Section IV., 1884. [ 1 ] Trans. Eoy. Soc. Canada. 



I. — On some Relations of Geological Work in Canada and the Old World. 

 By J. W. Dawson. O.M.G., LL.D., F.E.S., &c. 



(Read May 21, lSS-1.) 



I do not propose iu this paj)er to attempt the impossible task of discussing all the 

 points of contact between the geology of Canada and that of other parts of the world, but 

 merely to notice a few instances likely to be of interest to this section, which have come 

 under my own observation, of the relations of scientific work and workers on the two sides 

 of the Atlantic, — -relations which are daily becoming more intimate, and which it may be 

 hoped will be greatly strengthened by the approaching visit of the British Association to 

 Montreal. 



Beginning with the older crystalline rocks, one is struck with the large amo\rnt of 

 attention at present bestowed on petrology, and especially on the microscopic examination 

 of rocks. I can recall the time when these subjects scarcely excited any interest, and were 

 almost entirely neglected by English geologists. The current now sets strongly in this 

 direction, and many of the younger men are enthusiastic litliologists, while many of the 

 warmest and most earnest discussions in the G-eological Society relate to subjects of this 

 kind. In connection with this, the comparison of the pre-Cambrian rocks of Britain with 

 the larger and more complete development of these formations in Canada is pursued by 

 such men as Bouney and Hicks, and has directed much attention to Canadian geology. 



Canada has naturally taken the lead in the discrimination and classification of those 

 old pre-Cambrian rocks, of which she possesses so large an area. The distinctions made by 

 Sir W. E. Logan, of the Lower and Upper Laurentian, the Huronian and the Upper Copper- 

 bearing Series of Lake Superior, were in advance of anything done in Europe at that time, 

 and they have been ably followed up by Dr. Hunt and by the officers of the G-eological 

 Survey. Corresponding formations are now recognized in G-reat Britain, and in a recent 

 address delivered by Dr. Hicks, as President of the G-eologists' Association, he contends for 

 the existence in the British Islands and other parts of Europe of rocks corresponding to the 

 Lower Laurentian or Ottawa series, to the Middle or G-renville series, to the Norian or 

 Upper Laurentian, to the Huronian and to the Moutalbau. I had myself an opportunity 

 of noticing the remarkable lithological resemblance of the rocks of the St. Gothard Pass to 

 those of the White Mountains, and I had also the pleasure of recognizing iu the gneisses 

 and crj'stalline schists of Assouan in Egypt, a series identical in mineral character with 

 many portions of the Middle Laurentian of Canada ; while overlying deposits, largely made 

 up apparently of igneous products, seemed to occupy the position of the Arvonian series. 

 The quarries, from which the ancient Egyptians obtained their fine blocks of red granite 

 and diorite, are in intrusive dykes and masses penetrating these old stratified rocks. 



. Sec. IV., 1884. 1. 



