

THE CAI^ADIAN JOURNAL. 



NEW SERIES 



No. XLIX.— JANUARY, 1864 



A POPULAR EXPOSITION OF THE MINEEALS AND 

 GEOLOGY OE CANADA. 



BY E. J. CHAPMAN, Ph.D. 



PEOFBSSOE OP MINBEAIOGX AND GEOLOGY IN TTNIVEBSIXT COLLEGE, TOBOITIO. 



(Concluded from Vol. VIII. page 462.) 



GENERAL OUTLINE AND RECAPITULATORY SKETCH OF THE 

 GEOLOGY OF CANADA. 



1. Canadian Rock Formations. — The rock groups occurring within 

 the limits of Canada, comprise representatives of the Azoic, Lower 

 Palaeozoic, and Post-Tertiary series. The Upper Palaeozoic deposits 

 (inclusive of the Coal Measures proper) together with the entire forma- 

 tions of the Mesozoic and Cainozoic Ages, are altogether unknown 

 within the limits of the Province. 



2. Azoic Series. — The rocks of this series, composed of Sedimen- 

 tary matters deposited in ancient seas, apparently before the crea- 

 tion of organic types, and subsequently rendered more or less crystal- 

 line by metamorphic forces, are subdivided into two formations. The 

 lower of these is named the Laurentian, and the higher, the Huronian 

 Formation. The Laurentian strata consist principally of highly 

 crystalline beds of micaceous and hornblendic gneiss; hornblende rock ; 

 crystalline limestone and dolomite ; oxidized iron ores; quartzite; and 

 anorthosites, or rocks composed chiefly of lime and soda feldspar. In 



Vol. IX. A 



