GLACIAL DRIFT ON THE MAGDALEN ISLANDS. 
3 
is most unusual, suggesting the volcanic islands of the Straits 
of Java rather than an outlying scrap of Canada. 
PREVIOUS WORK. 
The surface geology of the islands has been studied only 
incidentally. It is generally believed that they are non-glaciated. 
James Richardson in his report of 188U says; “The relations of 
superficial deposits are rather obscure. Nowhere could deposits 
of clay or gravel be distinguished such as are usually attributed 
to the drift period. The surface is everywhere covered with a 
mantle of soil of similar quality throughout, lying on the upturned 
edges of the older rocks. ... No rocks were observed to 
protrude through the soil, which everywhere extends from the 
lowest to the highest levels.® 
“On account of the generally soft and friable nature of the 
rocks no glacial grooves or scratches are to be seen; whether, 
therefore, any such ever existed is uncertain.”® Boulders from 
foreign sources are said to be scarce and the nature of their 
transportation hither is regarded as uncertain. None at all 
were found on Amherst island. Rounded blocks and boulders 
from 2 or 3 pounds weight to 40 pounds, and in rare instances to 
over a ton were found on the beach at Grindstone island and 
Wolfe island; and in the latter case they appeared to have 
come from a deposit at the top of a sandstone cliff. Most of 
them were of white quartz rock, but some were a chloritic and 
micaceous schist, said to resemble Laurentian rocks.^ 
While not committing himself definitely, therefore, to an 
opinion, Richardson emphasized the lack of any clear evidence 
that the Magdalens had been glaciated, and the probability that 
their soils were essentially residual in origin. 
1 James Richardson. Report of a geological exploration of the Magdalen 
islands, 1880-1881. Geol. Surv., Canada, Report of Progress, 1879-80, 
Part G, pp. 11, 1881. 
® Op. dt., pp. 8-10. 
•Op. cit. p. 9. 
♦Op. cit. p. 9. 
