224 Messrs. Jackson and Alger on the 
able claims to the title of basalt; but as we have no particular 
partiality for this term, and as the rock may differ in its internal 
characters from most of the basalt from Ireland, we have con- 
cluded to make use of the term columnar trap, leaving the 
question of its identity with the basalt of Ireland, to be decided 
by those better able to do it than ourselves; though we are 
aware, that some of the best writers on geology, do not admit 
any distinction between them. The experiments of Sir James 
Hall show very plainly, that the mechanical structure of trap may 
be coarse or fine, in proportion to the rapidity with which it 
passed, from its igneous or liquid state, into its columnar form ; 
and therefore, as might well be expected, we meet with masses 
that differ widely in these respects at the same locality. 
The next place of interest we shall mention, is Mink Cove, 
which is about five miles east of Little River. It is a harbour 
of inconsiderable depth, and presents nothing very peculiar in 
its geological features. A few interesting minerals, however, 
occur in the columnar trap and amygdaloid. They are red, yel- 
low, and ribbon jasper, which traverse the precipice in veins from 
eight inches to a foot wide, and run for a considerable distance 
through the rock; the yellow jasper occupying the amygdaloid on 
which the columnar trap rests, passes, as it enters the more dense 
superincumbent rock, into red jasper of fine texture, often ren- 
dered more beautiful by zones of various colors winding in con- 
centric circles through the mass. They are fit subjects for the 
lapidary’s wheel, and when polished, constitute ornamental speci- 
mens. A curious mineral also occurs in the amygdaloid of this 
place, consisting of broad lamella of quartz, disposed in parallel 
and intersecting plates, having the interstices filled with calcare- 
ous spar, giving the specimens the appearance of alternations of 
