54 
GEOLOGY OF THE THIRD DISTRICT. 
7 . 
On the opposite side of the creek, there is a disturbance equally as limited as the preceding. 
It is at some height above the water. The layers appear to have been bent downwards, and 
pushed outwards, or toward the stream; of which the wood-cut will give an idea. 
These instances of disturbance in rocks are cited, because they are wholly local, and show 
that some -parts may be greatly disturbed, whilst contiguous ones remain totally unaffected. 
The former instance is of importance, because it throws light upon myriads of similar ap¬ 
pearances in the primary class of rocks, and in gneiss and mica slate particularly. Where 
such minerals as quartz and feldspar, with but little mica, or any other mineral in like amount, 
form rocks, they show but little tendency, as a general rule, to form layers or other like divi¬ 
sions, and hence such rocks are termed unstratified ; but where mica or talc forms an impor¬ 
tant part of the mass, the disposition in layers occurs. These are straight or waved, curved 
or contorted, and the latter often to so great a degree as to exemplify an angular movement. 
It would appear, that where desiccation and crystallization had been simultaneous, the result 
would be a plane surface, the acting forces being supposed equal; but that where the con¬ 
torted and angular appearances occur, the nucleus being usually quartz and feldspar, these 
have been the active powers, commencing first to crystallize, and the mica or other lamellar 
mineral the passive one, as exemplified by the two substances which form the contorted mass 
at the Great falls. 
The village of Prospect is on the alluvion resting upon the Trenton limestone, which there 
forms the surface rock; being at the head of the falls, and but a short distance to the west of 
the excavation. The present direction or channel of West Canada creek is but one of many 
which it has had, the last of which was through the site of the village, passing south, and 
parallel to the present one. 
At Prospect bridge there are some -local disturbances in the rock, which may have facili¬ 
tated the first movements of the water in making its present deep channel. In examining 
the layers of which the sides of the excavation are formed, we perceive that the lower the 
layer near the bottom of the channel or passage, the greater is its inclination, dipping down 
the stream; and the higher the layer, the less the inclination. Just below the bridge, the 
layers rise again by a low but graceful undulation, and then resume the usual inclination 
which they show throughout the excavation. Should the lower inclined layers have extended 
to the surface north of the bridge, and with the same or a lesser angle, which is likely to have 
been the case, then their position would have greatly aided the destructive forces ; and when 
once the course of the water was fixed, its movement, from the dip of the rock, would be 
greatly increased. 
