of Granite and Sandstone in Sutherland, 277 



incline to the eastward of North at about an angle of 40 

 degrees — perhaps less. It is important to remark, that the 

 strata are even, or lie in straight planes, without any sensible 

 incurvation ; the upper surface of the granite, on which they 

 repose, corresponding, of course, to them in its outline. In 

 many places that surface is perfectly even, or the lines of 

 junction are so straight at the section, that a ruler may be 

 laid on it. In a very few, only, there is some slight irre- 

 gularity in the surface of the granite, and there the super- 

 incumbent strata are affected in a corresponding manner, 

 being bent in such a way as to enter its cavities. No 

 fissures, or other marks of disturbance, are visible in the sand- 

 stone, nor is it penetrated by any granite veins. Every thing, 

 in short, seems to prove that the sandstone has been depo- 

 sited on the granite. 



So far, there is nothing to cause surprise, although this 

 junction presents an example of a rare and not uninteresting 

 fact, namely, the total absence of the primary strata in this 

 place, and the deposition of the secondary on a surface of 

 granite, where either no primary strata ever existed, or where 

 they have been removed prior to its deposition. 



It may, perhaps, also be inferred, by some geologists, that 

 there is thus proved a possibility, or a fact, which has been 

 questioned by the majority of observers in this science ; 

 namely, that stratified rocks may be deposited from water, 

 even at high angles, and that all stratification is not neces- 

 sarily performed on planes nearly horizontal. But this con- 

 clusion does not by any means follow from the present 

 appearances, nor is it rendered more probable in this case, 

 where granite is the immediate substratum, than in those 

 where stratified rocks lie below. In many examples in nature, 

 bodies of strata, continuous and level for long spaces, are 

 found elevated at much higher angles, in positions, and under 

 circumstances, where they could not possibly have been depo- 

 sited from water. But these facts must be well known to all 

 geologists. 



If the geological circumstances apparent at the junction of 

 these two rocks are thus free from any peculiarities leading to 

 useful or interesting conclusions, it is not so with the minera- 



