290 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



did not permit us to stop and test the question of the existence of 

 gold in this stream by actual trial. 



We have just now queried whether this mica schist formation, 

 of so great extent in Canada, and dipping easterly, may not form 

 a gigantic synclinal axis with the argillo-mica schists of the im- 

 mense region between Bangor and Dover. The two formations 

 run parallel to each other in Maine for more than a hundred miles, 

 and the formations adjacent to each are the same, and appear also 

 to have a synclinal structure. For instance, as shown in our sec- 

 tion, the clay slates of the Moose river region may come up again 

 on the other side of the basin in Shirley and Monson. And in 

 confirmation of this view, the rocks between the two clay slate 

 formations are all newer, being largely of known Devonian age, 

 while the clay slates cannot be newer than Lower Silurian or Upper 

 Cambrian. This suggestion we throw out for all it is worth. It 

 will furnish the clue to the geology of the whole State if it proves 

 to be true. 



III. Jottings in Central and Western Maine. 



It was expected that Dr. Holmes would present here a sketch 

 of the geology of the Kennebec and Androscoggin regions of the 

 State. This sketch was designed to be a notice, not merely of 

 what he had seen during the past two summers, but the results of 

 his observations for the past thirty years. Circumstances have 

 prevented the execution of this plan in season for this report ; and 

 therefore it becomes the duty of the Geologist to mention a few 

 facts which have fallen under his observation, as he has travelled 

 from one field of labor to another in the discharge of his assigned 

 duties. 



Piscataquis and Somerset Counties. In journeying from Shirley 

 to Skowhegan, and from Skowhegan to the Forks of the Kennebec, 

 one sees chiefly slates and schists. The results of every observa- 

 tion thus far noted by the Survej', are, that a line drawn from 

 Abbot to Bingham is the boundary between two immense forma- 

 tions, the one to the south-east being an argillo-mica schist, and 

 the one to the north-west being a clay slate. Both of these for- 

 mations are of great width, and extend very far in a north-east and 

 south-west direction. Several lines of axes will probably be traced 

 through them as the work of exploration goes on ; and these 

 results will be both highly interesting and useful. The dircctious 



