FORMATION OF NORTHERN GERMANY. E25 
II. Tur Lower Cuarx. [Die untere kreide.] 
1. Lower white Chalk :—Chalk without flints. [Untere weisse 
kreide. | 
This differs from the preceding deposits, principally in a mine- 
ralogical respect, in the absence of flints, a somewhat greater hard- 
ness, and a darker grayish colour. The individual strata are very 
much divided by fissures, have little thickness, and sometimes 
are separated by seams of light-coloured marl: the thickness may 
be estimated at about 200 feet. 
Such is the character of this formation as it occurs in England, 
in France, and also in the north of Germany. In the isle of 
Rugen it probably underlies the upper chalk. It certainly occurs 
at Schwicheldt and Theidensen near Peine, where the rock is 
obtained in numerous quarries, and is employed in marling the 
land ; and to the north-west of the village Oberg, between Hil- 
desheim and Brunswick. At those spots about 15 feet of the 
rock are exposed to view; and it will probably be found in the 
whole district close beneath the surface. 
To this division likewise belongs the white loose clayey-chalk 
marl, which is excavated at some pits on the northern de- 
clivity of the Linden Berg, and is employed in purifying sugar ; 
likewise the chalk deposit near Luneburg. It also crops out 
in the bed of the Lower Leine between Hanover and Limmer. 
Probably of the same age, or a little older, is— 
2. The Lower White Chalk Marl; [Der untere kreidemergel] — 
which is in general a light gray-coloured limestone formation, 
with a greater amount of alumina and quartz. 
The rock constituting the range of hills between Ilten and 
Ahlten near Hanover, comes nearest in character to the upper 
chalk. We find here yellowish-white, somewhat sandy marl in 
thin layers at the top, but much thicker below, which generally 
becomes quite white soon after exposure to the atmosphere ; the 
upper layers are in a mineralogical respect still very similar to 
those of Peine. 
The deposit near Lemforde and Halden, to the north of Osna- 
bruck, is already widely different ; the somewhat extensive hill 
there, about 150 feet high, consists of layers from half a foot 
to 3 feet in thickness, of a yellowish-gray, light, finely porous, 
tolerably compact chalk marl with a close earthy rough fracture. 
