394 Scientific hitelligence. — Geology. 



white, compact, often oolitic limestone, which is Jura limestone, 

 and is often covered with clay, sandstone^ marl, &c. that belong 

 to the quader sandstone and green sandstone. The valleys are 

 often filled with Molasse. The Swiss Alps are, in all probabili- 

 ty, similarly constructed. The dark transition limestone, with 

 its subordinate beds of gypsum, belong to the lias formation ; 

 the true alpine limestone to the Jura hmestone ; the green sand 

 and quader sandstone form the highest ridges of the calcareous 

 alps, as on the Mount Saleve, Diablerets, &c. It seems proble- 

 matical if true transition limestone occurs in this part of the Alps. 

 If the view now given be correct, says KefFerstein, the calcare- 

 ous alps and the Jura exhibit the same geognostical structure 

 and composition, and probably were at one time connected to- 

 gether (as is the case at present in the south of France), forming 

 an extensive plateau, which, at a period not very remote, suf- 

 fered violent elevations and depressions, by which the green 

 sand, for example, was raised to the height of 10,000 or 12,000 

 feet. These changes, which have given the present form to the 

 Alps, may have taken place during or after the deposition of 

 the chalk formation. 



14. Apatite in Secondary Greenstone. — The Greenstone of 

 Salisbury Crags, in our vicinity, contains crystals of Apatite. 

 The well known secondary greenstone of the Blaue Kuppe, near 

 Eschwege, in Germany, has also been found to contain, along 

 with crystals of magnetic iron ore, crystals of apatite or phos- 

 phate of lime. 



MINERALOGY. 



15. Sulphate of Strontian and Sulphate of Barytes confound- 

 ed. — Several writers have mentioned sulphate of strontian as 

 occurring in veins and cavities in different places, where only 

 sulphate of barytes is met with. To those who may not be wil- 

 ling to use the mineralogical characters for distinguishing them, 

 the following chemical properties will answer : Every combina- 

 tion of strontian colours the flame of the blowpipe purplish-red, 

 "—every combination of barytes yellowish-green. The caustic or 

 hepatic smell before the blowpipe, determines the kind of acid 

 which existed in combination with the earth before the experi- 

 ment. 



16. Telluric Bismuth. — Berzelius has analysed a mineral, of 



