262 Field and Forest Rambles. 



The northern and wilderness regions are, however, only now 

 being explored by the Geological Survey of Canada. 



Of the fourteen grand divisions of strata so classified by 

 Lyell * seven have hitherto been identified in New Brunswick ; 

 these, considered in chronological succession, from below up- 

 wards, are briefly, LAURENTIAN, CAMBRIAN, SILURIAN, DE- 

 VONIAN, Carboniferous, Triassic, and Post Tertiary. 



The two first comprise groups of granitic and granatoid 

 beds, limestones, sandstones, slates, and conglomerates of vast 

 and variable thicknesses ; often much metamorphosed and 

 altered by volcanic agencies, and also by the disturbing actions 

 of upheaval and depression, the dips of not a few giving an 

 angle of 90°. The discovery of traces of animal life — to wit, 

 the so-called Eozoon Canadense in the Laurentian beds of 

 Upper Canada, has not yet been further strengthened by the 

 finding of like remains in strata of the same or any other age 

 in New Brunswick, perhaps from the reason that the latter 

 have not yet been so carefully examined. Iron, copper, and 

 galena have been discovered in certain districts, but hitherto 

 neither of the two first groups of rocks have, so far as they 

 have been observed, been found to be very productive of useful 

 minerals. Nor, unless where covered with Glacial Drift, do 

 they furnish good lands for settlements. 



The Silurian Beds appear to overlie or flank the Lauren- 

 tian and Cambrian on their inland side, but the exact position 

 and distribution of the former have not yet been accurately 

 determined ; perhaps many beds supposed to belong to these 

 very ancient rocks may, on closer acquaintance, turn out, as 

 will be shown presently, to appertain to more recent formations. 

 According to Bailey and others, about the same agricultural 

 conditions prevail wherever these beds appear. They are pro- 

 ductive of considerable mineral wealth, and no doubt, when 

 carefully examined, will yield most valuable ores. Iron and 

 antimony mines have been opened in several localities; but 

 * " Elements of Geology," sixth ed., p. 102. 



