Dr. Gesner on the Geology of Nova Scotia. 151 



and pass along the northern flank of the fossiliferous slates of 

 the Cohequial range ; whence they pass nearly due west to Apple 

 River on Chignecto Bay. All the isthmus north of this line consists 

 of coal-measures. 



The Nova Scotian or south-eastern coast of Chignecto Bay runs 

 nearly at right angles to the direction of the coal strata, and presents 

 an admirable section of them nearly thirty-five miles in length. Along 

 this length of coast the strata lie in a trough, the base or synclinal 

 point of which is Little Shoolie ; and from this point, as you recede 

 further in a north-eastern direction, the strata rise to the north and 

 north-north-west, with an increasing dip. At the Joggins, twelve 

 miles north-east of Little Shoolie, where the blue sandstone is ex- 

 tensively worked for grindstones, the dip is from 25° to 35°. In the 

 opposite direction, as you recede from the base of the trough, the 

 strata rise towards the south, until on approaching the intrusive 

 rocks of Cape Chignecto the inclination is 4 j°. 



In making a careful examination of the entire of this coast of 

 thirty-five miles, only one fault was observed, and that occasioned 

 a dislocation of only a few feet. By measuring the horizontal di- 

 stances between the strata and making allowance for their inclination 

 at a number of places, the author estimated the total thickness of 

 the coal-measures on this coast at not less than three miles. 



The chief part of the workable seams of coal is probably exposed 

 on the Chignecto shore, and it is near the middle of the section that 

 most coal-seams are seen. At the South Joggins, in the above coast- 

 section, in the horizontal distance of three quarters of a mile and in 

 a thickness of strata amounting to 1 800 feet, nineteen seams of coal 

 are seen, from six inches to four feet thick. Outcrops of coal have 

 been observed to the south-west of the Joggins, on the Apple River, 

 and to the north-east on the river Hebert ; also on the Macan River, 

 where one seam is ten feet thick and of good quality ; and also near 

 the river Philip. In the eastern part of the northern coast of the 

 province coal first appears at Pomket ; then at Fraser's mountain and 

 at the Albion mines, and other places near Pictou. In the belt of 

 coal-measures which lies south of the Cobequial mountain, two seams 

 of coal have been discovered in the forest, ten miles north of Truro, 

 dipping from that range. Outcrops of coal appear also in the same 

 belt at Jolly River, at Debert River, at Economy River, and at Parr's 

 Borough. 



Along the northern coast which borders on Northumberland strait, 

 and along the courses of the rivers which fall into that strait, coal- 

 plants are very abundant. Among these are many large trees which 

 were branching at their tops. The bark is generally converted into 

 coal, and sometimes the whole trunk ; and then the woody fibre 

 remains very distinct. Several of these trees are four feet in dia- 

 meter, and some have been seen six feet in length. Along this 

 coast the trees are all prostrate, whether in the sandstones or shales, 

 and they do not appear to lie more in one direction than another. 

 On the coast of Chignecto Bay fossil trees also abound ; and in 

 most places they lie in all positions, parallel to the strata, or across 



