134 THE CARBONIFEROUS SYSTEM. 



extent as to preclude further deposition in the area in question ; while 

 the red sandstone and trap of Mesozoic age indicate the recurrence at 

 that time of conditions somewhat similar to those of the beginning of 

 the Carboniferous period. 



The general phenomena of deposition above indicated, apply to all 

 the Carboniferous areas of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and, so 

 far as known, to those of the Magdalen Islands and of Newfoundland. 

 But, as I shall point out in the sequel, numerous local diversities 

 occur, in consequence of the interference of the older elevated ridges 

 with the regularity of deposition. In some places the entire Lower 

 Carboniferous series seems to be represented by conglomerates and 

 coarse sandstones. In others, the Lower Coal measures, or the marine 

 limestones, or both, are extensively developed. These local differ- 

 ences are, on a smaU scale, of the same character with those which 

 occur on a large scale in the northern and southern Appalachian 

 districts and western districts of the United States, and in the 

 different coal areas of Great Britain and Ireland, as compai'ed with 

 each other and Avith the Carboniferous districts of America. On the 

 whole, however, it is apparent that certain grand features of similarity 

 can be traced in the distribution of the Carboniferous rocks throughout 

 the northern hemisphere. 



It is further to be observed, that in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, 

 as well as in Eastern Canada, disturbances occurred at the close of 

 the Devonian period which have caused the Carboniferous rocks to lie 

 unconformably on those of the former ; and that in like manner the 

 Carboniferous period was followed by similar disturbances, which 

 have thrown the Carboniferous beds into synclinal and anticlinal bends, 

 often very abrupt, before the deposition of the Triassic Red Sand- 

 stones. These disturbances were of a different character from the 

 oscillations of level which occurred within the Carboniferous period. 

 They were accompanied by volcanic action, and were most intense 

 along certain lines, and especially near the junction of the Carbon- 

 iferous with the older formations. 



I have noticed an apparent case of unconformability between 

 members of the Carboniferous system near Antigonish.* In the 

 county of Pictou, the arrangement of the beds suggests a possible 

 unconformability of the Upper Coal formation and the Coal measures. "i- 

 In New Brunswick, Prof. Bailey | has observed indications of local 

 unconformability of the Coal formation with the Lower Carboniferous. 



* Quart. Jouru. Geol. Soc, vol. i. p. 32. 



f Ihid., vol. X. p. 42. 



I " Report on Geology of Southern New Brunswick," p. 118. 



