[MATTHEW] THE DELTA OF THE LITTLE RIVER GROUP 21 



8. These Mispec slates are all of a deep red colour, are based 

 upon volcanic rocks, and at west are entirely separated from the 

 Cordaite or plant-bearing slates. 



9. At this time, or somewhat later, the pressure from the south- 

 east, and the folding of the whole pre-Devonian series of Palaeozoic 

 strata occurred, and the change from carboniferous to graphitized 

 inclusions became manifest. 



10. Connected with the folding and squeezing together of the 

 whole deposit, ridges of granitic rocks appeared at the surface. Of 

 these, the most notable is the range of the Nerepis hills of which the 

 core consists of such granites. These granitic intrusions are specially 

 notable along the southern border of the Coal Measures in Queen's 

 county, beyond which, westward, while the granites continue their 

 course to the southwest, the border of the coal field trends away to 

 the North. 



11. After the folding, hardening and partial metamorphism of 

 the plant beds, further geological changes occurred, leading to the 

 deposit of later series of strata — Palaeozoic and Mesozoic — none of 

 which, however, show such strong pressure from the southeastward as 

 those we have described, and none exhibiting that development of 

 heat which graphitized plant remains of the St. John plant beds 

 exhibits. 



But the erosion of these ridges continued for many ages, as there 

 are no traces of accumulative deposits again until the Glacial time is 

 reached, and the erosive action of glaciers covered the surface of the 

 land with till and the clay and sand beds which now conceal from view 

 large areas of the older stratified rocks. 



