M. Hisinger on the Geology of Sweden. 169 



ner that each is prolonged below the pohit where it joins the 

 other. The great breadth of the southern part of this chain is 

 remarkable, extending from 8 to 10 leagues, the top of which 

 is nearly flat. The passes rise for the greater part from 2000 

 to 3000 feet above the level of the sea. M. Hisinger men- 

 tions the exact height of many of these places, as well as of 

 the summits which rise above this vast chain, the highest of 

 which is 7100 feet. He afterwards enters into details relative 

 to the position of the lakes, the direction of the rivers, and all 

 that respects the exterior configuration and natural divisions 

 of the country, and then proceeds to examine its geology. 



Primitive Rocks. — The principal rocks, which as it were 

 form the base of the Scandinavian mountains, are gneiss and 

 granite. The former, that most commonly met with, is more 

 solid than slaty ; it is often granitoidal, here and there passing 

 into common gneiss and granite. That these two rocks are of 

 contemporaneous formation in the North, is clearly seen by their 

 alternation, and the frequent passages of one into the other, 

 though gneiss occupies by far the greatest extent of country. 

 Granite (properly so called) is nevertheless found in consider- 

 able abundance between Kantokeino in northern Lappmark, 

 and the frontiers of Sweden, near the river Muonio, in the 

 parishes of Nas, Jama, Aeppelbo, and Yttamalung, in Dale- 

 carlia; in some districts of Upland, Westmania, and Ostro- 

 gothia; on the coast of the Baltic, N. of Calmar, and on the 

 road from Alhem to Wimerby and Ingatorp ; and between 

 Saby and Grenna, in the government of Jonkoping. Granite 

 is seen, but much less developed, in the great chain of Scan- 

 dinavian Alps, in the valley of Nea; below Sylfiell and Eckor- 

 dorr ; near Skarfan, in the pass of Skartdorr ; at the southern 

 extremity of lake Wiggelg, on the confines of Sweden and the 

 Herjedal. The gneiss often occurs with a well-characterized 

 slaty structure, as in the environs of Stockholm and TroU- 

 haetta, but most frequently with a granitic structure, and then 

 forms low p/rt^mwx, and low hills in the plains of Upland, 

 Westmania, Ostrogothia, and Westrogothia. Among die mi- 

 nerals found in the gneiss, dark-green hornblende and garnet 

 are the most commonly met with. A granatiferous gneiss of 

 great beauty occurs near the town of Huddikswall. Small 

 veins of (juartz, fels))ar, granite, and compact trap, are occa- 

 sionally observable in Uiis formation. Black tourmaline and 

 many other rare minerals are sometimes found in the granitic 

 veins, as in the environs of iMiibo, Fahlun, Ytterby, and Wax- 

 holm. Gadolinite and sphene are often disseminated in die 

 gneiss. 



The great variety of rocks subordinate to Uiis formation in 

 New Series. Vol.2. No. 9. Sept. 1827. Z the 



