CARBONIFEROUS DISTRICT OF COLCHE8TEB and HANTS. 



footprints, probably of a small reptilian animal Hon recently other 

 footprints, of larger size, and referable to the genus Sauropus, nr< 



found in these beds by J. M. Jones, Esq., l\h.S, of Halifax. These 

 indications of vertebrates of the Land will be noticed in a subsequent 

 chapter. Eastward of Partridge Island, En Clarke's Head, we lind 

 the Lower Carboniferous limestones Bomewhal altered, with beds of 

 common gypsum, and a beautiful purple variety of anhydrite. At 

 Moose River and Harrington River, the black shales and gray sand- 

 Itones again appear. In Economy, we have these and the Lower 

 Carboniferous limestone with its characteristic fossils, and on the hanks 

 of the Portapique and Great Village Rivers, the whole series is well 

 exposed, with appearances similar to those observed in the Folly. 

 Eastward of the latter river, the Coal formation band widens rapidly. 

 On the Chiganois and North Rivers, it contains bituminous limestones, 

 with Cyprids and fish-scales ; thick beds of shale, with clay-ironstone ; 

 several small coals, the largest, I believe, about eighteen inches in 

 thickness ; and in the beds associated with these coals are fossil plants 

 of several of the species described in connexion with the Joggins 

 section. On the North River also we find the lower limestone under- 

 lying the Coal measures at the base of the mountains, and re-appearing, 

 in greatly increased thickness and associated with beds of gypsum, 

 on the south side of the trough. Still farther eastward, on the Salmon 

 River, there is a bed of good coal nearly two feet in thickness, and 

 associated with shales, containing fine specimens of Ulodendron, Ferns, 

 and other Coal formation fossils. 



Applying to this narrow Coal formation trough the information we 

 have obtained from the Joggins section, we may conclude that along 

 the base of the Cobequid Mountains, ou their southern side, a band of 

 swamps and shallow and land-locked waters existed contemporane- 

 ously with the wider tract of the same description on the northern 

 side of the mountains ; and it is quite possible that the northern edge 

 of the Lower Carboniferous limestones may have formed a barrier-reef, 

 separating this narrow littoral band from the more open sea without. 

 In its present condition, this Coal formation belt of the south side of 

 the Cobequids presents many difficulties to the geologist. The 

 various movements which have taken place along the south side of 

 the mountains, and which have probably continued up to the close of 

 the New Red period, have shattered these rocks in lines parallel to ami 

 at right angles with the hills, and have also bent and contorted them 

 in a remarkable manner. In this respect, the Carboniferous rocks on 

 the Cumberland side of the hills differ very much from those of the 

 Colchester side; the former being very little disturbed in comparison. 



s 



