Calcareous Spar in Basalt-tufa. 165 



His Excellency Count K. Sternberg added the following 

 information on the subject to the above very interesting notice 

 by Mr Haidinger. 



On the right bank of the stream which floAvs through 

 Schlackenwerth, there is a range of hills nmning from south 

 to north, which is covered by wood, and has a continuation to 

 the east ; at their base a canal is being formed, and near it a 

 road, which is to lead to a new iron-work. In order to obtain 

 the necessary space for this purpose, and to prevent the de- 

 scent of the weathered rock, the southern declivity has been 

 dug away to the extent of 4 fathoms in height and 2 fathoms 

 in breadth. For a distance of 150 paces from the western 

 point of these operations, there are foimd in a basalt-tufa, 

 having its surface composed of knolls and turret-shaped masses, 

 a vast number of stems of trees from 2 to 7 inches in dia- 

 meter, parti}' perpendicular, partly oblique, and partly hori- 

 zontal, all of which have their interior filled with calcareous 

 .'-par. There were also found close at hand similar roinid 

 spaces, in wluch stems of trees had existed, but Avhich had 

 rotted out and had not been'replaced. Owing to their being 

 filled with water, we cannot yet ascei'tain what still remains 

 of woody fibres in these caA'ities, which can be sounded to a 

 depth of 2 or 3 yards. We can follow those lying transversely 

 to a distance of two or three fathoms. That stems of trees 

 iictually existed here, is proved by separate fragments, in which 

 Ave can recognise the woody fibres, but no further organiza- 

 tion. Near these stems, in basalt- tufa, and deeper, in a flat 

 layer of the rock, there are impressions of leaves with a middle 

 rib, and many secondary veins, consequently of dicotyledonous 

 jdants. It is thus evident that a wood stood here which was 

 enveloped in the liqiiid basalt. It would almost seem that the 

 greater part of the plants were gradually decomposed, and 

 that the liquid fi'om which the calcareous spar and arragonite 

 A\-ere precipitated, filled up the cavities produced by the de- 

 composition ; for it is remarkable how the radiated portions 

 of calcareous spar, which, on a transverse fractm-e, proceed 

 from more than one point, never cross one another, and also 

 terminate in the round form of the tree. I recollect no other 

 example of an analogous phenomenon. 



