574 Dr Richardson’s View of the Gcognostical Structure 
These primitive rocks are traversed by veins of felspar, quartz* 
and granite ; and the granite of Cape Barrow was also intersect- 
ed by veins of augite-greenstone of the same description with 
those met with in the granite districts of Great Britain. The 
occurrence of the vein of galena at Galena Point, is an interest- 
ing fact, as connected with the geographical distribution of that 
important ore. The Esquimaux that frequent the shores of 
the Arctic Sea, make their culinary utensils of potstone ; but 
we did not discover the place from whence they obtained it. 
The transition rocks were observed in situ only at Point 
Lake, on the Copper-Mine River, and, perhaps, at Wilberforce 
Falls cn Hood’s River, and, as far as our observations extended, 
afforded neither limestone nor lydian-stone. None of the transi- 
tion-slate that we examined, contained chiastolite ; and if any 
beds or imbedded masses of glance-coal existed, they escaped 
our notice. The transition rocks being principally clay-slate 
and grey-wacke, bore a strong resemblance to those in Dum- 
friesshire, my native country. 
The secondary formations, if examined by travellers more 
fortunately situated than we were, will doubtless exhibit many 
curious and highly important relations. The facts already 
stated, shew that the following formations of this class occurred 
on or near the line of our journey. 
1st, The old red sandstone , or that which lies under coal, 
and occasionally alternates with transition rocks. This was ob- 
served upon the Copper-Mine River. 
2d, The coal formation, which did not present itself in the 
direct line of our route ; but as it is known to occur in some 
districts in Mackenzie’s Riv er, and also towards the Rocky Moun- 
tains, placed apparently upon the old red sandstone, and under 
the vast deposit of secondary limestone, it is here mentioned. 
3d, The new red or variegated sandstone. This important 
formation is of very considerable extent in several of the tracts 
we passed through, and probably lies over an extensive deposit 
of the coal formation. In some instances, where the old red 
sandstone was wanting, it appeared to us as resting upon gneiss 
and other primitive rocks. Here, as in other quarters of the 
world, the new red sandstone contains gypsum and salt-springs 
that seem to issue from it, implying that it contains beds of 
