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LA r-y I i^ A\ I STONY RliCORDS. ?,;« ■:«f(l'S V' m r Oli- Lessons ■;- from -;- a ■•.■ Li aS iiarry, || i w m ft x.ectxj~zbe DELIVERED IN CONNECTION WITH i HE I I 1 Vr 31JNG PEOPLETS ASSOCIAl ■'la «1 i —OK- ^ f&> '■%-jY IP KNOX CIllIKCIl WlNNIPliG. ; ...^'MARGH lOiiT 1884, BY:i._. > ... •J. j-IOYES PANTOJ^, JVl./r.2^ J 1 Manitiilja I'roo Press StcAin I 'riming lldimr. Wi^i i*r lAi -tS,.! !»??3 #'^ :'^» •"^: ..''.!.K ".'?'• ■'i'?B..-il*'. -lO' "•*« :i«t'i.: .A rf'k jJ!'*:; At ,«- -..ft,, ,«< CL- :«;: :.», * © 1 5i 1 (11) i-^6o:l if OUR ©FOIdOGY. Iiiterestiiig Geoloffical Facts Relating to the M River District. LESSONS FROM A QUARRY. Tlio f'lllovving inttu'esting iind instruc- tive.) luoturc state some general truths re- cognized in getjlogy. These remembered will assist greatly the pro) lei' consideration of the I'ocks. FIVK I>n'ORTAN'T KACT.^ IV (iK()l,0»;V. 1. Rocks may be divided into three prin- cipal divisions eruptive, metamorphic and a(|ueous. The eruj)tive, sometimes sjiok'.n of as igneous referring to their origin. T ly do not occur in true strata but ui Ma form of iiregular mas.ses, never showing marks of a seilimentary origin and nevitr containing remains of animals or plants. They are often crystalline and show marks of their beiiii: (. An important fact concerning the layers of rock is that they always occupy the .same position relative to each other. Kor e\anii)le. if we rtiu'esent the series of rocks l)y I, 2, o, 4, etc., thj lower numbers occupying the lower position. We never Hnd ;> below i! or H below 5. Uemembering this, it will be easily un- derstood tiiat as soon as we obtain a few characteristic fossils we c.n with con- siderable certainty make out the iM)si- tion (»f the rock iv the geological series. Supplied with tlu'Se rive fact** regard- ing the »'eriod, and continued so while other places were submerged and in a [losition to receive further additions to their state. We must remember that before a stratum of rock can be formed, that in most cases it is necessary that the place ujnin which it is deposited be beneath a body of water, especially when the rock contains the re- mains of marine organisms. 2. The deposits may have l)een formed and afterwards were worn away by long periods of time. But we can scarcely imagine whole series of rocks, so com- pletely swept out of existence as not to leave'a vestige of them. ;{. Some have tluaight that the place may have been located in deep water and situated beyond the roach of deposits being added, while tlioy wore forming nearer the shore, where rocks are more rapidly formetl by the action of the sea upon the coast. One thing is certain, that after the formation of the Silurian deposits found at Selkirk, there was a great lireak in the formation of rock in this part of the Dominion, in other [(arts we find that foruiations thousands of feet in thickness were dejxisited, while the banks of the lied River remained the same. Rocks of later date aic represent- ed elsevviiere, while here not a traco ol them is fouml. Throughout the forma- tion of the Red .sandstone system, oui' strata ai)pears to have received no addi- tions. During the great coal-forming period, nothing seiMus to ha\ e beenadiled to "^he Selkirk layers. 'I'he period of chalk-building juissed away, still those at Selkirk ap])ear to have not l)een increased. NN'iiole series of rocks thousands of feet in thickness were built up and great periods of time passed away during which the deposits of this quarry lay abiveand beyond the iiiHueuce of the sea. Hut when the glacial and ]iast glacial times appear the limestoi.es of Selkirk re ceiveda covering. OKOMK.n AI. HORIZON OK SKLKIHK (^lAKK^ . As already observed fo.ssils are «juite numerous in the (piarry, contined to coni]KUiitividy few orders and character- istic of several formations found in the Silurian .system. We ha\e no hesitiition in considering these rocks as Silurian but there is some dirticiilty in assigning them to the respective formatioas of that system hitherto they ha\e been placed ann^ng tile lower Silurian, (Trenton formation) but the fossils found in the .lL. OKKINKD. A fossil maybe defined as "any Itodyor the traces of the existence of any liody whether animal or vegetable which iias been buried in the earth by natural caus33." or the relics of plants or animals imbedded in rocks. They may l)e formed as fu.flows :■— 4 K(IKMATI<»-S HP ro,s,sll.,s. 1. The body of tlio iiiiiiiiiil nr the pkut (ir only a pDrtioii uiiiy he ini'oedtlecl with- out further cluuiyc. Tliis it the simplest form, and fo.sHtlH of this kind are oonipar- jitively recent. 2. (^iistsor moulds of tho body may bo made. This will occur under circum- stances like the following ; The animal becomes entombed in a deposit. In the course of time it tlecom- poses and passes entirely away. The space once t>ccupied by it, now em))ty, tills up witii intiltrating material, tuchjwlime com|)ounds or other sub- stance soluble in water. There will now bo a perfect cast of the b(»dy, whicli will be revealed when the rock is broken uj). If no intiltnitinj^ material reaches tlie cavity then a mould of the object is left. 'I'his mode of fossil formation frecjuently occurs with remaijis of shells, of which, in some rcjcks, excellent cfists and moulds of tho shells are found. ■"{. Ilej)lacement is one of the mostcom- mon ways in which fossils are formed, and gives rise to the most perfect forms we obtain. As in the preceding mode tlie l)ody is imbedded in u deposit, but as particle by particle is removed while decompcjsition of the object is taking place they are replaced by intilitrating substances, which may be compt)unds of lime, ii'ou, or silica in solu- tion. Finally the organism is completely rejilaced and a f*s8il results which is a perfect representation of the entombed object. So perfect is this process that the very structure of the eye is retained. lSou\e of our j)etrihed wood from the west has been replaced by siliceous material so completely that the structure of the rings of growth and medullary rays are preserved. Many springs at the i)rosent time con- tain these inhlti-ating compounds to such an extent that objects placed in them soon become petrified. 4. Impressions, such as tracks, rain- drop marks, etc., also may be considered as f(jssils indicating the former presence of their cause. Those are preserved as follows: Imagine a muddy flat, bordering and partially under the sea, especially at high water, but bare when the tide re- cedes. At low tide a large portion of it will be exposed for at least six hours, and some of it for twelve. Durintr the time of exposure birds and othei' animals may walk over it, leaving distinct foot-prints upon the soft mud. A heavy shower of rain would no doubt leave innumerable markings of the rain-drops. If all this should occur at a time followed by some hours of strong sunshhio, wo cati easily imagine that the mud would harden so as to retain the fi>otprint8. With tho returning tide the whole is covered with another coating of silt-like material. This process continues as often as tho tide ebbs and Hows, but sometimes tmtre effectively than othora. After a time the bed sohdities through the influence of pressure, heat, or the presence of harden- ing compounds witlnn it, and a hard com- pfict rock results. This, many yeai-s after, when the [dace has undergone some geological changes, becomes an exposure of rock, like our Selkirk (puirry of to-day. Its layoja are readily distinguished, and when split up the foot[)rints of the birds that waded along the tidal shore htng periods of time before, are observed. This mode of f()rniing traces of footprints is well illustrated by the flats along the IJay of Fundy. The formation of all fossils can bo ac- counted for in some of the four ways de- scribed. We now i)roceed tf> observe what may be inferred from a fossil. INKEKKNCES H'HOM KO.S.SILS — AiJS. 1. The age of the deposit : — Each age, system, group or formation has fossils which are peculiar to it. If these charac- teristic fossils are known we can at once infer the age. A good illustration is af- forded in the quarry under consideration. The fossils found in it are peculiar to tho Silurian system. The trih)bites are found ill no strata higher than the sub- carboniferous, coiisetjuently the discovery of one of these interesting relics enables us at once to infer that the mcks in which it has been found are beloA' tho carboniferous, and that true coal cannot be found in a region whore such rocks occur near the surface. It is on this ac- count that the trilobite is an important fossil in identifying the relative position of certain beds to coal-bearing strata which are always above formations in which these fossils are found, certain fossils found in the Northwest are common to the cretaceous rocks else- where, hence we at once conclude that the deposits west of us, where these are found, belong to the cretaceous system although we find no chalk aa in England where that substance is common among these deposits. Early geologists were inclined to name systems from their mineral characters rather than the fossil.'^ which they con- tained. But fossils are now considered U k I 118 Uie MKint iiiiiMiitiiiit tiicfcors in iletor- iiiiiig tlio ii^{o of roclvH. NAIl RK. 2. Niitmi! of thu (li'[)uMit. All iuiiniaJH liiivu a piirtioiiiar iiiiliit, a placo luliipti d to tht^ir Imbits of life. L iiiiiy l>o in tlio Hon, rivoi', laku, ilnuii or slmllow wiitrr, (.•onHO(|iU!iitly if vn; know tlio niode oi;ios of ooral found in tlio quarry, our minds rovcrt to u timo wlion a j,'roat soa must liavo oov orotl this legion, tlu' wators of which lia . To maintain such the climate of a country must be trojiical, at least 8emi-troj>ical, such as wliere corals are found at the pro.seiit time. 'I'heir jiresenco in Solkirk be- comes of great interest remind- ing us of the i)leasant climate oin;riod recall a time when gigantic club mosses, immeuse ferns, and other forms of Howoi'less [dants flourished in a warm (ilim.ito and moi.st atmosphere supplying the conditions nocossary for such luxuriant gi'((wth as seems to have boon common in the days when the carboniferou.s flora wivs in existen inches in tli.ui'iter with tint '. well defined whorls, one side is {) . fectly flat the other convex four iiiclu^d through the thickest i)art. The nature of the creature which occupied this huge shell is not well undor.stood. The lamily having passed out of existenct; long before ovi^ modprn s -is were formed. I liavo found an.';her of this group, but it is not so largo. Several ilistinguishod scientists have seen this largo form and pronounce it the Iiirgest they havo i. -or exami'ieo. Further ex- amination of Selkirk rock may furnish us with still more complete siieciiueiis, from which something may be gathered that will give more light regarding the nature of this ]ieculiar type. 2. Another comparatively large fossil obtained last summer appears to be made uji of a series of thin layers, each about twice the thickness of note })a[ior. Tliesi; aio Hi ranged in a wave-like manner. At the summit of each crest there seems to have been an opening around which the layers are arranged in concentric rings. Tills specimen is five inches in length, four in width and two in thickness. It is not c<..iiplote but it shows the structure very distinctly. Several fragments of the same nature were found. This peculiar fossil is the remains of an animal which is of doubt- ful nature. By some it has been con- sidered a sponge, by others as .allied to animals (F'oraiiiinefeia) wiiich have assisted largely in the formation of chalk. 6 '.). Tlioro is iiii t!xcet!f sur- prise that (luarryiuei: slmuhl have called thoiii "potrilicd suidhiwurs." Maiiy excel lent specimens of tliosecau ne seen in the stone l>r<)Uj,dit to the city for building purposes. Srinie of them arc ten inches in diameter and about one inch thick, l)erfectly round with a slight depression in the centre on one side, and slightly convex on the other. Tin; whole sur- face presents a checked appearance, like tlie seeds in a sunflower. VVlicn n verti- cal section is examined it a] ipears com- posed of innnmeralile rods about the thickness of ordinaiy wire. This pecu- liar fossil also occujues a very dtful position in tlic scale of life. It has been referred to the sponges, corals and even phmts. Hwing to it being found in the vicinity of some lead bearing rocks, it hits been called " lead coral." r(ii'..vi..s. 4. iiv- far the most connnoii fossils in this locality are representatives of the coral family, endiracing several species. One very beautiful furni is the "cliani coral./ It appears like a mass of small chains thrown together. Some very tine si)ecimens of this kind have been found wlvicli sliow \ery dis- tinctly the structure pearance on the sujface, ana in some respects resendiles the " lumey- couib coral " of other formations. This sjiecies occurs in comparatively large masses, and in some cases interfeius with the successful " dressing " of the stoue. .\nother variety of coral, not so coiiunoii as the preceding, Ikuus some re- seiiil)laHoe to a horn, \aryinj; from two to six inches in lengtii, two inclies tliick, and tapering to a point, ami having a slight curve. These are the " ])etritied bonis ' of the ipiariy. Together with the precedii';j some two oi' ihretj other forms of coral life arefound in Selkirk (juarry, a place wliei'i^ there seems to have been a sort of coral reef at one time on which tliese tiny organisms toiled in the waters of a warm sea, foriiung rock to be ipiarried by man when the genial cli- mate was replaced by the cold northern blizzards which now sweep over the s.ime place with a temperature forty to iifty de- grees bcluw y.ero. crT'n.K-i-isH. o. Almost as common as the corfUs are the innumerable fossil remains of repre- sentatives of the cuttle-fish family. Sev- eral species are found, some of which are large -three to four feet in length. Most of these are reailily recognized ny a series of rings. These are tluj fossil segments of the animals' liody. In some the rings are not more than one quarter inch in thickness, in o.'iers much thicker. The animals lived in .-iliells consisting of many chaml)ers, the last being occupied by the animal. They likely sported in the water near the .siiore, and thus became embeil- ded in the coral leef. On e.^ramiiiation of one of these fossils you will fre((Uent]y tiiid a rod-like structure passini; throuidi the centre of the segments. This is (^ften the only remains you find of the animal, and mu.st not be considered as the whole. Some of these structures are two inches m diameter, with a more or less beaded aj)j)earanje, bearing a close resem- blance to a piece of turned wood. ANIMALS ALI.IKh TO CHAlts. (). As yet only the fragments of trilo- bites have been f.ssils are found in a rolled up condition, a form which the animal was able to assume, likely ti> enable it to sink with greater rapidity into deeper water during mom- ents of danger. The well de\elo|)ed nature of the eyes U! these crab-like creatures indicates that at this ea. ly period in the earth's history there was light. Some fossils of this class have been found which measured a font in length. The largest 1 have found in Selkirk rock seems to have been the frag- ment of one live inches in length. liesides these fossils grouped in the six divisions above, there have been found a few others of a moi-e or less doubtful form, chiefly fragments which I am not in a position to describe but which after a mule thorough examiautiun uf those rucks tliiin I liad an oiiportunity of doing last suuuiier, I hope to obtain much ad- ditional data that will assist largely in determining the position of tlie Selkirk exposure in the gtjological series of rocks. 1 have no douijl but many interesting fossils will be obtained and complete forms secured, of whicli 1 have as yet been able to find only fi-agmeuls. All tliese peculiar remains to wliich reference has been made are traces of primeval life tliat occupied tlie water.s of an ocean which once cuvered this part of tlie world. These animals were among tlie leadin types tlien in< existence, for at that jieriod in creation none of the higlier animals (those with a backbone; liad as yet made their appearance. Life was cntined to the sea, and was of a rudiment.uy nature. It was a time of great stillness, for the land was unt yet fitted for terrestrial life. No sound was lieard but the lasliing of the waves .along the lonely sliores, i>r the winds sweejjing, unimpeded in theii' ciiurse across the bleak and solitary rocks. 'I'he continent, like its 8i)ecies, was sub- marine. It was outlined, but not ti'itil long j)eriods had jjassed, during which great pliysieal disturbances took place, Mas the present form brought into ex- istence. Taking tlie data collected from this somewhat oiiscuri! (piarry and re- flecting upon the changes wliich nuist liave taken jihice since these animals ex- isted, and liow these changes have likely been brougiit about, the fragiiientary records of tlie (juariy become a sinirce <>i intense interest and iionstant food to a C(mtemplative mnid. <'IIAR\(TRKJ.sTIrS i>K Ml,rilIA.V K.M Ks IN liENKKAr.. As already observed, the stratified nature of the rock, its comparatively soft condition in contrast with crystalline iMcks and sedimentary origin, for no doubt it wa.s formed beiii'ath ^^ater as sediments are accumulating in our modern seas, place the liiuestor.es of tliis ijuari'y uiuler tlu) d to seem to have thfonged the seas in some jiarts. Their remains are very numerons, .•i,nd we know tliat a great number of bodies are nevei' jireserved in a fossil state, for the conditions necessary to their formation are absent. Besides corals, cuttlefish ami shells, there were ])eculiar organisms not yet fouiul at Selkirk in these early seas, allied U> the starfish family. They are sometimes called .-sea. lilies. Placed on a stalk and attached to the sea iiottom they presented a tlower- like apjieaiance. We seldom find the top or animal proper, but tlu; steins are very common, varying from an eighth to one inch in diameter, and over a foot in length. Another fossil found elsewheri; in tiiese I'ocks is something like the ap)*earance of a liny sa^\ . In Europe tish have been found at the suinmit of ihe Silurian rocks. The dejiosits were evidently laid down in comjiaratively shallow seas, with rocks rising here and there above the water, but yet untitted for animal life. Besides the interest which a considera- tion of the stone in Selkirk (-uarry gives us regarding its nature and formation, it becomes instructive wIkmi we view the ([Uarry with regard to the bearing of its fossils upon the theory of evolution. llfKOKV OK RVOH'TION. This theory has commanded, and is now attracting, a great deal of attention, and has its conclusions defended liy some master minds. The data m its favor has been arranged with great skill, and the arguments so cleverly presented that many are inclined to accept it Ijefore it has i^assed beyond the regicui of an hy- pothesis. S(.)me of our citizens had an opportunity last summer of hearing one of the ablest teadiers of the day take the {(latform in defence of what he liimself sty](!d a glorious guess at liiddeii truth. In the course of his remarks he laid great stress uiion what is revealed to us when we consult the geological i-ecords regard- ing tlu^ development of life upon the Jobe. As a titting conclusion to my le- nuirks upon Si'lkirk (piarry, i shall pre- sent to you some of the information we gather from these locks, as it bears upoii this (juestion. The advocates of this theory tell us that it is not betwetrii man and the monkey we must setik a con- necting link, for thry are the descendants 8 of some coninioii foim which we cannot ox!>ect to find lu tlio life iis it exists upon the globe, but wo must turn to the imperfect records in the rocks, and tlmt as tliej have been l)ut little explored, we need not be .suiprised if that priuiordial form hari not yet l)een disent-ond)eecies of cut- tle-tish tlirouged the seas of this age. Tlie .sea.air and earth liad each its species. Life was conuuou and rei>re- seuted by huge forms. This Hashes upon us in the smallest of the records in striking contrast to the comi)aratively limited representation in the largest, rnwcixryim; research will re- quire to be undti'gone througli long pe- riods of tiiue before the gn^at liiatus is lilJed up l)etwoon the life of tlu'Si^ two ages. SCIKNCE ATTUACTIVK. In conclusion, I think enougli has been said to show that a (juariy is a place of more than ordinary intei'esl when we endeavor to glean sonuethiiig from its stony hiyers which lie like so many leaves above eae!i other, each, if properly read. revealing some history regarding the early condition of our globe. The knowl- edge re()uisite for such intelligent exam- ination is within thegrasj) of all. Reading, with some degree of thoughtfid study, will attain it, and once secured, sucJi kniiwledge will prove a lasting source of I)leasure. It was from amongst the rocks inune- diately overlying those which have been occupying our attention to-night that one of the brightest intellects of Sctitland fouglit his way up from wielding a stone- mason's hauHuer to become the author of some of the most elo(|uent d'sscriptive books ever written. Tliought and study did this for Hugh Miller, "it will do the same for the members of this association. Vou are surrounded by a most inviting field for original researcli in the great Northwest, with its deep ravuies cut hundreds of feet through deposits of the very systems which contain the remains of the gigantic reptiles already referred to. Very little is known )f the prolitlc fields that surround ut*. Selkirk (juarry is i)ut one of innumerable outcrops along the [{ed River. I know of no more plea.sant pastime vjiat could be enjoj'ed by iiuuii- bers of this association than that derived from a knowledge of some branch in the department of science. My object to-night m addressing you lias been to show that much interest can be ol>taiued from jiliices wiiere it might reasonably be tliought there was mme. If I have succeeded in interesting you with my remarks u})on that i|uiet jilace on the banks of tne Red River near Selkirk, ami have in any way stirred up your minds to some activity so that you may snatch a few liours for con- templation and study from the many you are inclined to scpiander in an uii- ht-althy atniosj)hert' of mistaken [)leasure, for I fear there are too many young men of to-day who scarcely know what reading is unless it be the time sp«nit in a hasty perusal of a newsj)aper, or the reading ciit in the prejiaratioii of what 1 have said.