94 On the Transition Rocks of the Cataraqai. 



almost in every case where It can be observed, excepting in some few 

 instances where it immediately joins the granites, is nearly horizontal- 

 ly stratified, the dip being very small and following the usual direc- 

 tions of similar rocks in the great North American basin.* It ap- 

 pears to me very clear, that if the granites of tlic Cataraqui were tra- 

 chytic a vast extent of.tlie immense limestone plateaux would have 

 been disturbed by their upheaving, as these granites show diemselves 

 veiy freqiiently on the eastern shore of tire river, in distinct hillocks 

 amongst tlie calcareous beds. Is it not, therefore, probable, thst 

 some of diose partial cataclysms and earthquakes which have evi- 

 dently shaken Canada in other localities, may have caused the dis- 

 placement of those limited portions of the transition limestones of 

 Kingston w^hich seem not to follow the general laws : indeed, this ap- 

 peared most likely, when, in opening several extensive quarries, the 

 beds were sometimes found so contorted that it was impossible to ob- 

 serve their original coiuiection with the main body, and this allhough 

 there was no appearance of any extraordinary upheaving of the sub- 

 jacent rocks. 



So far, indeed, am I from yet believing that these assertions con- 

 cerning the porphyries and syenites of the Cataraqui are correct, that 

 I feel assured, proofs will be adduced to show that they are contem- 

 porary formations with the black transition limestone, approaching to 

 lucullite, with kw visible organic remains, but containing much car- 

 bon and some oxydulous iron; nay, I am even inclined to tliink, that 

 almost all the granitic aggregates of the countiy, adjacent to the St. 

 Lawrence, are very highly impregnated with lime, so characteristic 

 with magnesia and titaneous iron, of the transition class. 



Beudant has made tlie important observation, that the syenite 

 and porphyry of Schemnitz, Plauen and Guanaxuato effervesce with 

 acids, whilst the really trachytic porphyries of Hungary do not pre-, 

 sent the same phenomenon. f 



It is also now, a well known fact that the presence of felspar io 

 compact limestone is indicative of the rocks of the intermediary for- 

 mation, and this type is no where more easy of access than in the 

 oeighborhood of tlie Cataraqui, whilst in tlic same locality, horn- 



* I am not at all well satisfied that the granites thcirisclves are not stratified, the 

 siua!I uncovered |>ortious recently quarried appear to me to be decidedly so, and it 

 is the opinion of the workuien, that they arc. 



f Satjsscre and Brochant found niica slate of trausilion effervesce, and even 

 also a compact qaarlz. in the Tarentaise. 



