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VIII. Dr. Bouè on the Newer Deposits of the Alps.

In the first volume of the Annals, N. S. we published Prof. Buckland's "Notice on the Structure of the Alps, &c. ;" and we now insert some descriptive remarks on a part of the same subject, by another eminent geologist, Dr. Bouè, whose opinion respecting it has already been adverted to by the Rev. W. D. Conybeare, in his "Memoir on the Mountain Chains of Europe," Annals, v. 282, N. S. They are derived from Dr. Bouè's "Outlines of a Geological Comparative View of the South-west and North of France, and the South of Germany;" read before the Wernerian Society on the 15th of April last, and published in the Edinburgh Philosophical Journal for July, p. 128.

"We shall now trace the shell limestone, and show, that by some observers it has been confounded with the zechstein. It may afford matter of surprise that I should contradict the opinion of so many celebrated men, but the fact is clear, and the confusion has arisen merely from mistake regarding the geognostical position of the Jura limestone. In Swabia, geologists not finding the zechstein, and yet being anxious to recognize a deposit so well known in the north, had naturally, from their not being acquainted with the shell limestone (muschelkalk), taken this deposit for the zechstein, because it lies above what they rightly consider as the todliegende. This base admitted, they naturally believed that the salt deposit was placed between their zechstein and todliegende, and this salt they rendered subordinate to the zechstein or alpine limestone of Friesleben. Further, they then naturally called the Jura limestone the shell limestone (muschelkalk), and the quadersandstein the red marl. But when it is once acknowledged, what it is impossible to deny, that their shell limestone (muschelkalk) is not the zechstein, but in reality the second floetz limestone; it then naturally follows that, as every where else, the salt deposit lies under the great mass of that formation, and alternates with every part of it."

"The shell limestone (muschelkalk) of Wirtemberg, or of Wurzberg, is in every respect the same as that of the north of Germany, and above it comes the quadersandstein, or third floetz sandstone, which surrounds the Jura chain, and lies under it. The most interesting parts of this deposit are the environs of Amberg, where it contains short beds of marly rock, with vegetable impressions (lycopodites), or siliciferous beds, and a kind of coarse tripoli with carpolites. The lias lies above it, and alternates with argillaceous and sandy beds; it is a compact marly rock, of a greyish colour, or slaty, with gryphites arcuata, plagiostomata, ammonites, belemnites, mytiloides, reptiles, &c. in short, with all the fossils common to the lias and alumslate of England; so that I would recommend this part of Germany to the study of those English geologists who are inclined to confound the shell limestone (muschelkalk) of Germany with the lias, because the first deposit does not appear to exist, or but very sparingly, in their own country. This formation is also very interesting, from its clay containing masses of brown iron-ore, or hydrate of iron, which are wrought with advantage, and which rarely contain small veins of wavellite, and of oxide of manganese, and are here and there changed by the quantity of marine exuvia into granular or compact, or even into beautiful crystallized phosphate of iron (Amberg). The well-known nests of compact and

reniform phosphorite are also found in a clay subordinate to the lias of Amberg.

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"The structure of the secondary formations of the Alps has puzzled many geologists; yet the means of cutting the Gordian knot have been given by Escher, De Buch, Mohs, Lupin, Uttinger, Pantz, Keferstein, &c. The writings of these excellent geologists, together with the judiciously managed travels of Mr. Buckland, have enabled us at last to acquire a distinct view of this part of the alpine regions. It would be quite useless for me to relate my own observations in this place, were I not of an opinion different from that of Prof. Buckland upon the newer deposits of the Alps."

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Upon the old red sandstone rests the great alpine calcareous tract, which belongs to the zechstein or magnesian limestone; it is in great part a magnesian limestone, which presents some varieties of rocks, one of which is rather compact, another somewhat granular, while another is fetid, and some, particularly those in the upper part of the formation, are porous, or present the structure of the rauchwacke (Eisenertz). In its lower parts there are vast deposits of lead and zinc, in the form of small veins; bitumen is found here and there in it; in some places mercury has been collected, which could only come from some bituminous part of this formation, and here and there are found columns of porphyry. (Hiedeberg, Geisalp.) This grey, or yellowish, or whitish limestone, forms very high hills of at least 7000 or 9000 feet, and its masses very rarely show any traces of stratification. Petrifactions are exceedingly rare in it. It is the hochgebirgeskalk of Escher and Uttinger, and a part of the alpine limestone of Humboldt, Freisleben, De Buch, &c. It is impossible to confound it with any other limestone deposit, for it has not the slaty structure of the transition limestone, nor the petrifactions of the shell limestone (muschelkalk), and, besides, it lies everywhere under the variegated sandstone and salt-formation. This last formation presents, in the Alps, as elsewhere, two masses, an arenaceous and a marly. The first is composed of alternations of greywacke-like micaceous sandstone, seldom very coarse, with marls which are of a greyish, brownish, or yellowish colour; in short, not red like the variegated sandstone of Germany, because in the northern part of the Alps there have been no porphy ries, to give them the necessary supply of hydrated oxide of iron. These rocks are placed above, and sometimes also below the marly masses, which consist of alternations of various marls, more or less indurated, and of a brown, reddish-brown, blackish, greyish, or greenish colour: they contain gypsum and rock-salt. Petrifactions are not seen in this formation, but there are many vegetable remains, often of marine plants (Kahlenberg). This formation, which is distinctly stratified in thin layers, lies between the magnesian limestone and the shell limestone (muschelkalk); and, as elsewhere, the upper part of it often alternates with indurated marl or limestone, or even with limestone identical with the shell limestone (muschelkalk), and with flinty concretions. Thus, at Ischel, the marly mass lies between the shell limestone (muschelkalk) and a series of marly and calcareous beds; between Klosternenberg, near Vienna, and Nussdorf, the undulated beds of the deposit contain many limestones, which are here and there traversed by minute ferruginous veins, like the reniform marble of Florence. After this short description, I imagine no one can any longer doubt

the identity of this deposit with the red marl. This formation fills up the valleys of the Alps, and forms only in the eastern part, and in the Carpathians, most extensive ranges of hills, like the Spessart. It is the grès houiller of Beudant, and of my former memoir."-(Memoirs of Wernerian Society, vol. iv. Part I.)

"As this deposit lies upon a very irregular surface, it forms, as elsewhere, many undulations, and affords the first origin of the undulated stratification of the hills of shell limestone (muschelkalk), which overlie this formation. The alpine shell limestone (muschelkalk) is a compact limestone, of a whitish, greyish, yellowish, brownish, and rarely blackish or reddish colour. It contains imbedded flinty concre tions, and is traversed by many small veins of calcareous spar, which are generally totally different from those of the transition limestone, and the thin numerous veins of the magnesian limestone, in short, are analogous to those of the shell limestone (muschelkalk). These rocks, which are in some few instances of a particular granular or oolitic structure (roggenstein), afford marbles intermediate between the marbles of the transition limestone, and those of the lias or Jura limestone. They contain many of the same fossils, as the shell limestone (muschelkalk) of the north of Germany, ammonites, modiola socialis, nautili, strombites, turbinites, fragments of echini, madrepores, tubipores, alcyons, &c. They form very high hills, composed of thin beds always stratified, which affords a good test to distinguish this limestone from the magnesian, upon which it often lies in patches or hills. It abounds around the salt district, in Austria, Switzerland, Dauphiné; in short, it is a part of the alpine limestone of authors,

"After this description, I need only add, that I see nothing in it of the character of the lias or Jura limestone, as Mr. Buckland calls this deposit. Its intimate connexion with the salt formation, its situation, its petrifactions, its nature, all show that it is the shell-limestone formation (muschelkalk), so long neglected, and which now seems to occupy so conspicuous a place in nature. It is probable, that even a great part of the limestone lying upon the Macigno, or variegated sandstone of the Middle Appennines, belongs to the shell limestone (muschelkalk), and not to the Jura limestone. Yet, in contradicting in this manner so intelligent an observer as Buckland, I do not, by any means, consider it impossible that some patches of the Jura formation may be situated near, or upon the Alps, in some parts; but in Germany I do not know of any facts which show the probability of this statement, and so long as Mr. Buckland is without a clear idea of the shell limestone (muschelkalk), and of its difference from the lias, at least in Germany and France, he will probably hesitate as to the accuracy of my observations. His chief arguments are derived from the petrifactions; but is it not very natural that the same terebratulæ, or some other similar petrifactions, may exist both in the shell-limestone (muschelkalk), and lias? and until he show me in the alpine shell-limestone (muschelkalk), the gryphites, the icthyosauri, the plagiostomata, and show that it is unconnected with the salt deposit, I cannot adopt his ideas, which seem to me inconsistent with nature.'

ARTICLE XVI.

NEW SCIENTIFIC BOOKS.

PREPARING FOR PUBLICATION.

A new Edition of Berthollet on Dyeing, with Notes and Illustrations. By Dr. A. Ure. 2 Vols. 8vo.

Lectures on the General Structure of the Human Body, and on the Anatomy and Functions of the Skin. 8vo,

A, B. Lambert, Esq. FRS. &c. is preparing a Supplement to his splendid work on the Natural History of Pines. With Engravings. Folio.

JUST PUBLISHED.

On the Stratification of Alluvial Deposits, and the Crystallization of calcareous Stalactites. In a Letter to Dr. John Macculloch. By H. R. Oswald. 8vo. 1s. 6d.

A Treatise on the Medicinal Leach, including its Medical Natural History, with a full Account of its very singular Anatomical Structure, &c. By J. R. Johnson, MD. FRS. FLS. 8vo. 8s.

A Guide to the Giant's Causeway and North-east Coast of the County of Antrim, containing an Account of the Geological Structure of Basaltic Stratification. By the Rev. G. N. Wright. With Map and Plates. Royal 18mo. 6s.

Mr. G. B. Sowerby's Genera of Recent and Fossils Shells: Nos. 16, 17, and 18; containing the following Genera:-Unio, 2 Plates; Conus, 2 Plates; Hyria; Calceola; Cyproa, 2 Plates; Anodon, 2 Plates; Lima; Nucula; Anomia; Ricinula; Corbula; Pyrgoma; Creusia ; Trigonia.

Mémoires de la Société d'Histoire Naturelle de Paris. Tome Premier. 1re Partie. Paris, Boudoin Frères, 1823. 4to. 15s.

ARTICLE XVII.

NEW PATENTS.

T. W. Stansfield, Leeds, worsted manufacturer; H. Briggs, Luddendenfoot, Halifax, worsted manufacturer; W. Richard, Leeds, engineer; and W. Barraclaugh, Burley, Leeds, worsted manufacturer; for their improvements in the construction of looms for weaving fabrics composed wholly, or in part, of woollen, worsted, cotton, linen, silk, or other materials, and in the machinery and implements for, and methods of working the same.-July 5.

G. Clymer, Finsbury-street, Finsbury-square, mechanic, for certain improvements in agricultural ploughs.-July 5.

J. Fisher, of Great Bridge, Westbromwich, Staffordshire, ironfounder, and J. Horton, the younger, of the same place, manufacturers of steam boilers, for improvements in the construction of boilers for steam engines, and other purposes where steam is required.-July 8.

S. Fairbanks, of the United States of America, but now residing in

Norfolk-street, Strand, merchant, for certain improvements in the construction of locks and other fastenings.-July 10.

J. L. Bradbury, Manchester, calico-printer, for improvements in the art of printing, painting, or staining silk cottons, woollen, and other cloths, and paper, parchment, vellum, leather, and other substances, by means of blocks or surface painting.-July 15.

B. Gill, Birmingham, merchant, for certain improvements in the construction of saws, cleavers, straw-knives, and all kinds of implements that require or admit of metallic backs.-July 15.

Sir I. Coffin, Bart. Pall-mall, Middlesex, for a certain method or methods of catching or taking mackarel and other fish.-July 15.

W. Palmer, Lothbury, paper-hanger, for his improvements in machinery applicable to printing on calico, or other woven fabrics composed wholly or in part of cotton, linen, wool, or silk.-July 5.

W. H. Horocks, Portwood within Brimington, Cheshire, cotton manufacturer, for certain methods applicable to preparing, cleaning, dressing, and beaming silk warps, and also applicable to beaming other warps. July 24.

R. Gill, Barrowdown, Rutlandshire, fellmonger and parchment manufacturer, for his method of preparing, dressing, and dyeing sheepskins and lambskins with the wool on for rugs, carriages, rooms, and other purposes.-July 24.

W. Jeaks, Great Russell-street, Bloomsbury, for his apparatus for regulating the supply of water in steam-boilers, and other vessels for containing water or other liquids.―July 24.

W. Davis, Bourne, Gloucestershire, and Leeds, Yorkshire, engineer, for certain improvements in machinery for shearing and dressing woollen and other cloths.-July 24.

H. Smart, Berner's-street, piano-forte manufacturer, for certain improvements in the construction of piano-fortes.-July 24.

M. Turner, and L. Angell, both of Whitehaven, soap-boilers, for their process to be used in the bleaching of linen, or cotton yarn, or cloth.-July 24.

J. Jackson, Nottingham, gun-maker, for certain improvements in the locks used for the discharge of guns and other fire-arms upon the detonating principle.-July 29.

J. Bower, Hunslet, Leeds, oil of vitriol manufacturer, and J. Bland, Hunslet, Leeds, steam-engine manufacturer, for their improvements in such steam-engines as condense out of the cylinder, by which improvement the air-pump is rendered unnecessary.-July 31.

J. Bainbridge, Bread-street, Cheapside, merchant, for certain improvements upon machines for cutting, cropping, or shearing wool, or fur from skins; also for cropping or shearing woollen, silk, cotton, or other cloths and velvets, and also for the purpose of shaving pelts or skins.-July 31.

L. J. Pouchee, King-street, Covent-garden, type-founder, for certain apparatus to be employed in the casting of metal types.-Aug. 5. R. Dickinson, Park-street, Southwark, for his improvement in addition to the shoeing or stopping and treatment of horses' feet.-Aug. 5. J. Barron, Wells-street, St. Mary-le-bone, venetian-blind manufacturer, and J. Wilson, Welbeck-street, Mary-le-bone, upholsterer, for certain improvements in the construction and manufacturing of window blinds.-Aug. 11.

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