388 M. Keilhau's Theory of Granite, and other Rocks. 



fixed views regarding the mode of formation of granite itself, 

 and generally of the other unstratified rocks, with regard to 

 which we have hitherto for the most part been guided by the 

 assertions of the prevailing schools of former times, as we did not 

 venture to form for ourselves an opinion on the subject. It will 

 be necessary for us to enter into a great many details ; but the 

 object is of the highest importance for science ; and besides this, 

 I venture to hope that the greater part of the special facts which 

 are to be adduced will seem the less tedious, because they re- 

 late to phenomena occurring in places well known and easily 

 accessible in our own neighbourhood, and which therefore every 

 person, in order to remove all doubt, may examine for himself. 

 I shall at the same time restrict myself as much as possible to 

 generalities ; and indeed a great many extremely interesting 

 data cannot at present be taken into consideration, with respect 

 to which, those who wish for more accurate information, must 

 have recourse to descriptions already published, or about to be 

 so in a short time. 



There are two tracts of country which we have to take into 

 consideration, 1st, that which, for the sake of brevity, I have 

 termed the Transition Territory ofChi-istiania, the boundaries 

 of which are shewn in the map about to appear in the first part 

 of a work called the Goea Norvegica to be published by me, 

 with the assistance of the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences, 

 and also in a map which forms plate 7th in my Darstellung der 

 Uebergangs Formation in Norwegen, Leipzig, 1826 ; 2d, that 

 which commences somewhat further to the north, and extends 

 on both sides of the Mjosen, so that we may conveniently deno- 

 minate it the Upland (oplandske) Fossil'iferons Transition Ter- 

 ritory. As in former discussions of this kind we have been in 

 the habit of adopting the old usual method of proceeding, we 

 shall first endeavour to describe the phenomena. Our com- 

 mentary shall follow afterwards, together with the changes or 

 additions which may be necessary. 



Among the members of the fossiliferous group of the transi- 

 tion series occurring in these two districts are — clayslate, lime- 

 stone, greywacke, greywacke-slate, transition-sandstone, and 

 sandstone-slate. Limestone and clayslate alternate with each 

 other, or the former occurs in more or less extensive beds in the 

 latter ; sandstones and sandstone-slates lie regularly uppermost 



