120. QEOLOaiCAL AREAS OP CANADA. 



known of its geology ; but the greater portion, if not the entire sur- 

 face, of its area appears to be occupied by high ranges of syenitic 

 rocks of Pre-Silurian age, flanked by micaceous and other slates,, 

 resembling the altered PaliBozoic formations "which occur in the 

 southern part of the island, with here and there a few exposures of 

 Lower Carboniferous strata. These latter are seen along the west 

 coast, between Margarie and Cheticamp ; and on the eastern coast at 

 Aspy Bay, St. Anne's Bay, and one or two intervening points. 



PROVINCE OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. 



ThiFi fertile island presents a generally level or bnt slightly undu" 

 lating surfcice, with an average altitude of from 100 to 200 feet above, 

 the sea. Mountain elevations are altogether unknown within its 

 limits. The coast-liiie is indented by numerous bays and creeks — 

 some of which penetrate ftir inland. Its geology is comparatively 

 simple, indicating a single district only. The surface strata consist 

 almost wholly of soft red sandstones, and other Triassic representatives 

 in nearly horizontal or but slightly inclined beds, with here and there 

 an outcrop of underlying Upper Carboniferous (or Permian 1) strata, 

 and some overlying drift and modern deposits. 



A very complete Report on the geology of this Province, by Dr. 

 Dawson, (with the co-operation of Dr. Harrington,) was issued by 

 the Geological Survey of Canada in 1870. From this Report — aided 

 by personal observation, the writer having visited the island on two 

 occasions — the brief details which follow are chiefly drawn. 



The oldest recognized strata on the island are either Upper Car- 

 boniferous representatives, or beds of transition representing part of 

 the Permian Formation. They occur on the south coast at the 

 Gallows or Gallas promontory, east of Hillsborough Bay, as well as 

 on Governor Island, in the centre of the latter inlet ; and they range 

 also in a narrow strip, along the greater portion of the north-west 

 coast, from ' near "West Point to the vicinit 5 of North Point. At 

 these localities the strata consist chiefly of brown, red, and grey 

 sandstones, with some reddish shales, and a few concretionary lime- 

 stones and conglomerates. The beds at Gallas Point form a slight 

 anticlinal, ranging roughly north and south, and extending apparently 

 through Governor Island. These strata, both at Gallas Point and 

 on the north-west shore, contain silicified trunks of a coniferous tree, 

 (Dadoxylon materiariuin, Dawson,) with several species of calamites, 



