﻿Prof. Milne and Alex. Murray — Rocks of Neivfoundland. 257 



of whicli were more or less cliloritic ; some were, however, argil- 

 laceous and slightly calcareous, whilst a few were harsh and 

 splintery clay-slates. Bands of dolomite are here and there inter- 

 calated, some of which contain disseminated particles of magnetic 

 or chromic iron, which by decomposition give a rusty appearance 

 to the weathered surface of the rock. 



A predominating feature among these rocks are dark-green 

 serpentines, which show traces of actinolite, and some specimens 

 could only be regarded as serpentinized varieties of this mineral. 

 Associated with the serjientine, veins of chrysotile are common. A 

 quartz conglomerate and veins of quartz have also been found. The 

 latter ai'e supposed to contain gold, but what the result of their 

 analysis has been I am not yet able to say. On the whole, the rocks 

 have a green chloritic look, and are magnesian in their chai'acter. 



Further to the north, in Notre Dame Bay/ there is quite au archipe- 

 lago of islands, the greater number of which seem to belong to the 

 Quebec Group. There are amongst them, however, some granites, 

 porphyries, felsites, diorites, and basalts,^ to which no particular 

 horizon can be assigned. On Felly's Island, copper pj^rites is found, 

 and n:iining operations have been commenced in rocks which are 

 dark-green in colour and chloritic in character. On Toulinguet we 

 also find a more or less chloritic series of rocks. On the mainland, 

 upon the north side of the Bay, we meet with massive serpentinous 

 rocks. All of this series have, however, been so altered and con- 

 torted that it is difficult to make out their lithological characters, and 

 almost impossible to make out their stratigrajDhical relations. Along 

 the coast these rocks form bold cliffs, here and there broken by small 

 indentations forming small bays and coves. Inland, they forni 

 moderately-sized hills, which are covered with drifted boulders. 



The serpentines are dark and light green in colour, some are com- 

 pact and splintery, whilst others are soft and earthy. When jointed, 

 their partings contain either gypsum or calcite. Chrysotile is also 



^ The confusion and disturbance manifested in Nuke Dame Bay is such, that 

 to obtain a structural section is almost impossible ; while the total absence of organic 

 remains in the group which contains the metallic ores adds to the difficulty of disen- 

 tangling the complexities. Our evidences of horizon are therefore of a negative 

 rather than a positive kind ; but the circumstance of these altered rocks being 

 succeeded by a gro'up containing fossils typical of a horizon ranging between the 

 upper part of the Hudson's River Group and the Clinton is significant. These upper 

 strata have been found in unconformable contact with the older and metal-bearing 

 formations, and traced from the extreme eastern end of New World Island to the 

 Exploits Eiver. Near the base of the group there is a black shale or slate with 

 Gruptollthus ramostis, which was followed far up the Exploits River. These fossils 

 Mr. Billings supposed to be types of Hudson River age. The higher beds of 

 the formation were found to contain the following fossils, many of which indicate a 

 period as late as the Clinton: — Orthis ruida ; RhynchoneUa ; Stricldandinia lens; 

 Modiolopsin ; Atrypa reticularis; Strophomena rhomboidalis ; Leptmna sericea ; 

 Orthis Dovidso'iii (j) ; Heliophyllum; Zaphrentis bellisriata ; Petraria ; Fuvosites 

 Gothlandica ; Orthoceras Miirchisonia ; Bronteus ; Encriniles ; and Pentamertts. — A.M. 



2 In my report for last year, 1876, I have shown reason for believing that the 

 granites here spoken of are later in date, or contemporaneous with, the Quebec 

 Group ; and in my report upon the Exploits, 1871, I have shown that the porphyries 

 and some of the basalts intersect the Middle vSilurian. Felsites and diorites occur in 

 strata in the Quebec Group ; and also as intersecting veins. — A.M. 



DECADE II. — VOL. IV. — KO. YI. 17 



