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PROCEEDINGS OP THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



[Apr. 10, 



lofty cliffs overhanging intricate but beautiful inlets. The junction 

 between these two formations was not observed, but I think it is south 

 of San Juan Island, thence crossing to Yancouver Island by Sannich 

 Point, and northwards a little way back from the coast, leaving a 

 narrow strip of fine land*. 



These sandstone and conglomerate strata have a uniform strike 

 from N.N.W. to S.S.E., and, in passing along the shore of Saturna 

 Island, they were observed to form several well-marked synclinal 

 troughs, and on passing through the Plumper Pass to dip gently to the 

 N.E. under the waters of the Gulf of Georgia. The nature of the 

 beds was not ascertained beyond the general fact that they are thick- 

 bedded sandstones and conglomerates, and sometimes strata of clay- 

 shale. The sandstones are much acted on by the weather, and at 

 the Avater-line the sea has generally worn in them caves and hollows. 

 The conglomerates form the highest beds of the series, and are of 

 immense thickness. 



After passing the Plumper Pass, in proceeding north through Trin- 

 comalee Channel, Galiano Island to the west presents cliffs, about 

 800 feet high, of the sandstone and conglomerate, with a gentle dip 

 to the east ; and sometimes spits or low promontories of the strata 

 run parallel with the coast, enclosing narrow bays. The west side of 

 the channel on Salt Spring Island is a low shelving coast heavily tim- 

 bered to the water's edge, and exposing outcrops of grey and blue clay- 

 shales, which dip to the east. The portion of this island which is 

 occupied by these shales is the finest land for settlement I have seen 

 on the coast ; but the southern part is mountainous, rising to the 

 height of 2300 feet. It is on the north part of Salt Spring Island 

 that the saline springs are situated from which it gets its name. 

 They seem to escape from the shales, and occur in spots clear from 

 timber and covered with green moist vegetation abounding in sali- 

 ferous plants. Pound the orifices from which the brine escapes, there 

 have formed conical mounds of granular calcareous sinter stained with 



* I am informed by Lieut. Roche, R N., that, when stationed on that coast, he 

 discovered a copper-lode, and detected it on Moresby Island and various points 

 in a line running S.E. by E., as indicated on the map. I have not myself seen 

 the samples he brought away, but copper in the metallic state is known to exist 

 in quantities further north, and I have a specimen of the sulphide of copper 

 which was said to have been found by the Indians on the mainland. There is no 

 doubt that a carefid examination of Yancouver Island and the adjoining main- 

 land for metallic veins would yield valuable results. Since my return to England 

 I have heard that the same silver-ore that is found at Washoe, and that raised [such 

 a furor in San Francisco a year ago, has also been found on the mountains of 

 Fraser River. The Cascade range of mountains may be looked on as the con- 

 tinuation of the Sierra Nevada of California, and the marked change in the 

 nature of the coast-line north of Yancouver Island shows where the chain 

 begins to dip down to the sea-level ; so that what were formerly mountain-valleys 

 are converted into inlets and straits. This is a most important physical feature, 

 and the great facilities for access to the mineral wealth of the country which it 

 affords will exert a powerful influence on the destinies of British Columbia, 

 although at present, in the absence of roads, its iron-bound coast and want of 

 rich flat country are erroneously considered as a bar to its development. Sooner 

 or later it will be seen how wonderfully this new colony is adapted by nature for 

 mining, fisheries, and commerce. 



