forming the Southern Flank of the Tyrolese Alps near BassanoAOl 



to those of the scaglia. Further in the interior this dolomite 

 rises into peaks of great height ; and for a full knowledge of its 

 mineral characters I refer to the works of Von Buch [Annales 

 de Chimie, vol. xxiii.), it being sufficient for my present purpose 

 to state that unlike the older and metalliferous dolomite, which 

 I have described in a notice upon Seeield near Innspruck*, the 

 rock of this neighbourhood is charged with numerous and very- 

 perfect casts of shells of the oolitic seriesf ; whilst in the western 

 parts of the same chain the rock is a true oolitic limestone. 

 In ascending the Canal di Brenta to the source of that river, 

 I found this dolomite occupying the whole region, forming 

 lofty cliffs on both banks, and distinguished by innumerable 

 contortions of its beds, which are inclined at every angle from 

 horizontal to vertical. (See Section, fig. 2.) 



Conclusion. — The perfect conformability of the secondary 

 and tertiary strata shown in the preceding sections, whether 

 their mutual angle of inclination be from 30° to 35° as at 

 Possagno, or vertical as in the Canal di Brenta, prove that 

 these several deposits have here partaken simultaneously of 

 some of those great convulsions by which the older rocks of 

 the Tyrolese Alps on which they rest, have been elevated ; and 

 the evidence is such, that certain geologists cannot in this in- 

 stance admit the elevation of the secondary rocks or those 

 containing ammonites, belemnites, &c., and at the same time 

 reject die application of similar disturbing causes to the more 

 recent tertiary deposits ; for we see not only the oldest ter- 

 tiary limestones and marls, but also the most recent conglo- 

 merates, rising at very rapid angles to considerable heights. 



There is yet much to be learned respecting the order of su- 

 perposition of the various members of the tertiary formations 



cuiiformable ; and for a full account of these interesting phEenomena N. of 

 Verona, I refer the reader to a most able memoir of Dr. Giro Pollini, 

 " Lcttera Geologica sui Monti Veronesi." (Biblioteca Italiana, vol. xxviii.) 

 Dr. Pollini shows that the Calcaire grossier of Verona rises on the N. of 

 that town to upwards of 3000 feet above the Adriatic ; and in its lowest 

 beds passes into, and even alternates with the scaglia or ammonite rock, 

 which in its turn graduates (particularly at the Ponte di Veja) into a sub- 

 jacent limestone made up of oolitic particles, and charged with fossils of 

 the oolitic series. From these observations Dr. Pollini concludes, that the 

 division of strata into secondary and tertiary formations is merely sy- 

 stematic, and not founded on any natur.il distinctions; and hence he 

 adopts a new nomenclature of Ultima caleare (Calcaire grossier), Peniiltima 

 calcare (chalk), Terzultiinu caleare (oolite). Dr. Pollini, it should further 

 be remarked, states that N. of Verona, nummulitcs do not cease with the 

 Calcaire grossier in a descending series, but that they occur abundantly in 

 the scaglia, and even as low down as the oolite of tlie Jura limestone. 



• Read before the fieological Society, March 182!). 



f Marchese Parolini lias a fine collection of these organic remains in his 

 instructive cabinet at Bassano. 



