282 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



presumed that this coal belongs to the true coal measures ; and this 

 locality is probably an exposure indicating the existence of a great 

 basin. This point itself, and the surrounding country are well worthy 

 of a more extended examination, since the discovery of workable 

 beds of coal in this region would be a matter of national importance. 

 From the Wind Paver Mountain to Fort Bridget, (in 41 18' N., 110 

 32' W.,) the collections are all marine tertiary, including many speci- 

 mens of nautilus and other marine shells. West of Fort Hall are 

 chert and limestone of the carboniferous period. 



The specimens collected in the islands and shores of the Great Salt 

 Lake, are sufficient to give a very good idea of the general geological 

 features. The specimens are of metamorphic rocks, consisting of tal- 

 cose and mica slates, hornblende rocks, and a few specimens of granitic 

 and syenitic character. From the facts in my possession, it would 

 appear that these metamorphic rocks are distinctly stratified and highly 

 inclined, but do not attain any great elevation. The direction of the 

 ranges, corresponding to that of the elevating forces, appears nearly 

 to conform to north by west, and south by east. From the form of 

 the lake and the different localities at which rocks of this character 

 occur, we may infer that there were two lines of elevation, corres- 

 ponding with the divisions of the lake. The more elevated portions 

 of the lake shore, and the mountain ranges consist of carboniferous 

 limestone. In some localities this limestone is partially altered, losing 

 its granular character, and becoming sub-crystalline, or threaded by 

 numerous veins of calcareous spar. In most localities the limestone 

 abounds in fossils, particularly corals of the Cyathophillidfe. 



It will be seen from these facts that we have very satisfactory infor- 

 mation that the limestone of the carboniferous period is widely distrib- 

 uted in the region around the Great Salt Lake. Its position relative 

 to the coal bed on the north fork of Platte River has not been 

 determined ; but since no beds of coal have been observed on the 

 slopes of the mountains in the region of the Salt Lake, we are left to 

 infer that the coal is to be sought (as elsewhere) above the limestone. 

 Since the existence of coal is proved at one point (admitting the evi- 

 dence in favor of its age being that of the carboniferous period,) we 

 are warranted that it once existed over a much wider area, and can 

 be sought with success in the proper situations. The importance of 

 coal in that distant region cannot be too highly estimated, and the geo- 

 graphical position and extent of the beds, should be one of the first 

 points ascertained in thelocation of any route of communication 

 between the east and the west. 



RESEARCHES IN NEW ZEALAND. 



ACCORDING to recent accounts from this interesting country, true 

 palaeozoic coal has been discovered in the north part of the Middle 

 Island. The accounts are too vague to be entirely decisive of the 

 important question, whether in those remotest masses of dry land, 

 remains of the ancient carboniferous floras are buried. Fossils are 



