64 Fingal and East Coast. 



tive rock, which h;ivG at some time been detached from 

 the neisrhbouring; hills. 



Some of these greenstone hills, like the greenstone 

 ridges bordering the Break-o'-day and South Esk valleys, 

 are remarkable for the number and enormous size of 

 the cones and needle-like columns which are scattered, 

 or, as it were, stuck up along their summits. One of 

 these immense needles, visible at a great distance, stands 

 upon the shoulder of a high greenstone ridge, about 

 four miles from the mouth of the Douglas River, and 

 has obtained the name of Nicholas's Cap. Its vicinity 

 is remarkable for the number and magnitude of inferior 

 cones, which stand or lie, as it were, at random in every 

 direction around — huge black isolated masses, near which 

 the tallest and largest forest trees seem to dwindle into 

 walking-sticks. 



This ridge descends on the western side by a succes- 

 sion of steep terraces, in the course of which many of 

 the dislocated and giant masses of eruptive rock are 

 met with, apparently on a journey to the river below ; 

 and opposite to this point it is that the first upthrow of 

 the inferior strata, which has brought the coal-measures 

 to the surface, has taken place. 



When the coal is first met with, the extent of upthrow 

 appears limited, though the dip of the beds continues 

 moderate, being yet not more than 1 in 10, The coal 

 at this point crops out on both sides of the river, and in 

 its bed. Its dip is to S.S.E., and south by east. The 

 seam rests upon schistose clay, and has a solid roof of 

 greyish-white sandstone over it. The dislocation which 

 has elevated the coal here does not appear to extend 

 laterally beyond a few yards. 



The coal is of the finest quality. Fragments were 

 broken off at random from all parts of the seam, to the 

 amount of about a bushel, and thrown together upon a 



