Geology of Newfoundland, 333 



for some time been exposed to the weather, stood out in bold 

 relief. 



Below these higher beds, are some thin beds of hard sub-crys- 

 talline limestone — some white, and some flesh coloured with white 

 veins. 



These thin beds have a thickness of about 100 feet, and from 

 the thickness of the beds they are especially adapted for marble 

 slabs, as they would take a good polish, and be highly orna- 

 mental. 



Below this formation lies a few feet of thin-bedded black mar- 

 ble, of similar qualities. 



Still farther down come large masses of grey compact lime- 

 stone, having a thickness of 300 or 400 feet, passing into a per- 

 fectly white saccharine limestone, without any mark of stratifi- 

 cation, and but few joints, or division lines of any kind. 



About three miles up the Humber River, it forms lofty white 

 precipices, of pure marble, crowned and surrounded by thick 

 woods, which, closing in upon the rapids, produce most pictur- 

 esque scenery. 



Blocks. of this magnificent marble, of any size required, might 

 be procured here, and readily floated down the river into the 

 sound, where vessels of any size may find safe and excellent 

 anchorage. 



From Cow Bay northward, along the west coast of Newfound- 

 land, the coast is low, and altogether of primary limestone, which 

 appears to form a belt of two or three leagues in width, bounded 

 by a lofty ridge of mica slate, gneiss, and their associated rocks, 

 forming aj^parently a continuation of the Long Range, and ex- 

 tending to Lake Quirpon, the extreme northern point of the island 

 of Newfoundland. 



This country has not yet been examined by any geologist, and 

 the writer speaks of its general features from observations made 

 while passing to and fro through the straits of Belleisle. 



Having thus briefly and imperfectly pointed out the leading 

 geological features of Newfoundland, it only remains to say that 

 in addition to the gypsum which is found abundantly at Cadroy, 

 and the splendid white marble of the Humber, ores of copper, in 

 difi'erent varieties, have been found in several districts, and ex- 

 plorations are being carried on by various parties, whose dis- 

 coveries have not yet been made public. 



An extensive deposit of lead was found at La Manche in Pla- 



