328 Perley^s observations on the 



much more recent character, inchiding an extensive coal forma- 

 tion, with various indications of other minerals. 



The aqueous or stratified rocks of Newfoundland consist of the 

 following formations : — 



The upper, and the lower, or red portion of the coal formation. 



Next in the descending order, magnesian limestone. Then, an 

 upper slate formation, consisting of shale and gritstone, and 

 variegated shales. 



Below these, a lower slate formation — and then the gneiss, 

 and mica slate. 



The unstratified, or igneous rocks, consist of various kinds of 

 trap, greenstone, serpentine, hypersthene, porphyry, syenite, and 

 granite. 



The upper part of the coal formation consists principally of dark 

 shales, with brown or yellow sandstones, or gritstones, in thin 

 beds. 



The lower part of this formation is characterised by beds of red 

 sandstone, red and green marls, and gypsum. 



These two portions of the coal formation pass by insensible 

 gradations into each other. 



Yellow, brown, and whitish flags and sandstones, dark blue 

 clay, with an occasional bed of black shale, occur throughout the 

 whole of the coal formation. Some of the lighter colored sand- 

 stones contain carbonate of lime, red and green marl, and large 

 masses of gypsum in thick beds. 



The total thickness of the coast formation is considerable, and 

 the portion examined by Mr. Jukes had a thickness of 1000 to 

 1500 feet. 



The magnesian limestone which was seen, was generally of a 

 yellow colour, about 50 feet thick, in beds of 2 or 3 feet each, fre- 

 quently splitting into flags. 



One bed of carbonate of lime was found of a grey colour, about 

 2 feet thick, with a band of brown chert. 



The upper slate formation is supposed to be below the coal 

 formation in the series. 



The superior portion consists of dark aicaceous shale splitting 

 into thin laminae, with interstratified beds of a very fine grained 

 grey gritstone, which increase in number, thickness and coarse- 

 ness of grain, with the increasing depth, until the shale disappears 

 altogether. The thickness of the two portions seen is estimated 

 at several hundred feet. 



