42 J. C. BRANNER GEOLOGY OP NORTHEAST COAST OP BRAZIL 



Page 



Geology along the Great Western railway from Pernambuco to Timbauba. ... 85 



Railway stations 85 



Topography and rock exposures adjacent to stations 86 



Conclusions regarding the geology along the Great Western railway.. .... 91 



Geology along the Natal a Nova Cruz railway 92 



Railroad stations and topography adjacent thereto 92 



Conclusions regarding the geology of Bio Grande do Norte 96 



Introduction 



So little is known of the geology of northeastern Brazil that no apology 

 is needed for the obvious imperfections of the present paper. Most of 

 the notes were taken during a trip along the coast and several trips across 

 the sedimentary beds in 1899, but I was previously somewhat familiar 

 with the geology of the region through my work there while a member 

 of the Geological Survey of the Empire (the Commissao Geologica do 

 Brazil), and from subsequent trips to the interior of Pernambuco. 

 Fortunately I have been able also to obtain valuable contributions from 

 several correspondents whose names are mentioned in the paper to sup- 

 plement my own observations. 



Geology of the State of Parahyba do Norte 

 results of previous and present investigations 



Aside from the very brief references cited beyond, the only paper ever 

 published on the geology of the state of Parahyba do Norte is that of 

 E. Williamson.* Mr Williamson says the rocks of that state are Tertiary, 

 Cretaceous, and Laurentian, but he mentions no paleontological reasons 

 for these divisions. So far as the Tertiary and Cretaceous divisions are 

 concerned, Mr Williamson's classification seems to be correct, as will 

 presently appear. 



Although I have visited Parahyba several times, the trips have been 

 hurried, and it has never been possible for me to make a careful search 

 for fossils. Since my last visit, in 1899, however, Mr H. G. Sumner, 

 superintendent of the Conde d'Eu railway, has secured and kindly sent 

 me a few fossils recently found in quarries at the base of the hills near 

 the railway station at that city. These fossils are of great importance 

 and interest, for they are the first and only ones thus far found which 

 throw a decided light on the geologic age of the beds at and about 



* This paper was read in April, 1867, before the Geological Society of Manchester, England, and 

 published in its Transactions, vol. vi, pp. 113-122, under the title "Geology of Parahiba and Per- 

 nambuco gold regions." 



