IS THERE COAL UNDER P. E. ISLAND ? — POOLE. 3 



Carboniferous Limestone. — Liineslone associated witli gyp- 

 sum, sandstones, mails, and local conglomerate ; fossil 

 shells, common ; coal seams, thin, few, and irregular. 



Carboniferous Conglomeraic. — Baal beds often indicating 

 induration. 



Devonian. — Including the plant beds of Riversdale, N. S., 

 and Little River, N. B. The Albert shales containing 

 the characteristic Psilophyton. 



In this inquiry, the material that is available and from whicli, 

 on consideration, a conclusion maj- be derived, consists of: — 



(a) The rock formations surrounding the Gulf of 8t. Law- 

 rence*; 



{b) The character of the deposits containing workable beds 

 of coal in the measures bordering the area ; 



(c) And the evidence of soundings in the Gulf which are 

 recorded on the shipping charts. 



It is assumed that in Pre-Cambrian days the outline of 

 eastern North America took shape much as it is now, and at the 

 same time the salient features as seen to-dtiy of that part of the 

 continent were established. The edge of the continental 

 shelf was determined and gave limit to the movements which 

 since then have, in large measure, been epeirogenic in character. 



Synchronous with the alternations to which the region has 

 been subjected along the eastern edge of the shelf, a line of 

 marked weakness branched westward from the maroin, whei'e it 

 is sharply deflected eastward to the south of Newfoundland and 

 the Grand Banks. The latter are essentially a part of the con- 

 tinent, though at present under water and in touch only at the 

 Virgin Rocks, which are, it is believed, of Pre-Silurian age.* 



If we view the several formations involved in this region as 

 units, it will appear that the amount of local disturbance each 

 has undergone is somewhat proportionate to the respective age : 

 the Permian least, the Millstone Grit moderately, while older 



*It is not questioned that the Grand Banks have been largely added to by moraine 

 matter of the Glacial epoch, and have had accretions deposited from icebergs, but on a 

 shallow rock base, an integral pait of the continent. 



