GEOLOGY OF THE PROVINCE OF SAMANA. 185 



Impure coral limestone, which lies nearly or quite horizontal, is exposed 

 along the entire north shore of Samana Bay at altitudes of less than 3 to 6 

 meters above sea level. The limestone closely resembles modern coral 

 reef limestone and probably represents reefs that have recently emerged 

 from the sea. Punta de los Corozos, Cabeza de Toros, Punta de Santa 

 Paula, Punta Gorda, and almost all the other points along the coast 

 between Punta de los Corozos and Sanchez are composed largely of this 

 limestone. 



RECENT DEPOSITS. 



Rio Yuna is bringing a large volume of sediment to the head of Samana 

 Bay and depositing it there while coral debris and beach sands are being 

 deposited along the coast. The deposits in the streams are boulders, 

 cobbles, and gravel, which the water has not sufficient power to carry 

 beyond the steeper slopes. 



The deposits of finer sediments are mostly in the western part of Samana 

 Bay, so that the water of the bay elsewhere is mostly clean and affords 

 conditions suitable for the growth of corals, especially those that thrive best 

 in rather quiet but pure water. Off the mouth of the harbor at Santa 

 Barbara de Samana fine colonies of the staghorn coral and the closely re- 

 lated palmate coral (Acropora muricata and A. palmata ) were seen. The 

 general conditions under which the coral patches and the coral reefs in 

 Samana Bay are riving accord with what is known regarding similar coral 

 formations in other parts of the West Indies, indicating that the bay is due 

 to submergence in geologically very late if not Recent time. 



ECONOMIC GEOLOGY. 



The country bordering Samana Bay was examined with special reference 

 to water supply and material for highway construction or other engineering 

 enterprises. Analyses of waters are given on pages 249-254, and the 

 results of tests of rock and clay-sand are given on pages 247-248. 



