332 INDEX TO THE STRATIGRAPHY OF NORTH AMERICA. 



To the southward of the ore the country exhibits a succession of ridges of slate holding 

 similar fossils and probably representing a thick series of Devonian beds, though it is quite pos- 

 sible that some of them may be repeated by faults or folds. Farther to the south these slates 

 are associated with bands of crystalhne greenstone and quartz rock and are then interrupted by 

 a great mass of white granite, which extends far into the interior and separates these beds from 

 the similar nonfossiliferous rocks on the inner side of the metamorphic band of the Atlantic 

 coast. The Devonian beds appear to dip into the granite, which is intrusive and alters the slates 

 near the junction into gneissoid rock holding garnets. The granite sends veins into the slates 

 and near the junction contains numerous angular fragments of altered slate. 



At Moose River the iron ore and its associated beds recur on the western side of the granite 

 before mentioned but in a state of greater metamorphism than at Nictaux. The iron is here 

 in the state of magnetic ore but still holds fossil shells of the same species with those of Nictaux. 



StiU farther westward, at Bear River, near the bridge by which the main road crosses this 

 stream, beds equivalent to those of Nictaux occur with a profusion of fossils. The iron ore is 

 not seen, but there are highly fossiliferous slates and coarse arenaceous limestone and a bed of 

 gray sandstone with numerous indistinct impressions apparently of plants. In addition to 

 several of the fossUs found at Nictaux, these beds afford Tentaculites, an Atrypa, apparently 

 identical with an undescribed species very characteristic of the Devonian sandstones of Gaspe, 

 and a coral which Mr. Billings identifies with the Pleurodictyum problematicum Goldfuss, a form 

 which occurs in the lower Devonian in England and on the continent of Europe. 



Westward of Bear River rocks resembling in mineral character those previously described, 

 and probably of Devonian and Upper Silurian age, extend with similar strike but in an altered 

 condition and in so far as I have been able to ascertain destitute of fossils quite to the western 

 extremity of the peninsula, where they turn more to the southward and are, as I suppose, 

 repeated by a sharp synclinal fold, after which they are succeeded by the Atlantic coast series, 

 of lower Silurian date and consisting of quartzite and clay slate, with chlorite and hornblende 

 slates at Yarmouth and its vicinity, and farther to the southeast of mica slate and gneiss. 



I can not certainly indicate the Devonian system in other parts of Nova Scotia. There are, 

 however, in various places, at the margin of the Carboniferous areas, or projecting through these 

 beds, rocks which may be Devonian, though, not having afforded characteristic fossils, their 

 age must remain doubtful, as they might possibly prove to be altered members of the Lower 

 Carboniferous, or rocks of Silurian date. They are usually hard gray or purphsh sandstones or 

 quartzites, associated with gray or purplish slates or shales. 



The above description is quoted by Bailey, ^^* who adds: 



In 1892 a collection of fossils from Nictaux, Bear River, and Mistake settlement was made 

 by the writer and Mr. W. H. Brest and tended to confirm the conclusions of Sir WilHam Dawson, 

 so far at least as regards the beds of Nictaux and Bear River. They were examined by Dr. 

 H. M. Ami, who states," as to the two former points at least, that the beds are transitional, 

 being either at the summit of the Silurian or at the base of the Devonian epoch, the weight of 

 evidence being perhaps in favor of the Eo-Devonian. The fossils from Mistake settlement indi- 

 cate a Silurian tract. 



Bailey then gives detailed descriptions of localities with lists of fossils collected 

 at definite localities in the Nictaux-Torbrook, Clementsport, Bear River, and 

 Mistake settlement districts. 



a In Report (by L. W. Bailey) on southwestern Nova Scotia, vol. 6, pt. Q, 1892-93, p. 14. 



