THE 
GEOLOGICAL MAGAZINE. 
No. III._SEPTEMBER 1864. 
ORIGINAL ARTICLES. 
ao ee 
T. On THE CoRRELATION OF THE Miocene BeEpDs oF THE WEST 
Inp1an IsLANDS; AND ON THE SYNCHRONISM OF THE CHERT- 
FORMATION OF ANTIGUA WITH THE LOWEST LIMESTONE OF MALTA. 
By P. Marrin Duncan, M.B. Lond., Sec. Geol. Soc., &e. 
CORALS of the Miocene Formations as means of Correlation.— 
Although a general correlation has been established between 
the European Mid-tertiary formations and the Nivajé Shale 
and Limestone of San Domingo,* the shale and part of the in- 
clined limestones of Jamaica,f the three coralliferous beds of 
Antigua, and the Newer Parian beds of Trinidad,f still it has 
not hitherto been possible to determine a close parallelism 
between any particular European and West Indian Miocene 
stratum. 
The coral-fauna of the Mid-tertiary period contained both 
many widely distributed species, and others restricted to small 
areas; there were forms whose existing allies and analogues 
live in reefs and banks, or in deep water; and a large number 
have ceased to be directly represented. Thus there are species 
common to the Vienna Basin, to the Miocene of Northern Italy, 
to the Miocene formations at Dax, Bordeaux, and Malaga, to 
the Nivajé Shale of San Domingo, and to its associated lime- 
stone, whilst others are common to the Faluns, the Turin 
Miocene, the Miocene of the Caucasus, and to that of the 
West Indies. On the other hand certain genera are only found 
in Antigua and Jamaica; and many species are restricted to a 
single European formation. The Pocillopore and the Alveo- 
* Heneken, Carrick Moore, and Lonsdale, Quart. Journ. Geol. Soe., vol. ix. p. 116. 
f+ Martin Duncan, Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc., vol. xix. p. 406 ; Moore and Jones, 
op. cit. p. 010. 
{ Wall and Sawkins, Report Geol. Trinidad, 1860. 
VOL. I.—NO. III. H 
