364 THE GEOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE 
becomes less pronounced, drumlin-like hills of boulder-clay 
increasing in abundance encroach from both sides upon the 
valley and veneer the eastward extension of the table-land 
beyond. Westwardly this table-land curves gradually in around 
the head of the valley which, within a few miles, becomes a deep 
gorge within steep walls of slate. 
These topographic features are in part dependant on the 
characters of the underlying geological formations ; in part they 
depend on structural features, subsequent to the deposition, and 
independent of the characteristics, of the rocks. 
In the region under discussion these rocks present consider- 
able variety in texture and composition. Passing over the newer 
and unconsolidated sediments, that form the marine marshes, 
the terrace gravels, and the hills and sheets of boulder-clay, to 
the foundation rocks of the district, we find uppermost and 
resting against the lower slopes of the ridge at Wolfville a dull 
red sandstone composed of a variable mixture of grains of 
different minerals.) Rounded particles of white and colorless 
quartz appear to predominate, and minute gleaming flakes of 
both muscovite and biotite are scattered through the rock. 
Bright red specks are numerous, and according to their relative 
abundance the sandstone varies considerably in coloring between 
red and grey. The cementing matter is calcite, which is present 
in considerable quantity filling the interstices between the other 
minerals and effervescing briskly when the rock is touched 
with acid ‘he size of the grains also varies considerably and 
rounded pebbles of white vein quartz are not uncommon. The 
stratification is uneven and the beds dip north at angles of from 
10 to 12 degrees. 
This sandstone, possessing the same general characters, but 
varying in texture and in the relative abundance of its constitu- 
ents, underlies the whole Cormwallis Valley and extends 
westwardly for upwards of 90 miles. Eastwardly it forms a 
narrow interrupted band along the margin of the Basin of Minas, 
which appears to lie in a slight depression of its surface. 
Near Wolfville this formation, which is regarded as of 
