Mineralogy and Geology of a part of Nova Scotia. 145 
Portions of ensiform leaves resembling those of the Iris, or 
blue flag, were here observed, lying between, and included 
within the strata of sandstone. . 
The whole northern coast of the Basin of Mines, with 
the exception of the capes and islands of trap before des- 
cribed, is composed of strata of sandstone and shale, alter- 
nating with each other, and presenting to the sea, the edges 
of their strata, which are finely exhibited by this natural sec- 
tion. They do not attain a great elevation, rarely exceeding 
one hundred feet, and where exposed to the waves, the strata 
have suffered much from their violence, and the shale is al- 
ways worn away, exhibiting the bold ridges of sandstone 
strata, contrasted with the deep furrows occasioned by its 
decay. The strata of these rocks are from a foot to four 
feet in thickness, and are alternately stratified with each oth- 
er in great regularity: no limit being found to this alterna- 
tion, we are unable to say which rock is finally subordinate 
to the other. Near the village of Parsborough, the red 
shale appears to predominate, and constitutes a bed more 
than one hundred yards thick, which is beautifully spotted 
with green, and contains occasionally scattered crystals of 
yellow iron pyrites. East! of this bed the sandstone appears 
n more powerful strata, and more than compensates for the 
thickness of the shaie just mentioned. It es: a junction 
beds and veins of gypsum, which is of the laminated and 
fibrous kind. It is occasionally of a delicate flesh color, and 
appen to more friable crystalline varieties. At Tower Hill, 
the trap, which forms but a small part of the precipitous 
summit, and has no amygdaloid in connexion with it. ‘ 
united sandstone and shale however, exhibit a most singular 
