The Devonian of the Acadian Provinces. 341 



Among these conditions may be mentioned the hard and 

 quartzose character of many of the Devonian sandstones, 

 a feature rarely found in those of the Carboniferous pro- 

 per ; as also the slaty character of much of the underlying 

 or older series as opposed to the comparatively unaltered 

 shales of the Lower Carboniferous formation. The rocks 

 of the Devonian series are also frequently affected by 

 intrusives which are rarely found in the overlying series, 

 while there is also the further evidence of a marked break 

 or unconformity between the Devonian rocks and those 

 which are styled Lower Carboniferous. 



In regard to the peculiar group of the Albert shales 

 found in Albert and Westmoreland counties, New Bruns- 

 wick, and supposed to be the equivalents of the Horton 

 series of Nova Scotia, it is stated in the Geological Survey 

 Eeport for 1876-77 by Professor Bailey and the writer, 

 that these distinctly and unconformably underlie the 

 lowest known Lower Carboniferous sediments of New 

 Brunswick, and this feature is clearly indicated in the 

 several sections that are given in the report alluded 

 to. They were, however, at that time styled Lower Car- 

 boniferous from the presence of fish remains which were 

 held to be of that age. Certain small areas of bituminous 

 shales are, however, found in apparent association with 

 strata of Lower Carboniferous age elsewhere in the south- 

 ern part of the province, but these appear to be distinct 

 from the " Albert shale " formation proper. 



It is presumed that the present discussion will come to 

 an end when those who now advocate the new theory as 

 to the age of these rocks have made a careful study of 

 their relations in the field. It is to be regretted that- 

 simply ^ upon the evidence of a few fossil plants of known 

 wide range such a clash of opinion should have arisen, and 

 that the credit due to Sir William Dawson for his long 

 and careful work in this field should be so seriously 



1 G. S. C. Suinmaiy Report for 189S, page 11a, line 6. 



