Reflections on 150 years of coal geology investigations by the Geological Survey of Canada in the Atlantic Provinces

CIM Bulletin, Vol. 85, No. 965, 1992

Peter A. Hacquebard, Atlantic Geoscience Centre, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia

The early history of the Geological Survey of Canada is closely connected with coal geology investigations in the Atlantic Provinces. In 1843, Sir William Logon, the first director of the Geological Survey, measured the 4441 m thick shore section at Joggins in Nova Scotia. Detailed mapping of the coalfields were subsequently carried out by H. Fletcher during the latter part of the nineteenth and first part of the present century. During the 1920-1940 period, the stratigraphy of the carboniferous was established by W.A. Bell, who later also became a diretor of the Survey. Bell's work was followed by coal geology investigations of A.O. Hayes, W.S. Dyer, E.A. Goranson, G. W.H. Norman, J.E. Muller, T.B. Haites and P.A. Hacquebard. The activities and accomplishments of the Survey geologists during the past 150 years are presented in this paper.