254 t'lintsj'jr the Formation oj 



Fi Alfo that, in the lame vein, the lowell parts are tliff 

 ni6fl ancient. 



G. That in fomc veins there are found rolled pebbles ; in 

 others the remains of organifed bodies, fliells, and wood; 

 and in others, of coal, ftones, and fea-falt. 



H. That one may affign the relative age of the formation 

 of different minerals; for example, that tin mines may be 

 faid to be of the moft ancient formation ; then thofe of iira- 

 nite, bifmuth, &c. 



The greater part of the following queftions will furnifli 

 Confirmations of this theory, or objections againft it, accord- 

 ing to the folution given of them: 



13. Is it true that there are mountains, or portions of 

 mountains, fo pierced with cotemporary veins that they 

 could not have fupported themfelves, had not the fiibftance 

 with which they are filled been created at the fame time as 

 the mountain itfelf ? I have ufcd ihe expreflion cotempo- 

 rary, becaufe, if we can fuppofe that the fiflures filled by 

 thefe veins were formed in fucceflion, the obje<Slion which 

 this fail would prefent to the theory of Werner would be 

 by thefe means rcfolved. 



13. A. I muft here repeat the loth queftlon of Chap. II. 

 How can it be conceived that all the metals and fubftanccs 

 found in a vein fliould have been diflblved by the water of 

 the fea * ? 



14. I.-i it true that there are in Derbyfliire vertical veins 

 of lead interfeiled feveral times by horizontal ftrata of amyg- 

 daloides or load (tone ? 



15. Are there found, in the neighbourhood of veins, ftrata 

 of the fame mineral contained in tliefe veins, and which 

 fccm to have been depofited at the fame time when the de- 

 pofits of ihe fea filled the fifiures occupied by thefe veins ? 



16. Is it well afcerlaincd that there are certain metals and 

 certain kinds of ore found only in certain kinds of moun- 



* Or in rhe waters of the great ocean, which are fuppofed to have C8- 

 vefcJ the whole globe of the earth. C. 



tains ^ 



1 



i 



