GEOLOGY OF THE WESTERN ALPS. 



149 



Geneva, and the Stockhorn. To the north of the Prealpes 

 lies the basin of the Miocene deposits of Northern Switzer- 

 land, which was supposed to have been occupied by an 

 hypothetical range of mountains — the Vindelecian Chain — ■ 

 in Eocene times. 



-Basel 



(rr&w&h 



Fig. 1. — The Zones of the Western Alps. 



I. Zone of Monte Rosa. 

 II. Zone of Brianconnais. 



III. Zone of Mont Blanc. 



IV. The Limestone Alps. 



V. The Prealpes. 

 VI. The Molasse Anticlinal. 

 VII. The Juras. 

 VIII. The Vindelecian Chain. 



The three problems in the Western Alps that are now 

 occupying most attention, and which must be settled before 

 any permanent advance can be made, are the following : 

 ( 1 ) the age, origin and relations of the schists and gneisses 



