302 Geological Joimiey to Mount Ramazzo 



with serpentines of various kinds similar to those I have 

 mentioned : but there were also found considerable blocks 

 of amass composed of fragments of the serpentines above de- 

 scribed, and of the same lime I have mentioned, and similar 

 in every respect to that of which the lime is made : this 

 mass is strongly united by a calcareous sparry cement. 



A second kind of mass, also arranged in large blocks, is to 

 be found in the neighbourhood of the first : both have been 

 detached from the neighbouring mountains, and do not 

 seem to have been brought from any distance : the one in 

 question is composed only of larger or smaller fragments of 

 different kinds of serpentine, which have entered into the 

 composition of the neighbouring mountains ; but we find 

 no lime in it as in the first mass, and the cement which has 

 imited these serpentines has lime in it, being entirely 

 stealitic. We soon met with these two varieties of masses 

 again upon the edges of one of the ravines of the torrent, 

 on the one edge beside some serpentines, and on tlie 

 other adhering to lime. It seemed at first sight as if 

 these masses served as intermedia, and were passing from 

 one genus to another : but in examining them again, and 

 reflecting that they must have been formed at the ex- 

 pense of the calcareous and steatitic rock, both of which 

 must have had at this period the same consistency and the 

 same hardness as at present, we could only attribute this 

 formation to an accidental revolution, long subsequent 

 without doubt to events of another order, which have 

 given birth to these mountains of serpentines, and to the 

 calcareous beds adhering to them, and which have furnished 

 the materials for these two masses. But let us now cast a 

 glance upon the lime in its bed, and see if it be cotemporary 

 with the serpentine rock, or if it be subsequent. 



At a certain distance from the lime-kiln, and not far 

 from the hamlet of Serra, placed in an amphitheatre near 

 the precipice which hangs over the torrent of Chara- 

 vagna, we may observe in a very distinct manner a part of 

 the calcareous layers in their points of contact with the mag* 

 nesian rock. I give the preference to this spot over that 

 which is noarertbe lime-kiln, because vye see more distinctly 



the 



