CURRENT PRE-CAMBRIAN LITERA TURE 435 



The Aspidella of the Momable slates is probably of organic origin, 

 but it may be questioned. Other reported forms are inaccessible for 

 study. 



In the Lake Superior country markings have been reported as found 

 in the Huronian iron formation of the Menominee iron district of 

 Michigan. An examination of the specimens indicates that they prob- 

 ably are from the basal detrital material of the Cambrian which rests 

 upon the Huronian iron formation. In the Animikie rocks of the 

 Lake Superior region the evidence of life consists of the presence of 

 graphitic material in the slates and of a supposed fossil mentioned by 

 Mr. G. F. Matthew. In the Minnesota quartzite of the Upper Huron- 

 ian series lingula-like forms and an obscure trilobitic-looking impres- 

 sion are described by Winchell. The latter has been examined and 

 the conclusion is reached that it is of inorganic origin. As to the lin- 

 gula forms, the weight of evidence is in favor of their being small flat- 

 tened concretions. 



In general, the reported discoveries of fossils in the crystalline 

 rocks of the Algonkian are as yet too problematic to be of value to the 

 geologist and paleontologist. Apparently the best that can be said of 

 Eozoon and allied forms is that they may be of organic origin, but it 

 is not yet proved. The same appears to be true of the supposed fossil 

 sponges described by Mr. G. F. Matthew from the Laurentian rocks of 

 New Brunswick. The graphite in pre-Cambrian forms is probably in 

 many cases of organic origin, but of the character of the life we know 

 nothing. 



Palaeotrochis formerly referred to as a pre-Paleozoic coral is deter- 

 mined by Professor J. A. Holmes and J. S. Diller as of inorganic origin. 



Matthew 1 describes a Paleozoic terrane beneath the Cambrian in 

 St. Johns and Kings counties, New Brunswick, on Cape Breton, and 

 near Smith Sound, Newfoundland. This terrane is unconformably 

 below Cambrian strata bearing paradoxides and protolenus fauna, and 

 is given the name Etcheminian. The faunal features as distinguished 



1 A Paleozoic Terrane Beneath the Cambrian : Annals N. Y. Acad. Sci., Vol. XII, 

 No. 2, 1899, pp. 41-56. 



Preliminary Notice of the Etcheminian Fauna of Newfoundland : Bull. Nat. Hist. 

 Soc, New Brunswick, XVIII, Vol. IV, 1899, pp. 189-197. 



Preliminary Notice of the Etcheminian Fauna of Cape Breton : Bull. Nat. Hist. 

 Soc, New Brunswick, XVIII, Vol. IV, 1899, pp. 198-208. 



The Etcheminian Fauna of Smith Sound, Newfoundland : Trans. Roy. Soc. of 

 Canada, 2d ser., 1899, Vol. V, sec. 4, pp. 97-119. 



