Geological Society. 3 1 7 



marshes, on which are found a few pines and brush- 

 wood and aquatic mosses. In several parts of the couniry 

 the rocks are intersected by chasms, running generally in 

 a right line to a considerable distance, which \\htn covered 

 with snotv form dangerous pitfalls. The highest moun- 

 tains extend along the eastern coast: the elevation of one 

 of them, called Mount Thoresby, has been ascertained by 

 actual nieasui'cmeat to equal 2733 feet, and a few others 

 probably attain the height of 3000 feet. 



From' the islands near Cape Chudleigh the Missionaries 

 have sent specimens of large-grained pale granite with gar- 

 nets. The island of AmmTtok in lat. 59' 20' consists 

 entirely of a crumbling garnet rock, in which hornblende 

 sometimes occurs. The mountains about Nachwak Bay 

 furnish lapis olLaris.- 



On the south of the high land of Kiglapyed in lat. 57** 

 the district commences where the Labrador felspar is 

 found: this mineral occurs not only in rolled stones on the^ 

 shore, but in spots in the rocks in the neighbourhood of 

 Nain, and particularly in the rocks bordering a lagoon 

 about 60 miles inland, in which Nain North river termi- 

 nates. The same district also produces the hyperstene or 

 Labrador hornblende. 



At Hopedale a limestone occurs from which have been 

 procured specimens of reddish limestone, of calcareous spar, 

 and of a variety of schiefer spar. 



The country to the west of Cape Chudleigh, as far as it 

 has been explored, is called the Ungava ; and abounds with 

 red jasper, with haematites, and with iron pyrites. 



April 17. — Two communications were announced, and 

 the receipt of various books and specimens was reported 

 by the Secretary. 



An account of the brine springs at Droitwich, by Leo- 

 nard Horner, Esq. Sec. Geol. Soc. was read. 



The town of Droitwich has been noted for the manu- 

 facture of salt during at least a thousand years ; but no de- 

 tailed account has Inlherto been published of the natural 

 and chemical history of the brine springs from which it is 

 procured. The brine springs arc in the centre of the town, * 

 being situated in a narrow vallev throui>;h which the small 

 river Salwarp flows. The prevail ng rock about Droitv/ich 

 is a fine-grained calcareo-art;illaceous sandstone of a 

 brownish red colour, with occasional spots and patches of 

 a greenish blue. At Doder Hill in the immediate vicinity 

 of the salt pits the rock appears to be a stratiiied sandstone 

 of a greenish g ay colour, and more indurated than tlie red 

 X 3 rock. 



