210 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
and other limestones have been recognized; also in the neighborhood 
of Banff Springs hotel, (Banff shales), dark-gray shaly limestones, prob- 
ably referable to the Neo-Devonian, whilst Dr. Dawson, Mr. Tyrrell 
and the writer have examined and recognized limestones of this age 
in the Crow’s Nest and Kootenay passes. In his explorations along the 
north Saskatchewan Mr. McConnell has recognized a group of limestones 
referable to the Devonian, and which he calls the “Intermediate lime- 
stone.” They consist of about 1500 feet of dolomitic limestones. In 
the Pipestone Pass, Sir Jas. Hector obtained Atrypa reticularis from 
strata supposed to be of Devonian age. 
THE CARBONIFEROUS SYSTEM. 
The Acadian Region —The Carboniferous System is one of the most 
important and extensively developed in Nova Scotia, The important 
coal-fields of Sydney, C.B., Pictou and Cumberland, contain vast quan- 
tities of fossil fuel for generations to come. The classification of the 
various members of this system in Nova Scotia requires further investi- 
gation before a complete tabular view can be given, although the general _ 
stratigraphical succession, or order in which the different formations or 
larger groups and series of strata, were laid down, has been fairly well 
established through the writings of Sir William Logan, Sir Chas. Lyell, 
Sir J. Wm. Dawson, Dr. Gesner, Dr. Ells, Mr. H. Fletcher, the Messrs. 
Poole, and other geologists. 
In the Lower or Eo-Carboniferous, I provisionally place the terri- 
genous, or estuarine deposits, known as the Union and Riversdale forma- 
tions which consist of red shales and marls with sandstones and conglo- 
merates overlying gray and black siliceous and carbonaceous shales, &c., 
with impure coaly seams, which latter are of no special economic 
value. These strata, from their nature and composition, were evidently 
deposited upon a rapidly sinking floor and hold a fauna and flora which 
bind them to the Carboniferous rather than to the Devonian system to 
which they have been ascribed for many years. In the Ho-Carbon- 
ferous I would also place the Horton formation which throughout the 
Bay of Fundy trough, consists of black and gray carbonaceous and 
caleareous shales, &c., overlying granitic sandstones and marls, &c., 
which latter series constitute a separate formation in the Wolfville and 
Horton district. The name Gaspereau formation is suggested for these 
granitic sandstones of the Avon River valley and from Angus brook in the 
Gaspereau valley in King’s county, N.S. Fossil plants found in strata of 
the Union or Riversdale formations, between Riversdale and Union 
stations (I.C.R.) in Colchester county also appear to have been found in 
the Horton formation. 

