414 



THE CARBONIFEROUS SYSTEM. 



exposed in the coast sections, but great facilities are afforded for ex- 

 ploring and working tlie beds of coal. 



Professor Lesley has published (Proc. Am. Acad., Phila. 1862), a 

 detailed section of that part of the series exposed in the vicinity of 

 Little Glace Bay, amounting to a thickness of 907 feet. Unfortunately 

 he gives no information as to the fossils, and appears to have been 

 under the impression that his section includes nearly the whole of the 

 productive Coal measures of Cape Breton, so that it is not possible to 

 form any definite idea of the place in the series to which these beds 

 belong. From specimens and information obtained from Mr Poole, 

 Mr Barnes, Mr Mosely, and others, I am inclined to regard them as 

 being in the upper paii; of the Middle Coal formation, the Upper 

 Coal formation being apparently wanting or concealed under the 

 ocean, and the Millstone-grit series appearing farther inland. 



Professor Lesley's section may be condensed as follows. It com- 

 mences at the headland between Burnt Head and Little Glace Bay, 

 where the newest rocks seen on this part of the coast appear. 



\ 



"° P 1 Carbonaceous shale 



Shales red and gray, the latter with nodules of iron 



ore 



Sandstone and arenaceous shale 

 Coal, good . 

 Underclay and sandstone 



ft. in. 



(^ Underclay 



Coal-group 2. 



Coal-group 3. 



Shale . 

 " Coal, soft 

 Coal, solid- 

 Coal, hard 



"Hub Vein" 



i 



Sandstone with fossil plants 

 Cannel Coal, 

 Underclay , 

 Cannel Coal 

 [ Underclay . 



Coal- group 4. 



Sandstones and shales 

 ( Cannel Coal 

 ■ ( Underclay . 



Coal-group 5. 



Shale, arenaceous shale and sandstone 



(Coal 



J Shale 



' 1 Coal and carbonaceous shale 

 [ Underclay 



Coal-group 6. 



Shale and sandstone 

 (Clay . . . 

 .-^ Cannel Coal, 

 ( Underclay . 



