observ- able in some one or other of the specimens referred to: — 1 . Two spiral inassus. 2. A larj^o pc'iforatuii oin.', with traces of spiral or nnmilar transverse convo- lutions. .'5. Oilier smaller ones, tlie convolutions licin;^ lonf^iludinal. 4. Common character of the cylindrical and fusifonn ones, seen, by fractiu'c, to ho formed oi' lunffiliidinullff coUed folds, with a perforated axis. PURCnASEl).$..3UM;^^ F PuRCIIASE...MM-^wXiCX-5^ Place of PuiCE\!:if:. Later Catalogued Prices n»