Prof. Milne and Alex. Murray — Rocks of Neivfoundland. 257 
of which were more or less chloritic ; some were, however, argil- 
laceous and slightly calcareous, whilst a few were harsh and 
splintery clay-slates. Bands of dolomite are here and there inter- 
calated, some of which contain disseminated particles of magnetic 
er chromic iron, which by decomposition give a rusty appearance 
to the weathered surface of the rock. 
A predominating feature among these rocks are dark-green 
serpentines, which show traces of actinolite, and some specimens 
could only be regarded as serpentinized varieties of this mineral. 
Associated with the Serpentine, veins of chrysotile are common. A 
quartz conglomerate and veins of quartz have also been found. The 
latter are supposed to contain gold, but wliat the result of their 
analysis has been I am not yet able to say. On the whole, the rocks 
have a green chloritic look, and are magnesian in their character. 
Further to the north, in Notre Dame Bay , 1 there is quite an archipe- 
lago of islands, the greater number of which seem to belong to the 
Quebec Group. There are amongst them, however, some granites, 
porphyries, felsites, diorites, and basalts , 2 to which no particular 
horizon can be assigned. On Pelly’s Island, copper pyrites is found, 
and mining operations have been commenced in rocks which are 
dark-green in colour and chloritic in character. On Toulinguet we 
also find a more or less chloritic series of rocks. On the mainland, 
upon the north side of the Bay, we meet with massive serpentinous 
rocks. All of this series have, however, been so altered and con- 
torted that it is difficult to make out their lithological characters, and 
alraost impossible to make out their stratigraph ical relations. Along 
the coast these rocks form bold cliffs, here and there broken by small 
indentations forming small bays and coves. Inland, they form 
moderately-sized hills, which are covered with drifted boulders. 
The serpentines are dark and light green in colour, some are com- 
pact and splintery, whilst others are soft and earthy. When jointed, 
their partings contain either gypsum or calcite. Chrj^sotile is also 
1 The confusion and disturbance manifested in Notre Dame Bay is such, that 
to ohtain a structurul section is almost impossible ; while the total absence of organic 
remains in the group which contains the metallic ores adds to the difficulty of disen- 
tangling the complexities. Our evideuces of horizon are therefore of a negative 
rather than a positive kind ; but the circumstance of these altered rocks being 
succeeded by a group containing fossils typical of a horizon ranging between the 
upper part of the Hudson’s River Group and the Clinton is significant. These upper 
strata have been found in unconformable contact with the older and metal-bearing 
formations, and traced from the extreme eastern end of New World Island to the 
Exploits River. Near the base of the group there is a black shale or slate with 
Graptolithus ramosus , which was followed far up the Exploits River. These fossils 
Mr. Billings supposed to be types of Hudson River age. The higher beds of 
the formation were found to contain the following fossils, many of which indicate a 
period as late as the Clinton: — Orthis ruida ; Rhynchonella ; Strichlandinia lens; 
Modiolopsis ; Atrypa reticularis ; Strophomena rhomboidalis ; Leptana sericea ; 
Orthis Davidsoni (?) ; Heliophyllum ; Zaphrentis bellisriata ; Petra/ ia; Favosites 
Gothlandica ; Orthoceros Murchisonia ; Bronteus; Eucrinites; and Pentamerus. — A.M. 
2 In my report for last vear, 1876, I have shown reason for believing that the 
granites here spoken of are later in date, or contemporaneous with, the Quebec 
Group; and in my report upon the Exploits, 1871, I have shown that the porphyries 
and some of the basalts intersect the Middle Silurian. Felsites and diorites occur in 
strata in the Quebec Group ; and also as intersecting veins. — A.M. 
DECADE II. — VOL. IV. — NO. VI. 
17 
