THE 



CANADIA2s^ 



MTUMLIST AID GEOLOGIST. 



Vol, YII. FEBRUARY, 1862. No. 1. 



ARTICLE I. — On, the Primitive Formations in Norway and 

 in Canada^ and their Mineral Wealth, By Thomas 

 Macfarlane, 



(Presented to the Natural History Society.) 



Some apology may appear necessary here for the use of a terra, 

 regarded by many geologists as calculated to perpetuate false' 

 ideas as to the character and origin of the series of rocks which 

 it comprehends. The object of the following paper, however, 

 being merely to point out certain analogies, and possibly, differ- 

 ences, between certain groups of rocks in Norway, and their 

 equivalents in Canada, the name given them is of minor import- 

 ance ; and when it is considered how difficult it is to choose 

 among the various terms which have been proposed and used for 

 designating these formations, the one adopted in the above title 

 may appear excusable, and not perhaps be deemed unserviceable 

 on this occasion. 



The groups of rocks, whose equivalents in Norway I propose 

 in some measure to describe, are here known as the Laurentian 

 system, the Huronian and the Metamorphic Silurian series. 

 The first of these is generally designated the Primitive Gneiss 

 formation, {Urgneiss Formation) in Germany and Scandi- 

 navia, while the two last mentioned groups make up what is 

 termed there the Primitive Slate formation (Urschiefer For- 

 mation). I propose to describe these groups of rocks as they 

 Can. Xat. 1 Vol. VII. 



