m Theory of the 'Earth. 69 



5. Whether the large mountains coinpofed of granite in 

 one mafs, even the beft charafterifed, do not give certain in- 

 dications of ftratification or divifions by ftrata^ though lefs 

 regular than thofe of fchiftous mountains. 



6. Whether in the bafes of granite mountains the mani- 

 feflation of ftrata be not hurt by the number of fiflures, or 

 fpontaneous and irregular divifions. 



7. Whether, even in the feparate blocks of granite, an at- 

 tentive eye does not difcover fome veins of mica, which af- 

 fe6l the fame dire6lion, and fuch veins as induce the work- 

 men, who wifh to make mill-ftones or other works more ex- 

 tenfive in one direftion than another, to prefer attacking the 

 ftone in a determined direction. 



8. Whether the indications of the ftratification are not 

 obferved in the interior part of granite mountains, as well as 

 near their furface. 



8. A. Whether among the granites in a mafs, and thofe 

 decidedly veined, there are not found fuch intermediary 

 lliadcs that it is difficult to mark the line of feparation. 



9. To determine the diftinguifhing chara£lers of granites 

 of modern formation. 



11. To afcertain the truth of the aflertion of the Pliny of 

 France, that in proportion as people dig into a mountain, 

 the fummit and fides of which confift of granite, the granites, 

 inftead of being found more folid and more beautiful the 

 further they advance, change, on the contrary, below a cer- 

 tain depth, lofe themfelves, and at laft vanifli by gradually 

 afTuming the coarfe {brute) nature of the live quartzy rock*. 



12. Whether it be true that each primitive mountain is 

 generally compofed of one fingle ftone, and of the fame nature. 



13. To examine whether there be found on the primitive 

 mountains, at great heights, the fcattcrcd wrecks of fccondarj' 

 niountains. For my part, I never found any. 



14. Whether primitive calcareous ftone be found always 



• Mincraux, p. 105. 



F 3 with 



