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124 THE TRIAS OR NEW RED SxVNDSTONE. 



unconformability of the New Red Sandstone and Coal Formation ; but 

 as the dips of the latter are very low on the Nova Scotia and 

 New Brunswick shore, it is probable that the two formations are con- 

 formable, or very nearly so. 



On the whole, though I would scarcely venture to advise the 

 expenditure of any large sum in boring for coal in Prince Edward 

 Island, I would say that, should it be determined to incur such 

 expenditure, the most promising places at present known to me are 

 in the vicinity of Orwell Point and of Des Sables. Boring in these 

 places would at least afford the satisfaction of knowing what underlies 

 the red sandstone, and whether any chance exists of the discovery of 

 coal under it. It is proper to state, however, that I have not explored 

 the south shore of the island very extensively, and that there seems 

 no good reason why equally favourable localities might not exist at 

 Bedeque or at Wood Islands, or at other localities west and east of 

 these places. Careful preliminary exploration of every plac'e supposed 

 to be promising should be made by some competent person familiar 

 with the structure of the Upper Coal Formation in Nova Scotia or New 

 Brunswick, before incurring any expense in boring. 



In a MS. section of the north coast of New Brunswick by the late 

 Professor Robb, he indicates at the extremity of Cape Tormentin a 

 small patch of red micaceous sandstone overlaid by red marly rock, 

 and dipping to the east at an angle of 15°. This I regard as very pro- 

 bably an outlier of the red sandstone of Prince Edward Island ; and, 

 if so, it affords the only known point of contact of this formation Avith 

 the Carboniferous rocks of the mainland. I have only seen Cape 

 Tormentin from the sea, and therefore cannot speak distinctly of the 

 nature of the junction ; but the red rocks probably rest unconformably 

 on the end of an anticlinal undulation of the coal formation. Were 

 I about to make a geological survey of Prince Edward Island, I 

 would make these rocks of Cape Tormentin one of my first studies, 

 and would consider myself fortunate if I could establish their claim 

 to be considered, in a geological point of view, a portion of Prince 

 Edward Island. 



