824 HONETMAN ON THE HISTORY OF A BOULDEE. 



fossils, however, shews that this metamorphism has not been of the 

 highest degree. Having been subjected to this process for a long 

 period, or while the Devonian age lasted, the hardened strata were 

 raised from the depths before the commencement of the Lower Car- 

 boniferous Period. 



The Boulder strata form the eastern extremity of the Precar 

 boniferous strata, underlying the Carboniferous areaofMerigomish. 



I have already stated that the Carboniferous formation directly 

 succeeds the Clinton strata, between Marshy Hope and French 

 River. We have now the same directly overlying the Upper 

 Silurian. Here then is another irregularity in succession. 



The strata of our subject were thus exposed to the stormy seas 

 of the Lower Carboniferous Period — their detached fragment, rolled 

 on the shore, aided in the formation of the materials of the con- 

 glomerate which now overlie these strata. This conglomerate is 

 very ferruginous and contains a bed of spathic iron ore, which is 

 considered to be of economic importance. 



Outcrops of trap rising in the conglomerate show that our boul- 

 der had a narrow escape from local metamorphism. If it had been 

 subjected to this ordeal in addition to regional metamorphism, 

 the line which distinguishes it might have been converted into a 

 streak, and an important part of its history would have been wholly 

 illegible, also the boulder itself would have failed to attract parti- 

 cular attention. 



The absence of the usual Lower Carboniferous Lime and Gypsum, 

 appears to indicate that the existing conditions were unfavorable for 

 their deposition. 



The coal beds of Merigomish Island show that a Tropical vege- 

 tation once crowned the succeeding strata, while the thinness of the 

 beds seems to indicate that the vegetation was far from being 

 luxuriant or lasting. 



The extension of these Palaeozoic strata became the foundation 

 of a new order of things, the New Eed Sandstone, Mesozoic or 

 Triassic formation of Prince Edward Island. 



Previous to this, however, or during the Carboniferous Period, 

 time ot incalculable length had passed. Elsewhere the Carboniferous 



