Page:The Journal of geology (IA journalofgeology11893univ).pdf/352
detail its stratigraphical position must remain a matter of conjecture.
Leaving the Hastings series out of consideration therefore, we have in this Original and Typical Laurentian area two developments of the Laurentian, generally considered as constituting two series, namely the
- Grenville or Upper series,
- Fundamental, Ottawa, or Lower Gneiss.
The Evolution of the Area.—In endeavoring to outline the main events in the evolution of this area it will be necessary to extend the limits of our observation somewhat and seek for evidence bearing on the question in other parts of the Protaxis, where we meet with developments of Huronian and various earlier Paleozoic strata not found in the typical area itself.
From the highly contorted condition of the Laurentian rocks of this area as well as from the abundant evidences of dynamic action which they present both in the field and under the microscope, it is evident that they have been subjected to great orographic forces, which in very early times threw them up into mountain ranges, probably of great height. Some of the associated eruptive rocks were intruded before these movements began, or while they were in progress and have accordingly been influenced by them, while others, having been intruded later, have not been affected.
How high these mountains rose cannot of course be determined. Bell states that some of the mountains on the Labrador coast now rise to a height of from 5,000 to 6,000 feet, while Lieber has estimated that on the coast of Northern Labrador they rise to a height of from 6,000 to 10,000 feet. Along the southern part of the Protaxis, where the country is much lower, notwithstanding the enormous subaerial denudation and glaciation which the area has repeatedly undergone, there are many points still rising from 2,500 to 3,500 feet above sea level, while Logan estimated that the average elevation is from 1,500 to 1,600 feet. In the Adirondacks, which are but an outlying portion of this area, there are elevations of over 5,400 feet.