Essay on the Transition Rocks of the Cataraqui. 79 
leave farther investigation of these fairy forms of architecture, and 
of animals left to our admiring eyes from the wrecks of ancient for- 
mations, to continue our tour, in which we stopped on the summit of 
Point Henry, and which, in proceeding eastward, brings us once 
more to the shores of Lake Ontario. 
Directly opposite to the south west end of Cedar island on the 
main shore, a quarry was opened some years ago. This is called 
" the soft limestone quarry, because the stone, when first exposed, cuts 
with much ease. 
Amidst the wonderful variety of transition aggregates with which 
the singular locality we are describing abounds, this appears to be a 
mere bed or mass, and to rest upon the granite; but it is every 
where, as far as it is visible, surrounded by the usual dark transition 
limestone of the Cataraqui. It has been opened to some extent, and 
presents a continuous face for a considerable length, and at its base 
on one side, the hard layers appear as if conjoining with it, whilst 
here, on careful examination, may be seen the fact, that it also par- 
tially reposes on those beds, and that the passage of one into the 
er most probably takes place generally at this line of contact, not- 
withstanding instances occur where the soft stone appears, at it were, 
Cemented to the dark blue limestone. 
Near the junction of the two substances, a kind of variolous as- 
pect is given to the soft stone by little sprigs or buttons of carbonate 
of lime of a dull white color, juiting from its surfaces. 
This soft stone, so totally different from the other limestones of 
the Cataraqui, consists of silica, lime and alumina, and somewhat 
resembles, in its appearance and properties, the grés blanc of the 
French geologists, a building formed of it looking like those of the- 
finest white freestone of Bath or Edinburgh. But, although it hard- 
_ 2 good deal by exposure, yet from the alumina being in quantity, 
tcan neither resist the dripping of rain, nor the severe frosts and 
Sudden thaws of the Canadian climate where it is exposed in thin 
Portions. Its mean specific gravity is 2.6. : 
_ T believe that no fossil remains have been seen in this rock, which 
'S regularly stratified and divided into bands or zones, assuming dif- 
ferent colors as they become weathered. ‘The two lower beds are 
ofa lighter blue (approaching to grey,) than the hard rock on which 
they rest; and next to these, comes a band of an iron brown color, - 
Which, from the quantity of silica in its composition, disintegrates to 
“mere sand: 'This band is eaten outwardly into numerous holes in 
‘ 
