January 19, 1899] 



NA TURE 



28; 



GEOLOGY OF SOUTH-WESTERN 

 NOVA SCOTIA. 

 A REPORT, by Dr. L. W. Bailey, dealing with the geology 

 "^ of a portion of the Province of Nova Scotia, appears in the 

 annual report of the Geological Survey of Canada (vol. ix. , 1896); 

 just issued. Until recently, but little was known of the geology 

 of this region ; indeed, the only important references thereto are 

 those contained in the " .\cadian Geology" of Sir Wm. 

 Dawson, and these were almost wholly confined to the sea- 

 board. The interior, being essentially unfit for settlement and 

 difficult of access, received little or no attention until, in the 

 year 1S91, as a consequence of the interest aroused in gold 

 mining, something like a systematic survey was begun. The 

 results of this exploration, extending over several years and 

 including four counties, with portions of a fifth, are contained in 

 the volume just published. 



t'.l.^cier-ploughed trough in Cambrian Rocks, Lockpoit Island, Nova Scot: 



Of the formations described, that occupying the largest area is 

 granite, but this, instead of being represented, as in previous 

 descriptions, as simply forming a belt of uniform width and 

 constituting the axis of the peninsula, is shown to possess an 

 exceedingly irregular contour, besides being disclosed either by 

 extrusion or denudation in many detached areas. Enwrapping 

 the granite, but along the lines of contact invaded by the latter 

 in the most complicated way, are the rocks usually styled the 

 " Nova Scotia gold series." These are also styled Cambrian, 

 though it is stated that as yet no positive proof that such is their 

 age has been obtained. The rocks appear to be essentially non- 

 fossiliferous, and by some authors are regarded as being Pre- 

 Cambrian. They consist of three principal members, of which 

 the lowest and chief one is composed of heavy beds of 

 quartzite alternating with slates, the second of argillites which 

 are often parti-coloured, and third of black slates, usually highly 

 charged with pyrites. Their thickness is very great, certainly ' 



NO. 1525, VOL. 59] 



10,000 feet, and probably much more than this. Ridged up by 

 pressure from the Atlantic side, but at the same time affected by 

 strains more or less transverse to the trend of the coast, they 

 present a series of dome-like folds, varying from nearly circular 

 to elliptical or linear in outline, of which the centre is usually 

 composed of quartziles and the encircling beds black or coloured 

 slates. It is in connection with these domes or anticlines that 

 the principal dislocations have been determined, and, on account 

 of their intimate connection with the development of gold veins, 

 have received much attention and are somewhat minutely 

 described. Quite a number of mines exist within the area 

 considered, and some of them are yielding large returns. In 

 the neighbourhood of the granite the Cambrian rocks are greatly 

 alteredj but gold veins are comparatively few in connection with 

 the more highly metamorphosed strata. 



In addition to the supposed Cambrian rocks there are, in 

 Digby and Annapolis counties, considerable areas occupied by 

 more recent rocks, viz. Eo-Devonian and Triassic. These are 

 confined to the neighbourhood of the Bay of Fundy, the former 

 containing large numbers of fossils of about the age of the 

 Oriskany sandstones ol New York, and the latter wholly un- 

 fossiliferous, embracing red sandstones in the Annapolis Valley 

 and traps in the North Mountains, which overlook the latter from 

 the northern side. 



The region presents many features of interest as regards 

 its superficial geology, the most striking being the numerous 

 fiord-like indentations of the coast, the great numbers and 

 large size of the erratics with which the surface is strewed, the 

 occurrence of kames, or horse-backs, in some instances thirty miles 

 in length, and the evidences afforded on the coast of deep glacial 

 ploughings. One striking instance of this is given in the accom- 

 panying photograph — but others, of much greater dejith and 

 breadth, have been observed. 



The report is accompanied by a coloured map, on which, in 

 addition to the separation of the various rock-fonnations, the 

 more important "Domes" and gold districts are clearly 

 indicated. 



SCIENTIFIC WORK OF THE U.S. DEPART- 

 MENT OF AGRICULTURE.^ 

 Weather Bureau. 

 A RRANGEMENTS have been made to establish stations 

 "^ for making meteorological observations and display- 

 ing hurricane signals at Kingston, Santiago de Cuba, Santo 

 Domingo, St. Thomas, Barbados, Dominica, Trinidad, Cura<;ao, 

 and Barranquilla. 



When the West Indian service is fully established twice-daily 

 reports will be received, not only from the stations named, but 

 also from Habana, Nassau, Vera Cruz, Tampico, Coatzacoalcos, 

 and Merida. The improved storm-warning service will largely 

 benefit the commercial interests throughout the West Indies. 



The Central Meteorological and Magnetic Observatory of 

 Mexico has begun the equipment of about thirty stations in the 

 Mexican Republic, with the most approved meteorological 

 instruments, and will establish a meteorological service similar 

 to our own. When completed, an exchange of reports, especially 

 those relating to the approach of West Indian hurricanes, 

 and " northers " in the Gulf of Mexico, will be effected. 



.\erial ob.servations by means of kites were continued during 

 the year. It was hoped to establish at least twenty stations^ 

 but it was found that only sixteen could be completely equipped. 

 It is too early to express an opinion regarding the value of the 

 observations already secured in the aerial work of the Bureau. 



The importance of the study of meteorology in the United 

 States has been kept in mind, especially in the assignment of 

 observers to duty at points where there are colleges or uni- 

 versities not already provided with instructors in meteorology, 

 and during the past year the courses in meteorology have been 

 strengthened in a large number of high schools and academies. 



The Bureau has begun the collection of statistics of loss to 

 farm property, including live stock in the fields, by lightning, 

 so as to determine the frequency of lightning stroke and the 

 amount of property destroyed annually by that phenomenon. 



Vegetable Physiology and Pathology. 

 The work of this Division is carried on with a view of obtain- 

 ing additional light on the conditions governing the growth and 



the work of the U.S. Department of 



ne 30, 1898. 



