iOi Mr. Murchison on the Tertiary and Secondary Rocks 



clay; Solarium approaching to S. canaliculatum, but some- 

 what differing from the Bourdeaux species ; Chama squamosa. 

 Of the London clay, small ostrea, Dentalium grande,&c. &c. 



Then follows a yellowish compact limestone with green 

 grains, in strong beds, distinguished by nummulites, oval amyg- 

 daloidal concretions of green earth, and alternating layers of 

 blue marl. The limestone succeeding to this has a semi-brec- 

 ciated fracture, with a pink and bluish tinge*, and is charged 

 with nummulites, &c., the whole alternating with yellow- 

 green micaceous sandstones. The latter repose upon and pass 

 into a calciferous grit containing lenticulites, operculines, cy- 

 clolites, and other small multilocular shells, characteristic of 

 the inferior tertiary formations in the north of Italy f. 



The escarpment of the lowest part of the tertiary deposits 

 exposed in this section is composed of blue marl, the beds 

 of which have precisely the same S.S.E. dip as the series of 

 nummulite limestone, green sandstone, and conglomerate, 

 previously described ; and in a hasty examination the follow- 

 ing corals and shells were collected at this spot : — 



Caryophyllia altavillensis ; Fungites (figured by Fortis, Me- 

 moires, vol. i. p. 147.); Lenticulites complanata (Operculine 

 of D'Orbigny); Orbitulite (two species) ; Cyclolites cristate ; 

 1. Nummulites planulata; 2. Nummulites variolaria; Conus 

 stromboides (C. concinnus o'l Min.Co7ich.); Pleurotoma undata; 

 Fusus longaevus ; Voluta harpula; Cassis diadema; Serpula 

 spirulaea. 



The Alps rise at a rapid angle about half a mile north of 

 the above escarpment ; the intermediate low space called the 

 Val d'Urgana, in which flow several torrents from west to 

 east, emptying themselves into the Piave, is choked up with 

 the shivery detritus of the impending secondary rocks, and 

 thei-efore no junction between the latter and the tertiary is 

 observable. (Section, fig. 1.) Possagno, ornamented by the 

 magnificent new Temple of Canova, stands upon the first 

 ledfTes of the scaglia, which rock here rises into the Alps. The 

 upper beds are of a red colour, with some white and green 

 blotches, are very slaty, occasionally contain layers of flint, 

 dip S.S.E. 30° to 35°, and pass downwards into more com- 



* It is in this range of limestone that quarries have recently been opened 

 at Costa lunga, from which have been extracted the principal columns of 

 Canova's splendid new Temple at Possagno. It is a mottled marble, very 

 ornamental, and takes a high polish. Futurity may decide whether this 

 tertiary rock of Europe shall prove as durable a building-stone as that of 

 a similar epoch with which the pyramids of Egypt were constructed. 



t In this range of hills lignite is found, which on the authority of 

 Brocchi is imbedded in the blue marl with marine shells. — Conch. Subap, 

 vol. i. p. 97. 



pact 



