108 Mr Jukes on the Geology of Newfoundland. 



all the aspect of clay- slate. This slate-formation varies con- 

 siderably in character in different beds, and it is possible that 

 the beds themselves may vary in different portions of their 

 course. They are sometimes very thin, and split easily along 

 the lines of stratification ; in this case the cleavage is frequently 

 absent, or, if present, its plane appears generally to coincide 

 with that of the stratification. Other beds, again, are very thick, 

 the marks of stratification being confined to those bands of 

 colour technically called the stripe, and having a fine cleavage 

 crossing them at various angles, and splitting them into large 

 and excellent roofing slates. The colour of these rocks varies 

 from a greenish hue to a dark blue, or that which is commonly 

 understood by slate colour. The thickness of the whole forma- 

 tion cannot be ascertained, as I do not know that I have any- 

 where seen the base of it ; that part which is exposed, however, 

 must be 2000 or 3000 feet thick. It is the lowest stratified 

 rock anywhere to be seen on the eastern side of the island. 



Stratified Bocks of the Western part of Newfoundland. 



The series of stratified rocks on the Western shore of New- 

 foundland is very different from that of the Eastern side. It 

 consists of four or five formations in the following order : — 



1. The Newfoundland Coal- formation, — This interesting and 

 important group of rocks resembles in its higher portions 

 the coal-formation of Europe, and consists of alternations of 

 shale and clunch, with various beds of gritstone, and here and 

 there a bed of coal. Interstratified with these rocks, however, 

 there occur in Newfoundland beds of red marl ; and as we de- 

 scend to the lower parts of the formation, there come in alter- 

 nations of red and variegated marls with gypsum, dark blue 

 clays with selenite, dark brown conglomerate beds, and soft and 

 red and white sandstones. This inferior portion of the New- 

 foundland coal-formation so greatly resembles the new red 

 sandstone of England (which in that country lies over the coal- 

 formation), that it was not till I got the clearest evidence of 

 the contrary, that I could divest myself of the prepossession of 

 its being superior to the coal in this country also. That no- 

 thing might be wanting to complete the resemblance, a brine 

 spring is known to rise in one spot on the south side of St 



