262 | Geology and Mineralogy of the 
ture is earthy-conchoidal. The only substance I met witli 
in its fissures was brilliant and well-formed quartzose prisms 
of a red colour. 
The north shore only of the upper basin exhibits any 
stratification and it is of the transition quartz; but whether 
precisely of the same species as that of the rapid of the ba- 
sins I know not. At Encampment Douce it changes; in 
becoming crystalline, compact, translucent at the edges, 
oidal, and in passing occasionally by imperceptible 
shades into a feldspathic form; the fracture being then foli- 
, fragments schistose, lustre shining, and the translu- 
cency at the edges very slight. Itis very commonly stud- 
ded with nodules of red and brown Jasper, averaging an 
inch in diameter, and often arranging themselves in the 
form of belts or stripes of from one to five feet in breadth, 
mingled with round pebbles of white and black quartz. 
Every part of the north west portion of Lake Huron abounds 
ina compan ate of this rock ; rich in Jaspers of all col- 
ours, and occurring in blocks of great magnitude. J never 
met with this species in situ. . 
portions of black acd brown heematite are noi 
eatrequant in the rock of Encampment Douce, and are as- 
sociated with a bluish black, scaly, ore ; of iron I suppose. 
Quartz is sometimes met with i ina state of crystallization. 
I have not traced the transition farther than two miles up 
the Great Nibish rapids. 
Havi ished the observations on this class of rocks, 
ihe following inferences may not be out of place. 
The “Serpent” rock was not deposited in the Wernerian 
method of gradual deposition, but it is the product of the 
forced union of two nascent formations; and which it is 
most easy to conceive took place horizontally, and not in 
their present inclination : thereby pointing out an after-de- 
pression or elevatio 
All this applies equally to the iecibions conglomerate 
of which it may be remarked that a different era 
from the ‘“ Serpent” rock, though Sool of nearly the 
‘Same ingredients. The granitous compound is here in the 
form of rolled balls; which indicates that it had previously 
eee a dormant had been reduced to fragments and 
ibjec 
