SECTION IV., 1901 [ 45 ] Trans. R. S. C. 
III. The Carboniferous Basin in New Brunswick. 
By R. W. Ezcs, LL.D. 
(Read May 23, 1901.) 
The Carboniferous basin in New Brunswick has a total area of not 
far from 12,000 square miles. It is roughly triangular in shape, with 
the base on the Gulf of St. Lawrence, which forms the eastern boundary 
of the province, and its apex near the southwestern extremity in York 
county. 
The basin is traversed by several low anticlines which extend east- 
ward across Northumberland Straits into Prince Edward Island. Occa- 
sional outcrops of eruptive rocks are seen, which break through the lower 
members of the Carboniferous system in the form of dykes, and some- 
times form masses of considerable extent. 
The rocks throughout the basin, however, consist for the most part 
of sandstones, shales and conglomerates. As a rule they lie in a nearly 
horizontal attitude, but occasional outcrops show dips of ten degrees or 
more, though the general inclination rarely exceeds two to three degrees. 
This feature applies more particularly to the sediments in the central 
basin, since in the area adjoining the Bay of Fundy, the rocks are some- 
times affected by ‘faults and the strata are in consequence inclined at 
high angles. 
Over large portions of the area occupied by the Carboniferous rocks 
the formations are concealed by drift, and good sections are therefore 
rarely obtained. Along the coasts also much of the shore line is low 
and sandy, so that attempts to accurately measure the thickness of the 
formations continuously, to any considerable distance, have not been 
successful. 
At the present day, when the search for economic minerals is a 
question of great importance all over the Dominion, the occurrence of 
coal and iron in workable quantity is a matter requiring very careful 
consideration, and the actual value of the Carboniferous basin of New 
Brunswick should be thoroughly investigated. Much study has already 
been given to the solution of this problem. The surface has been 
carefully explored over much of its extent, and the economic value of the 
several outcroppings of coal has been determined as far as practicable. 
In addition to the information thus acquired, explorations by means 
of borings have been instituted and carried on at intervals for more 
than sixty years. 
