216 G. M. Dawson — Geology of British Columbia. 



The total thickness is thus estimated at about 13,000 feet. With 

 the exception of the agglomerates, the rocks in their general 

 appearance and degree of induration compare closely with those of 

 Vancouver Island. The agglomerates represent an important 

 intercalation of volcanic material, vs^hich varies in texture, from beds 

 holding angular masses a yard in diameter, to fine ash rocks, and 

 appears at the junction to blend completely with the next overlying 

 subdivision. These beds are generally felspathic, and often more 

 or less distinctly porphyritic. 



At the eastern margin of the formation the rocks lie at low angles, 

 but become more disturbed as they approach the mountainous axis 

 of the Islands, showing eventually in some cases overturned dips. 

 It is in this disturbed region that the anthracite coal has been found, 

 and from the condition of included woody fragments in the eastern 

 portion of the area, it is probable that any coal seams discovered 

 there would be bituminous, like those of Vancouver Island. 



Though it was originally supposed that the anthracite occurred in 

 several beds, it has, I believe, now been shown ' that this appearance 

 is due to the folding of a single seam which immediately overlies 

 the agglomerate beds of subdivision D. The coal is associated with 

 carbonaceous shales holding a species of TJnio, but is succeeded, in 

 ascending order, by beds charged with marine fossils, and fresh- water 

 conditions are not known to have recurred at other horizons. It 

 was where opened nearly vertical, and about six feet in thickness, 

 but became thinner, and after about 800 tons of anthracite had been 

 obtained, the mine was abandoned; the locality, however, still appears 

 worthy of further and closer examination.^ 



In regard to the geological horizon of the different Cretaceous areas 

 above described, the most complete information has been obtained for 

 the Nanaimo and Comox basins. Large collections made by Mr. 

 Eichardson, in connexion with the work of the Geological Survey, 

 have now been described by Mr. J. F. Whiteaves.^ 



These fossils are all from the lower portion of the formation, 

 which is conclusively shown to represent the Chico group of the 

 Californian geologists, which, with the locally developed Martinez 

 group, is considered to be equivalent to the Lower and Upper Chalk 

 of Europe. The highest subdivision of the Californian Cretaceous, 

 the Tejon group, is supposed to represent the Maestricht, and in the ' 

 absence of fossils from the upper portion of the Vancouver Island 

 formation, it is possible that it may be equally young. The flora of 

 the Vancouver Cretaceous consists largely of modern angiospermous 

 and gymnospermous genera, such as Querciis, Platanus, Populus, and 

 Sequoia ; several of the genera and a few of the species being com- 



1 Report of Progress, Geol. Survey of Canada, 1878-79, p. 72 B. 



2 For further information on the Cretaceous rocks of the coast, see Dr. Hector's 

 report in Palliser's Exploration in North America, and Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. 

 vol. xvii. p. 428. Reports of Progress, Geol. Survey of Canada, 1871-2, p. 75; 

 1872-3, p. 32; 1873-4. p. 94; 1874-5, p. 82; 1876-7, p. 160; the last reference 

 being Mr. J. Richardson's complete report on the Nanaimo and Comox Basins, also 

 pp. 119 and 144, 1878-9, p. 63b, a detailed report on Queen Charlotte Islands by the 

 writer. 3 Mesozoic Fossils, vol. i. part ii. 



