EMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

1.0

I.I

1.25

UilM

| 50 '""^"

M
1.8

U 11111.6

<?^

A^'^ '^

^m^mmmtmrnm

CIHM/ICMH

Microfiche

Series.

CIHM/ICMH
Collection de
microfiches.

Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiquos

1980

Technical Notes / Notes techniques

The Institute has attempted to obtain the best
original copy available for filming. Physical
features of this copy which may alter any of the
images in the reproduction are checked below.

L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire
qu'il lui a 6x6 possible de se procurer. Certains
ddfauts suscaptibles de nuire i la qualitd de la
reproduction sont notis ci-dessous.

Coloured covers/
Couvertures de couleur

Coloured pages/
Pages de couleur

D
D
D

Coloured maps/

Cartes gdographiques en couleur

Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/
Pages d6color6es, tachetdes ou piqudes

Tight binding (may cause shadows or
distortion along interior margin)/
Reliure serrd (peut causer de Tombre ou
de la distortion le long de la margs
int6rieure)

Coloured plates/
Planches en couleur

Show through/
Transparence

Pages damaged/
Pages endommagdes

Additional comments/
Commentaires suppldmentaires

Bibliographic Notes / Notes bi^ ographiques

D
D

Only edition a\.'ailable/
Seule ^''^ition disponible

Bound with other material/
Reli6 avec d'autres documents

D
D

Pagination incorrect/
Erreurs de pagination

Pages missing/
Des pages manquent

Cover title missing/

Le titre de couverture manque

Maps missing/

Des cartes g^ographiques manquent

Plates missing/

Des planches manquent

Additional comments/
Commentaires suppldmontaires

The images appearing here are the best quality
possible considering the condition and legibility
of the original copy and in keeping with the
filming contract specifications.

Les images suivantes ont 6t6 reproduites avec le
plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et
de la nettetd de rexemplaire film6, et en
conformit6 avec les conditions du contrat de
filmage.

The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall
contain the symbol -^> (meaning CONTINUED"),
or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever
applies.

Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la der-
nidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas:
le symbole — ► signifie "A SUIVRE", le symboie
V signifie "FIN".

The original copy was borrowed from, and
filmed with, the kind consent of the following
institution:

National Library of Canada

L'exemplaire filmd fut reproduit grdce d la
gdn^rositd de I'dtablissement prdteur
suivant :

Bibliothdque nationale du Canada

Maps or plates too large to be entirely included
in one exposure are filmed beginning m the
upper Inft hand corner, left to right and top to
bottom, as many frames as required. Tf-*
following diagrams illustrate the metv

Les cartes ou les planches trop grandes pour dtre
reproduites en un seul clichd sont film^es d
partir de Tangle supdrieure gauche, de gauche d
droite et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre
d'images ndcessaire. Le diagramme suivant
illustre la mdthode :

1 2 3

l^^g

THE

WITH ESPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE EXPOSURES OF THAT FORMATION AT

AND NEAR

OTTAWA CITY

F Mm^mv M. Mmi» W^M.

Citizen Printing & Publishing Company, Metcalfe St.

882.

r<s

THE!

With Especial Reference to the Exposures of that Formation at and

near

OTTAWA CITY.

By henry M. ami, B.A.

(.The following is an Abstract from a Paper read before the Natural Bistorrj Society
of Montreal and th£ Ottawa Field- Naturalists' Club, in the Winter of 1882, as
published in Transactions No. 3 of the latter Club.)

The Utica Slate Formation derives its name from the town of Utica, N.Y., on
account of the occurrence of an exposure of rock in the vicinity of that place,
which American geologists have adopted as typical of the series.

It is turther called a " slate " formation on account of the eminent slaty
cleavage which the rock possesses; this generally corresponds with and is paral-
lel to the divisional planes of stratification, but som times occurs cutting these
planes at various angles. Instances of the latter may be observed at Montreal,
on the Mountain side, or near Ottawa in a quarry on the Montreal Road ; such
cleavage is due to lateral and other pressure, acting at various angles on the
beds.

The term " Utica Shale " has also been frequently applied to rocks of this
formation, and may be said with greater accuracy to designate the cLaracter of
the rock than the term " Utica Slate " does.

Until quite recently the Utica Slate has received very little attention at the
hands of geologists and palajontologists. In the Geology of Canada (1863),
however, we find that a considerable amount of valuable work has been done,'

i THE UTICA SLATE FORMATION.

including researches into the palieontology, stratigraphy and IHhology of the
formation.

NATURE OF THE ROCKS.

To ascertain the nature of the rocks constituting these l)€ds we must refer
to some typical representative of the formation. In addition to the series at
Utica, in the United States, which has been taken as the type of this formation,
we have also, here in Canada, a good exposure situated near the mouth of the
River Hte. Anne, Montmorenci, P.Q.

IntheGoology of Canada (1863), there is a tabulated description of this
series. The beds consist of a brittle black or brown, more or less bituminous
shale, of much the same nature throughout. At the base of the section are two
bands ot yellow weathering (probably magnesian) limestone, and at the summit
a thin band or two ot sandstone and grit are found.

ORiarN AMD MODB OF DEPOSITION.

At the close of the Trenton formation, whether from subsidence of the
northern part of this continent, or from the Arctic Seas having broken through
their southern barriers — the Laurentian Hills — there seems to have come from
the north, cold and muddy waters which carried down finely divided clay and
sand and deposited them over the whole central plateau and synclinal hollows
in various part* of the continent. Layer after lay«r was thus deposited, which,
under the action of subsequent heat, pressure and other physical aBrencies, as-
sumed their present character. Ruch a change of circumstances from those
existiog during the deposition of the Trenton formation also led to a change in
the fauna of these Utica seas ; the Oraplolites, which in olden timeb had swarmed
the seas, dnring the deposition rf the Calciferous and Chazy, now finding a suit-
able habitat returned in such abundance that the presence of these fossils may be
considered a chief characteristic of this formation. Trilobites also, o' forms
diverse from thosH of the Trenton now made their first appearance in these turbid
waters. It is no doubt owing to the great prevalence of these two types of life
in that perioti of the earth's history that the rock owes its bituminous character.

This change, which occurred at the close of the Trenton, was at first quite
gradual, for, as may be clearly seen, the upper strata of that formation are for the
most part separated from each other by thin bands of shale and argillaceous
schists, indicating the oscillatot-y movements which then begun, foretold the
complete disruption in the northern seas.

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION.

Several careful analyses of the rocks of this formation have been made by
Messrs. Chandler & Eimball, for Prof. Whitney, who have published them in the
Geology of Wisconsin, and mention of which is made in the Geology of Canaaa
(1863). Of these analyses, chiefly of specimens from various parts ot Canada, one
from the Gloucester beds, in this neighbourhood, is noticed as yielding an
especially large percentage of magnesia. The dolomitic nature of these b^ds is

THE UTICA SLATE FORMATION. 3

further shown by the appearance of their weathered surfaces, which assame a
brownish-yellow colour.

Very little can be said a-t to the existence of minerals in these rocks, for they
are so few, and, with the exception of bitumen, there are none of any importance.
The occurrence, however, of a considerable percentage of this mineral in the
shale at Collingwood, induced a company, some few years ago, to start operatic )ff
and extract the oil ; but before much was accomplished the discovery of the same
mineral in much greater abundance in the Hamilton shales, of Devonian
age, caused the operations at Collingwood to be suspended ; these, however, may
prove of considerable value at some future date.

At the village of Windsor there is also said to be a valuable deposit of
bitumgn belonging to the Utica Slate. Other minerals occur sparingly, as iron,
pyrites (jtyrite or marcaajYe) which is generally founO replacing entirely or lightly
coating fossils, particularly traobites and orthoceratitea. Selenite, or the
hydrated sulphate of lime, also occurs in fine scales disseminated ovev the divis-
ional planes of the strata, or, partly coating organic remains.

OKOORAPHIOAL DISTRIBUTION.

The remarks made will be in special reference to Canada ; but in tracing out
the belt along its line of outcrop, it will, of course, be necessary to roti- parts
of the United States. Beginning then with the deposit in its most easterly ex-
tension, it is found occurring near the mouth of the Ste. Anne River, Montmor-
enci, P.Q., where a portion of the rock exposure there shows 318 feet io thick,
ness of Utica LJate. Proceeding thence in a westerly direction, it forms a belt
at times interrupted, along the northern shore of the St. Lawrence, with a general
south-easterly dip, sometimes concealed beneath the waters of the river, at other
times cropping out at the summit of various anticHnals and on the superior axes
of disturbed areas, whilst large tracts of it lie hid beneath the soil or drift. Thus
the belt proceeds till it reaches the city of Montreal, where several exposures
can be seen on the Mountain side, at St. Helen's Island, Point St. Charles, and
other places in that locality, the rock being much altered and hardened on account
of the numerous plutonic dykes that traverse ii. Hence the belt bends to the
south-east, and then again to the south till it reaches Lake Champlain, where the
iormation can be traced beneath the waters of the lake by means of the islands
which are almont entirely made up of rocks belonging to this formation. Pro-
ceeding southward, and turning in a westerly direction round the base of the
great Adirondack region, we find the formation for a considerable way completely
obliterated. In the vicinity of Adams, N.Y., it again crops out, but gradually
becomes narrower until the rocks of the Hudson River age conceal it ; after
this, proceeding in a course almost due west, it dips beneath the waters of Lake
Ontario, and reappears again on the Canadian shore— a wide belt reaching from
Port Newcastle to Canton, near Whitby— at which latter place some very fossili-
ferouH strata occur. This extensive belt crosses the Province ot Ontario through
the counties of Durham, Ontario, York and Simcoo, reaches Collingwjod and

* THE UTfCA SLATE FORMATION.

there disappoarg. Subsequently following a north-westerly course beneath the
waters of Georgian Bay, and striking points and cupes of the Great Manitoulin
iBlond, as well as many of the North Channel I^ands, this belt narrows in
gradually, diminishes likewise in thiekness, crosses St. Joseph's Island, and
again reaches the mainland, where, after a few miles of outcrop, it is lost sight of
beneath the more recent overlying rocks and is not traceable further west.

Besides this continuous belt of the Utica Blate, there also occur Isolated
" patches " or " outliers " in other parts of Canada and of the United States. Along
the Pludson River Valley there are many fine exposures, some of which give a
total thickness of four hundred feet (Dana). It also occurs in Virginia, Alabama,
Tennessee, Ohio and Wisconsin, besides its probable recognized existence in
Nevada by Dr. C. A. White (Walcott). Returning to Canada, not an unimpor-
tant outlier is that which we find in the immediate vicinity of Ottawa citv.
Indeed, it may be said that the deposits of Gloucester and Ottawa will give the
diligent searcher many new and interesting forms of life peculiar to this forma-
tion, and as yet unrecorded in Canada. The Gloucester beds, as they are
called, are pretty extensively developed, stretching out for several miles south
and east of this city.

At Cumberland, Clarence and North Plantagenet, more of these outliers
occur and bave been recorded.' There are ^^Iso beds of shale belonging ta this
formation in the neighbourhood of L'Orignal, Ont. Another outlier, very remote
from these, but of much importance, is found in the immediate vicinity of Lake
St. John, P. Q. This locality has yielded soifte very fine fossils, chiefly graptolites
and trilobites. On the Islands of Anticosti and Orleans there are rocks and
boulders belonging to this formation that have been drifted thither but do not
occur in situ, as belonging to those islands.

From these facts, it may be safely predicated that the UtIca seas must have
occupied pretty generally the whole central portion of the North American Con-
tinent, bounded on the north by the Laurentian Bills, and on the east and west by
the Appalachian and Eockj/ Mountain Ranges respectively.

THH OTTAWA AND OLOUCESTEB BEDS.

These beds have proved a rich hunting ground to the paleontologist. From
them the late Mr. E. Billings obtained and described many new and interesting
species, and doubtless the careful collector will be well repaid for his labours in
the same field. To the east of the city along the Rideau River the Utica Slate
formation is particularly well developed and very rich in fossils. It also occurs
at Rochesterville, but the rock is brittle and almost destitute of fossils. By the
Rideau we have several exposures each of which gives us a different horizon '
with its characteristic set of fossils. Their stratigraphical relations are more or
less obscure, yet with a little attention they can be tolerably well ascertained.

The exposure taken as representing the lowest of the series is that which is
found at low water along the Rideau River at the Rifle Range.

THE UTICA SLATE FORMATION. 5

These bods aro very fossiliforous and abound oHpocially in specimens of
pygidia and glabellae of Aaaphm Canadensis, (Chapman,) also Triarthrut Becki,
(Green) ; and crinoid Btenm asHociated with niimerouH spooiuienH of I^ptxna st-rieea,
(Sowoiby,) Li/rodesma puichellum, (Hull) Orthoceras lamellosum, (Hall) and HpecieH of
Orthis and Slrophomena, etc. It is immediately overlying thi-« ex|>csiire that we
find cropping out several bands of compact yellow-weathering n>agne. ian lime-
stone, probably similar to those found at the St. Anne Kiver, Montmorei.-!. In
these bands are found numerous specimom^ of Conularia Tren(onen»U, (Hall,) t>tho-
ceratidae and Calymenc eaUicepfutla, (Green,) etc. The beds here dip at a small ftugi.'
to the east, across the river, where, a little above and in the viiinity of the rapids,
beds overlying these are seen which present new form 3 such as MoJiolo/mis
modiolaris, (Conrad,) St. anodontoides 9 {Rail,) another Modiolopsis, probably a new
species, associated with Avicula insueta, (Conrad,) and a few graptolitic fragments.
Following the line of outcfop down the river we come to Cummings' Bridge
where a very interesting deposit occurs. Here the remains of Triarthrut spinontt,
(Billings), are abundan*:, some very fine and probably perfect specimens having
been obtained. T. Becki (Green), also occurs there, and with it very numerous
specimens of Orthoceras lamellosum of Hall, which are often found completely
pyntized. The trilobites also are often coated over with pyrites.

Graptolites occur in this deposit, but not in a very good state of preserva-
tion. With +hese are also associated numerous minute linguloid shells of the
genus Leptobolus, most of which are referable to L. insignis of Hall (24th Annual
Report, N.Y., State Cabinet).

The total thickness o' the exposure is about ten feet, the beds presenting
much fission and crumbling. The next deposit worthy of note, and but recently
noticed, is that which lies beyond the track of the St. Lawrence and Ottawa Rail-
way, to the north-east of the last mentioned deposit. The chief characteristic
of this is the abundance of graptolites. Yery little has been done here as yet, a id
it has yielded (?rap<o«<AM« jsmijs (Hisinger?) O. flaccidus (Hall.) O. annectans
(Walcott). O. Sagittarius (Kail). G. quadrimucronatus (Rail).

The graptolites in this bed are in a very perfect state of preservation, their
condition greatly facilitating the identification of the different species.

Exposures of more or less importance also occur in the village of New
Edinburgh and on the Montreal Road. At New Edinburgh, during the excava-
tions made for waterworks purposes, some very interesting forms were obtained
by His Excellency Lord Lome, among which may be mentioned Ceraurus
pleurexanthemus (Green).

On the Montreal Road, about two miles from the Rideau River, and resting
almost at the summit of an axis of disturbance in a Trenton anticlinal, we
find another exposure some fifteen feet thick, consisting chiefly of brown, brittle,
and highly cleavable rock, but very unpromising as to fossils.

Now, taking these exposures severally in order, and observing tli.iir strati-
graphical arrangement as constituting diflereut horizons, marked respectively by

THE UTICA 81 iTE FORMATION.

difl'oront sets of foBBils, and looking at them likewise in their lithological charac-
ter, we obtain a seriea of beds, though scattered about, giving us a total thicknesK
of probably not less th 'n forty feet.

MOTBB ON BOMB OF THE MORE INTERBSTINU F088ILB FROU Till OTTAWA BBD8.

1. Uonularia Trentonensis, (Hall). Several specimenH of this Pteropod have
been found, as mentioned above, in the deposit at the iliflo Range. It was at
first thought to be C. Hudsonia of Emmons, but after referring it to Principal
Dawson, be writes thus : — " After careful examination I caniiot make your Con'
ularia distinct from TrentonenHs. There are two species described from the
Utica, C. Iludtonic, o!i Emmons, and another, but yours does not agree with
either." This species has not been previously recorded as occurring in the Utica
8]at<) either of Canada or of the United States.

2. Triarthrua apinoma (Billings.) Very fine and perhaps perfect specimeuEr
of this speciefi have been found in the Cummings' Bridge deposit. Some new
features with respect to this fossil may be worthy of being placed on record.
The specimens from which Mr. Billings described and figured this species were
either young and imperfectly developed, or else imperfectly preserved. The
individuals besides attaining to greater dimensions, possess epines which di£fer
in Bome respects from those represented. For instance, the spine said to be
attached to the eighth thoracic segment, in well developed individuals, attains a
total length of some twenty millimetres ; in other words, is almost equal in length
to the whole body of the trilobite and has a turrow or groove running throughout
its entire length. In a few specimens collected at the Cummings' Bridge deposit, a
spine is attached distinctly to the ninth instead of to the eighth thoracic segment
as is generally the case. In addition, that spine, which is attached to the
occipital or neek seifment, projecting backwards over the five anterior thoracic seg-
ments, and about one-third the length of the other spine, often exhibits a similar
longitudinal groove, whilst these spines often appear quite rounded or cylin-
drically attenuated, when completely pyritized. These spines, as well
as the remaining two attached to the posterior angles of the cephalic shield,
likewise grooved, and also the whole surface of the trilobite, present, under
a low power of the microscope, some interesting features. There are minute
tubercles scattered over the whole surface A the body and spines ; on the latter
they are somewhat larger in dimension. These give an appearance of striation
to the spines when looked at with a lens.

Of the furrows on the glabella, besides the usual two pairs, we have a single
one running in a direction transverse to the others. On each side of this furrow
two crescent shaped depressions occur, similarly situated on the anterior part of the
glabella and parallel to the two pairs of furrows. The precise function of these,
and their place in the anatomy of the creature, the writer has not as yet been
able to ascertain. Another feature about this curious little trilobite is the
tubercle or short spiue (akin to those on Triarthrua Becki (Green), when adult).

THE UTIOA SLATii FORMATION. 7

eitiiatod about tho central portion of the occipital segment, immediately in /ront
of the Bpine attached to this segment. Further investigation will no doubt
determine the precise number of Bpines this species poHsesaed ; for the present,
we are satisfied with stating that it possessed at least more than four spinea.

3 OrthoferaKlamelhaum, (Hall). Numerous specimens ol this species occur in
the Cummings' Bridge deposit. These were at first referred to tho genus Endoeerat
of Hall, and tho species E. protei/orme ; but after several perfect detached
septa of this species were found, showing the positiou of the siphuncle -ery
clearly, as being but very slightly eccentric, its nature as being that of a true
Orthoceratite was revealed, only one siphuncle being evident.

tSiphonotreta Scotica (Davidson). This very pretty and extremely rare
chiopod was first noticed as occurring on this continent by Mr. J. F. Whit-
eaves, in a paper read before the AA.A.S. meeting at Montreal in August last.

Appended is a list of the fossils which have been found about Ottawa by the
writer, and others, the names of whom are given opposite the fossils in the case
where the writer has not also found specimens. In conclusion, my acknowledg.
ments are due to Principal Dawson ot McQill College, and Mr. J. F. Whitoaves
of the Geological Survey, for assistance in naming specimens and for other infor-
mation contained in this paper; and my thanks are also due to Mr. C. D. Walcott,
of the United States Geological Survey, tor a copy of his valuable memoir on the
Utica Slate of the Uni \ States.

U8T or THE FOaaiLS FOUND IN THK OTICA SLATE, IN TM NEIGHBOtTRHOOD OF OTTAWA.

Genera and Species. References.

Ptilodictya acuta Hall, 1817, PaL N.Y., I. p. 74.

" recta Hall, Pal. N.Y., 1. pi. 26, fig. 1.

Diplograptus pristis Hisinger ? ; G. pristis, Hall.

€limacograptu8 bicomis Hall, Pal. N.Y., I. pi. 73, fig. 2.

Diplograptus mucronatus Hall, Pal. N. Y., I. pi. 73, fig. 1.

Oraptolithus quadrimucronatus Hall, Dec. II Ci.a. Org. Rem. pi. 13, figg.

l-IO.

« flaccidus Dec. II. Can. Org. Bom. pi. 2, figs. 1 7-1 9.

" annectans Walcott, Fossils of the Ut. 81. pi. 1, figs.

2, 2 a.

Lingula Daphne Pillings, Pal. Fossils, vol. 1, p. 47.

« Progne « « « « u

" quadrata Eic aid, (Hall, Pal. N.Y., I. p. 96.)

" obtusa Hall, Pal. N.Y., I. p. 98.

fichizocrania filosa Hall (Orbicula filosa), Hall, Pal. N.Y., I.

pi. 30., fig. 9.

Leptobolus insignis Hall, XXIV, Ann. Rep. N. York State

Cabinet, p. 227.

occidentalis Hall, XXIV, Ann. Rep. N. York State

Cabinet, p. 227.

Leptaena sericea Sowerby, Murch, Sil. System.

Strophomena deltoidea. Conrad (Hall), Pal. N. Y., 1. p. 106

THE UTICA SLATE FORMATION.

P088II,8 FOUND IN 0T1OA SLATE, IN THE NEIOHBOORHOOD OP OTTAWA.— Concluded.

Genera and Species. References.

Strophomena altornata Conrad (Hall), Pal. N.Y., 1. p. 102.

Orthis testudinaria Dal man, Hall, Pal. N.T., I. p. 11..

" subquadrata Hall, Pal. N.Y., I. pi. 32, figs. la-0.

Zygospira Head; Billings, Pal. Foss. p.' 47.

Siphonotieta Scotica Davidson. (Found by R. C. Watts, R.C.A.)

Avicula iusueta Conrad, (Emmons, Geol. Rep , p. 399.)

" Trentonensis Conrad, 1842, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sr., III.

p. 240.

Modiolopsis modiolaris Conrad, Pal. N. Y., I. p. 294

Lyrodesma pulchellum. Hall, Pal. N.Y., I. p. 302.

Orthodesma parallelum « Pal. N.Y., I. p. 299, (Orthonota par-

allela.)

Conularia Trentonensis " " »« p. 222.

" Hadsonia Emmons, Amer. Geol. p. 208. (Found by

F. R. Latchford.)

Bellerophon bilobatus Sowerby, Murch. Sil. System.

Murchisonia Milleri Hall (M. bicincta, Hall.)

Trocholites ammonius Conrad, Geol. Rep. N.Y., p. 119.

Endoceras proteiforme Hall, Pal. N.Y., I. p. 209.

Orthoceras coralliferum , ■< " (i « 312.

" lamellosum " « « « 209-210.

Serpulites dissolutus Billings, Pal. Foss. I. p. 56.

Leperditia cylindrica ... Hall, 24th Reg. Rep. p. 2. 3 ' «

Asaphus Canadensis Chapman, Can. Journal, 1856, p. 23S.

" platycephalus , Stokes, (Isotelus giyas, Dekay.)

Calymene calllcephala Green, Monogr, p. 30.

Oeraui us pleurcxanthemus Green, Monogr. p. 84.

Triarthrus Becki u « p. 87.

" spinosus Billings, Rep. Prog. Can. Geol. Surv. 1857,

p. 304.
" glabei ....Billings, Can, Nat. Geol. IV. p. 382.

In addition to the above, it may be well to mention the following found in
this locality, but so far not identified with certaintv.

(a.) Monticulipora.— Several specimens referable to two species of this genus.

(6.) Crinoidal stems. — Probably those of the genus Ileterocrinus.

(d.) Modiolopsis.—Showing both concentric lines of growth and numerous
radiating lines proceeding from the anterior extremity of the shell, and extend-
ing to its margin, allied in some respects to M. cancellatus of Walcott, but speci-
fically distinct from it. Only two specimens of this shell have been found.
When more are obtained it may prove to be a new species.

(e.) Flcurotomaria. — Allied to P. subconica, (small sp.)