126 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
stones and shales characterizing the strata in others, the suitability of 
some of these rocks in the manufacture of cements, pulp, tiles, bricks, 
and numerous other materials suitable for construction, are questions of 
considerable value and importance to the various centres of our Domin- 
ion. When we realize that at the present time there are many industries 
in Canada, which are importing thousands of tons of rock materials, 
for various manufactures, building and other purposes from foreign 
countries, when we possess at our very doors materials which would not 
only be as good but even surpass in quality the imported articles, it 
were well that our attention be directed to our own native resources. It 
is partly with a view of adding a little information in this direction as 
well as contributing in a slight degree to the knowledge we possess of the 
geological structure of the rock formations of our principal cities, and 
presenting the same in a concise and systematic manner, that this paper 
is prepared. 
Brief descriptions of the succession of geological formations in 
Saint John, Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto, will be followed 
by the “ Synoptical Tables” for each of these centres of population. 
SAINT JOHN, NEW BRUNSWICK. 
I am indebted to Dr. G. F. Matthew, of Saint John, N.B., for the 
synoptical table of the geological systems, etc., represented within a 
radius of twenty miles of Saint John city, N.B. No one is better quali- 
fied than Dr. Matthew to prepare such a table and he has been kind 
enough to forward the accompanying table (Table No. 1, p. 165) to 
form part of the series of synoptical tables included in this paper. 
The accuracy of detail and careful manner in which he has pre- 
sented the geological history of Saint John, is the outcome of his long 
experience and well-known labours in that centre of scientific research 
of which he has long Been the most diligent, successful and brightest 
exponent. 
St. John is one of ‘he most interesting cities in which to carry on 
geological investigations, and a mere glance at the table prepared by 
Dr. Matthew reveals to even the most casual observer, what variety and 
extent of geological formations are included within so small a radius. 
True it is, that the rock formations of that portion of the Atlantic 
provinces have been subjected to great folding and alteration since they 
were deposited. Unconformities and overlaps, as well as faulted or 
dislocated strata, numerous series of folds closely impressed one against 
the other, and afterwards denuded, presenting the same succession of 
strata for thousands of feet in many localities as if they were a per- 

