64 



SfXTtt REPORT — 183C. 



Relation 

 of these 

 springs to 

 the rocks 

 contiguous. 



trappean rocks extend, a limit which nearly coincides with the 

 line of elevation passing through the centre of Germany. 



It is certain, at least, that throughout those vast tracts of 

 comparatively level country, which constitute the greater part of 

 Northern Russia, Poland, and Prussia, neither basaltic rocks, nor 

 thermal or carbonated springs have been noticed, whilst both the 

 one and the other appear to become more and more abundant, 

 in proportion as other indications of volcanic action appear. 



The above-mentioned groups however constitute but a small 

 part of those distributed througho\it Europe. 



I have already shown, that the thermal springs of the Alps 

 often contain alkali, and the occasional absence of that ingre- 

 dient ought surely not to place them in another class, when their 

 gaseous impregnation and other phaenomena coincide with those 

 included under it. 



There is therefore a group of thermal springs manifesting 

 itself, both in the central chain of the Alps, as at Baden in 

 Argau, Schinznach, Pfeffers, and Loueche, and on its western 

 and southern flank, at Aix in Savoy, St. Didier, Bonneval, and 

 at Acqvii and Coni in Piedmont. 



Nor are other chains of mountains destitute of their own ap- 

 propriate systems of thermal and carbonated springs. To men- 

 tion one of the least known, that indefatigable geologist. 

 Dr. Boue, who has lately been exploring the provinces of 

 European Turkey, informs me, that in Servia and Bosnia, there 

 exist acidulous and saline mineral waters, like those of Nassau, 

 and that in the western part of the former province, as well as 

 in Bulgaria, a line of hot springs with sulphuretted hydrogen, 

 and probably azote, makes its appearance. 



The line begins at Mehadia in the Bannat, and continues to 

 the south of Nissa. The great masses of travertin found in 

 the neighbourhood denote, that carbonic acid was formerly 

 evolved in large quantities. 



South of the Balkan and Orbelus, is a line of hot springs, 

 running from east to west, which also contain sulphuretted 

 hydrogen. Their highest temperature is 58° R. (162° Fahr.). 



Eruptions of trachyte and dolerite seem to have been the pre- 

 cursors of the bursting out of these latter springs. 



Without extending our inquiry into other parts of the globe, 

 where it would be easy to point out groups of mineral springs 

 similarly constituted, let us consider how the latter stand re- 

 lated to the mountains in the vicinity of which they lie. 



It would seem, as I have remarked in the memoir on Thermal 

 Waters before referred to, that a large proportion of them are 

 placed near the line at which the elevation of the chain appears 



