372 THE GEOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE 



the sides of the fissure as the waters approach the surface, giving 

 rise to the mineral veins that have been mentioned. 



If this be the correct explanation, the amount of displacement 

 that has taken place along the fault can he approximately esti- 

 mated from the average dip, and the present position and 

 elevation of corresponding portions of the same formation. This 

 dip is about 15 degrees, and the horizontal distance between the 

 outcrop of the coarse carboniferous sandstones on the south side 

 of the valley, and the outcrop of the same set of beds on the 

 ridge on the north side, is about two miles ; so that a displace- 

 ment of about 2,500 feet would be necessary to bring the coarse 

 basal sandstones that dip beneath the surface on the south side 

 of the valley to the same elevation on the Wolfville ridge. 



The scenic effects of this displacement upon the surface of 

 this portion of the county, are more conspicuous than those 

 described as due to the characteristics of the underlying rocks. 

 By it the harder, more resistant sandstones and compact under- 

 ing slates are again brought to the surface and produce the 

 Wolfville ridge. By it a long tongue of the Cornwallis Valley, 

 with its fertile farms and apple orchards, has been cut off to form 

 the Gaspereau Valley. If this fault had not occurred, the 

 broader valley would have swept without a break up to the base 

 of the main southern table-land beyond, and the most charming 

 bit of scenery of this portion of Nova Scotia would have no 

 existence. 



There are indications that the movement taking place along 

 this line of fracture has been exceedingly slow ; that the Gas- 

 pereau Valley is even more sncient than the Carboniferous 

 sandstones that rest in it ; that it bordered a loftier land to the 

 south which, even in that remote time, supported upon its 

 sheltered slopes and bottom-lands a luxuriant forest of Lepido- 

 dendra and magnificent ferns whose remains have been partially 

 preserved in the muddy sediments of an ancient river flowing 

 from this southern land. 



Reasons have been advanced for believing that the quartz 

 veins of the slate of the Wolfville ridge have been deposited by 



