3 



Distribution of the Gaspe Sandstones. 



(From the Geology of Caftida, p. 394 to p. 400.) 



Succeeding the calcareous rocks just described, and resting upon them 

 conformably, there occurs an important group of sandstones. The con- 

 tact of the two series, as already stated, is seen at Little Gaspe ; but 

 between the visible base of the sandstone group and the place of its great- 

 est development, there are two considerable undulations, and a probable 

 dislocation, of an uncertain amount. These render it difficult as yet to 

 unite the whole series, with a certainty that no strata are repeated or left 

 out. But though the section which shows the greatest unbroken series of 

 strata, does not reach to the base, it is probably not far removed from 

 it ; and it may, therefore, for the present, be assumed, probably without 

 much inaccuracy, to represent the whole group. In ascending order, the 

 strata are as follows : — 



1. Grey arenaceous and argillaceous shales, with beds of grey sandstone, Feet. 



varying in thickness from one to twenty feet, and one of them seventy- 

 five feet. A three-inch band of argillaceous iron ore occurs about a 

 hundred feet from the top. Towards the bottom, the beds weather of a 

 rusty brown color, and contain abundance of plants. One of these, in 

 its arrangement on the surface of the beds, resembles Fucoides grapliica^ 

 but it may be the broken roots or stems of the other species of plants, 

 which have been recognized in this deposit ; surfaces thus characterized 

 were met with in more than one locality. Many of the beds abound with 

 the comminuted remains of carbonized plants, most of which are too 

 obscure to be determined. Among them, however, are Prototaxites 

 ■ Logani^ Lepidodendron Gaspiatiuin, Psilophyton princepSj P. robustiiis, 

 Selayinites fonnosus, and Cordaiies augmtijolia ; all described by Dr. 

 Dawson. Towards the lower part, there is a small seam of coal, with 

 carbonaceous scale, measuring together about three inches ; which 

 appears to hold a regular course, having a bed of clay beneaih, marked 

 by what seem to be the roots of Psilophyton ; while the stems and leaf- 

 lets of the plant are met with in a thin seam of shale above the coal, and 

 in the carbonaceous shale associated with it. On some of the leaflets, 

 small shells of the genus Spirorbis are met with. More than 130 feet above 

 the coal seam, there is a hard rough grey bed, looking like fire-clay; 

 with the fibrous impressions of Psilophyton roots penetrating it at 

 right angles. Ripple-mark occurs on some of the surfaces 528 



2. Drab sandstones, many of them with a reddish tinge; they present 



spheroidal masses harder than the general character of the rock, and 

 are marked by extensive ferruginous stains. A few scattered pebbles 

 of quartz and jasper occur in some of the beds, which are in general 

 thick, and separated from one another by layers and partings of grey 

 argillaceous and arenaceous shale. Nodules of argillaceous iron ore 

 are contained in some of the layers, and comminuted carbonized plants 

 are frequently seen on the divisional surfaces ; those which have been 

 determined belong to the species already mentioned 910 



3. Drab sandstones, inclining to reddish at the bottom and greenish at the 



top; with occasional scattered quartz and jasper pebbles, and large 

 spheroidal masses, as above. Ferruginous stains are frequent, and the 



