ANNIVEESAET ADDEESS OF THE PEESIDENT. xliii 



4. The view formerly entertained respecting the granite belt 

 passing through the province must be greatly modified. Instead of 

 one broad belt it consists of a series of very narrow belts, with in- 

 tervening schists and metalliferous slates. This granite is of 

 Devonian age, and it is probably not an intrusive rock, but consists 

 of highly altered sedimentary strata. The same remark applies to 

 much of the granite in Charlotte, King's, and Saint John counties, 

 which are also probably metamorphosed sedimentary rocks. 



These views, with others of great interest, are more fally detailed in 

 the work itself, the first chapter of which describes the leading geo- 

 graphical features of the province, while the second contains a geo- 

 logical sketch of the same region. The sedimentary rocks of New 

 Brunswick belong to the following great divisions : — 1, Eecent and 

 Post-pliocene ; then a great break to 2, Triassic (?) ; 3, Carboniferous ; 

 4, Devonian ; 5, Upper Silurian ; 6, Middle Silurian ; 7, Lower Si- 

 lurian. All the beds below the Carboniferous have been very much 

 disturbed. This chapter also contains some interesting observations 

 respecting the origin of granite and the different characters of the 

 granite belts traversing the province, many of which, while admit- 

 ting the intrusive character of others, the author supposes to be me- 

 tamorphosed or altered sedimentary strata belonging to the Quebec 

 group. Mr. Hind says, p. 50, " They have probably been altered 

 in position, and belong to the class named by Professor Hunt ' Indi- 

 genous rocks ; ' and there are valid reasons for supposing that much 

 of the grauite of New Brunswick consists of altered sedimentary 

 strata, changed by metamorphism into plastic felspathic sandstones 

 and granitoid gneiss, then, by a further metamorphism, partly into 

 plastic granite and in part retaining traces of the stages of their me- 

 tamorphism." He also shows, by the presence of graphite, that the 

 metamorphism of many sedimentary rocks was not accomj)anied by 

 a great elevation of temperature, and he concludes these observations 

 by this statement : — " The opinions which necessarily associate high 

 temperature with the occurrence of crystalline rocks, or of rocks 

 which have undergone metamorphic action, are no longer tenable." 

 However novel these views may appear to many geologists, I cannot 

 refrain from saying that I believe they will ultimately prove to be 

 correct^. I have long entertained an opinion that the early plastic 

 state Qf^^^G earth was due to aqueous rather than to igneous causes. 

 It i&".a" question well deserving consideration, and which, I hope, 

 will soon be taken up by some one whose chemical and physical 

 knowledge will enable him to do justice to such an important 

 question. 



The two following chapters are devoted to the consideration of the 

 Carboniferous series. The following details will afford some idea of 

 the Coal-fields of the eastern provinces of British North America : — 



1. Upper Coal series, unproductive 3300 feet. 



2. Middle Coal series, productive 4000 „ 



3. Lower Carboniferous or Gypsiferous series . . 6000 „ 



The base consists of red sandstone interstratified with beds of a coarse 



