210 Geo logy J (^c. of Malbay^ L. C. 



of mica in its composition, this resembling quartz rock, in- 

 to a semi-crystalline species of which, it frequently gradu- 

 ates, as well as into mica slate, by an increase, on the 

 other hand, of mica. 



So little of the gneiss is exposed, that it may be doubted, 

 if the greater portion of it be not of the ribbed or laminated 

 variety, abounding, for many miles on the north shore of 

 the St. Lawrence. 



Together with these rocks, a dark limestone occasionally 

 emerges in very short patches, conformably stratified, some 

 yards in thickness, and in one instance incumbent on a 

 crystalline quartz. 



The direction of the strata of the body of the hill is sel- 

 dom easily definable, being brought into view at rare and 

 brief intervals- 

 It appears to be west south west, at an high, but uncer- 

 tain angle. Innumerable fissures and displacements of the 

 fixed rocks, together with an extraordinary quantity of de- 

 bris, have given rise to this obscurity. 



A better idea of the structure of the hill, may be gather- 

 ed from its southern face washed by the St. Lawrence ; 

 and from the angle and west arm of the Bay, situations 

 which permit the observer both to follow and to traverse 

 the direction of the strata. 



The rocks of the clifT and tubes whose most prominent 

 features have been sketched in an early part of this paper 

 are mica slate and gneiss, affecting the southwest, or 

 south south west direction, and a south west or north north 

 west dip. 



They pass into each other at irregular distances, as well 

 longitudinally, as transversely. The transition takes place 

 insensibly in the former direction, the mica slate becoming 

 more compact, and assuming a green hue, which slowly 

 fades into a brownish grey. The rock thus formed, is a 

 laminated gneiss, composed of feldspar and quartz, both 

 brown, almost granular, alternating in their layers with fol- 

 ia of black mica, in laterally aggregated scales. Its veins 

 are numerous and various. They are of largely crystalli- 

 zed white feldspar, interspersed with black mica, and run- 

 ning parallel to the stratification of the gneiss ; — or of true 

 granite, traversing the rock irregularly, close-grained and 

 porphyritic in portions, the feldspar being red, and the 

 quartz white. About four hundred yards from the angle of 



