Section IV., 1909. [4S ] Tuans. R. S. C 



V. — The Geological Factors in the Present Configuration of New 



Brunswick. 



By L. W. Bailey, LL.D. 



(Read May 26, 1909.) 



The endeavour to reproduce the geography of the past, to ascertain 

 from the distribution and characteristic features of rock formations and 

 their contained fossils tlie relative distribution of land and sea in former 

 periods, together with the features of their relief, in particular areas of 

 the earth's surface, is always a fascinating study, and is one to which of 

 late years a good deal of attention has been directed. But, intimately 

 connected with this subject and in reality its counterpart, is the desire 

 to know the particular operation of the several agencies by which the 

 present configuration of various regions has been determined, and to 

 assign to these several agencies their relative value in moulding land 

 forms as we see them to-day ; and in various parts of the world efforts 

 are now being made in this direction as well. Primarily the factors con- 

 cerned are the same everywhere, but their particular mode of operation 

 and their results are as various as are the regions in which they have 

 worked, and each region affords in itself an interesting field of enquiry. 

 It is the purpose of the writer in the following pages to give the re- 

 sults of such an enquiry in a district which, though not extensive, never- 

 theless exhibits much variety, both in its physical features and in its 

 geological structure, and which, in any attempt to correlate the two, 

 opens up some interesting problems. 



Summary of Physical Features. 



The Province of New Brunswick, situated between the parallels of 

 45° and 48° north latitude and between the meridians of 65° and 

 67° 50' west longitude, forms a considerable portion of what is some- 

 times known as the Acadian Basin, being one and the most easterly of 

 several such basins marked out from the earliest geological ages in the 

 physical structure and history of the continent. This easterly position 

 helps to explain the close relationship of its early faunas with those of 

 Europe rather than with those of other parts of America, while the fact 

 that the basin borders the Atlantic has also subjected it to influences 

 which, in the way of marine and atmospheric currents, climate and rain- 

 fall, have had a most important influence in determining the processes 

 of erosion and denudation, which, as will presently appear, have had so 

 much to do in moulding its present configuration. A considerable part 

 of the Basin is still submerged, though only to shallow depths, beneath 



