Geology.] 



SUBANTARCTIC ISLANDS OF NEW ZEALAND. 



703 



The present writer is inclined to think that the Miocene period is more likely 

 to be the European equivalent than any other period, though, as frequently insisted 

 by Hutton and Tate, exact correlation is impossible in the present state of our know- 

 ledge. 



The other fossiliferous formation — the volcanic breccia — is undoubtedly of 

 younger age. Although this is clearly shown by the geological occurrence of the 

 rocks, no section was found in which an actual junction occurred. The fossils found 

 in the breccia indicate an early Pliocene or late Miocene age, probably the latter. 



THE SNABES. 



These islands are situated in lat. 48° S. and long. 166° 35' E., distant sixty-five 

 miles from Stewart Island. 



The only geological knowledge previously possessed in regard to the group 

 was contained in a paper by Armstrong* and in a short abstract written by Hector.j- 

 Armstrong records the 

 occurrence of basalt and 

 decomposed quartz por- 

 phyry and jasper. Hector 

 records only granite, which 

 is mentioned as having a 

 red colour ; it is compared 

 to that at Chalky Inlet. 

 From the appearance of 

 columnar structure on the 

 west coast, doubt is ex- 

 pressed as to the granitic 

 structure of the island as 

 a whole. 



The coast-line has the 

 normal features of exposed 

 islands composed of un- 

 stratified rocks. On the 

 west coast the cliffs rise 

 everywhere nearly verti- 

 cally to a height of some 

 300 ft. On the east side 



the declivity is much less, and in one place the cHffs are so low that a landing can be 

 made easily in good weather. Since a small stream enters the head of the landing- 

 cove, it is probable that the cove is the submerged portion of a stream-valley 

 eroded when the level of the land was somewhat higher than now. 



The surface is entirely covered with peat to an average depth of about 8 ft. In 

 the major part of the island the surface slopes gently to the eastward, but terminates 



* Armstrong, H., " Cruise of the Brig ' Amherst.' " 

 t Hector, J., Trans. N.Z. Jnst., xxviii, p. 736. 



Fig. 14.- 



-SouTH-EAST Point of the Mai.v Island oj' the Snares Gnour, 

 LOOKixfj South. 



The level surface of the island marks a plain of marine erosion. 



