330 Some Observalions on the Salt Mines at Cardona. 



where the declivities will permit cultivation, thcv produce abun- 

 dance of good grapes and some corn. In touiiug from Barce- 

 lona, the traveller leaves, at a small distance on the left, the 

 majestic JNIontsorrat ; and gradually approaches a mountain 

 chain proceeding from its northern extremity, which declines <is 

 it stretches towards Manresa. This chain consists of similar 

 materials to Montserrat ; viz. of vast beds of farcilitc, composed 

 of rounded masses of quartz, with angular pieces of siliceous 

 slate, and fragments of clayslate united by a basis containing 

 calcareous eartii. The fragments of this farcilite become smaller 

 as we go northward, and at last bear a striking resemblance to 

 coarse grcywaek;' ; to which formation I am inclined to assign 

 the paddingstone of Montserrat, and the chain of wiiich it forms 

 a part *. 



On descending the rugged mountains of piiddingstone into the 

 valley of the Loiircgat, before coming to Manresa, we o!)serve 

 strata of a blueish-grev rock witli interposed layers of a softer 

 material of the same colour, which ci umblcs into sandy cl;iy by 

 exposure to the weather. These strata have some resemblance 

 to sandstone-flag ; but an attentive consideration convinced me 

 that they ought to be considered as stratified greywackc ap- 

 proaching to grcywacke slate. Above these we again find tlie 

 farcilite, which is the prevaihng rock about Manresa. All the 

 rocks hitherto mentioned effervesce slightly with acids ; a cir- 

 sumstance which connects them in some measure with the ex- 

 tensive limestone comitry to the south-west of Montserrat ; and 

 they all show a tendency to split vertically into columnar masses. 

 Beyond Manresa the farcilite occurs till the traveik'r crosses the 

 ford of the Cardonero, when it is succeeded by a limestone of a 

 dirty iron brown colour, and dull, almost earthy, fracture. Be- 

 yond the village of Suria, a sandstone, which slightly effervesces 

 with acids, makes its appearance. This rock constitutes the 

 sides of the valley which contain the fossil salt. 



The immediate vicinity of the salt mines shows no other rock 

 than a yellowish grey sandstone much charged with scales of 

 mica. 



We find thus that the salt rock of Cardona is accompanied by 

 day and sandstone, like our Cheshire salt formation. Lime- 

 stone also is found near it ; but the usual concomitant gypsum 



* It may not be impro(.ier liere to remark, tliat tlie common descriptions 

 of ^lont'-errat aro in s'jvcrnl respects (ri-ont-aus. It is not <in iiixulaied 

 mountNui, ns ;;encrally rejucsented ; but is the hii!,hcbt point <A' a considera- 

 ble cliain. Its insular appcamnce, as seen from the higi) road between 

 Igualada and Martorcl, has deceived tliose who iiave never examined its 

 north-easrern side. The touchstone, mentioned by Bowies and others, as 

 entcrini; into the composition of its puddin;;stonc, appears hy its fracture 

 to be o'.Jy a dark coloured common siliceous slate. 



appears 



