in the Alps and the Carpathians. 179 



Laussa, where they are separated from the Alpine limestone by 

 a true pisiform iron-ore. In other parts, as in the Abtenau, very 

 small parts of this deposite, and often in highly inclined strata, 

 cover the older limestone, and have always been classed with 

 the older limestone. This cameleon-like formation appears to 

 contain gypsum, as at Untersberg, and sometimes also beds of 

 coal. I did not observe in it any fucoides, although other ve- 

 getable remains are frequently found in it. Coal is known, and 

 even used, at the Wand, near Mayersdorf, near Griinbach, and 

 in the Abtenau. A substance, resembling retinasphalt, is found 

 in it at Mayersdorf, and in the Gossau. This formation is 

 most widely extended in Switzerland and Savoy, as in the 

 canton Appenzell, St Gallen, Glaris, Schwitz, Unterwald (val- 

 ley of Sarnen), Lucern (Pilatus, Entlibuch), Bern (Ralliger, 

 Stocke, chain of the Masen, &c.). Pays de Vaud (Diablerets), 

 in the Faucigny on the hills between Cluse, Vallorsine, and Sal- 

 lenche. In the two last countries it rises higher than elsewhere, 

 and perhaps this intimates the sudden elevation of those chains. 

 The same is the case with the rocks of Mount Perdu, in the Py- 

 renees ; but there is in that chain, as in Savoy, and at Bex, the 

 greensand and other accompanying rocks. 



Along the whole northern foot of the Alpine limestone chain, 

 there is a vast deposite of greyish marly sandstone, with beds of 

 limestone and of marly clays ; it is the well-known sandstone of 

 the Appenine and great Carpathian chains, viz. that sandstone 

 in which fucoides are so frequent, the sandstone which also 

 belongs to the S.E. part of Europe and the Pyrenees. This 

 formation hes, in some places, unconformably upon Alpine hme- 

 stone, as perhaps at Gieshiibel near Vienna, or it comes most 

 abruptly, and in a highly-inclined position in contact with the 

 Alpine limestone, as near Ipsitz in Austria, at St Lorenz near 

 Mondsee ; in other places it is united with the limestone, by al- 

 ternation, as near to Waldhofen, and especially near Amergau 

 in Bavaria, and between Baden and Heihgen Kreiitz in Lower 

 Austria. The junctions, however, are generally concealed, or 

 occupied by valleys. This vast deposite, several thousand feet 

 thick, contains, in the lower part, conglomerate, and sometimes 

 considerable beds of coal, svith impressions of cycadees and 

 other vegetables, as at Ipsitz, Gerstcn, and in the Carpathians. 



