observable in the Secondary Stratified Roch. 221 



That dolomite is not characteristic of formations, even sup- 

 posing it an unchanfred rock, we have noAv abundant proof, as 

 is stated by Dr. Buckland and others ; but I know of no more 

 striking examples than are to be found in the neighbouring 

 department of the Var, where M. Elie de Beaumont has found 

 dolomite in the tertiary rocks (fresh-water limestone), dolo- 

 mite in the green-sand, dolomite in the oolite formation, and 

 dolomite in the muschelkalk ; and all these rocks are there well 

 characterized, which is so far fortunate, as it prevents mistake. 

 From the numerous observations that have been lately made, 

 it would appear that the theory of the peculiarly dolomitic 

 character of the limestones of the red sandstone formation, 

 though useful in England, the North of France, and Germany, 

 ■would lead to great error in the South of France, the Alps, 

 and many parts of Italy, where so many formations above these 

 rocks are charged with dolomite, and its frequent accompani- 

 ment, gypsum. 



M. Elie de Beaumont has by a series of observations traced 

 the various formations of the Jura and Savoy down to within 

 a few leagues of the high road section seen by Dr. Buckland ; 

 and it would appear from these, that the representatives of the 

 oolite formation and green-sand continued to form the cal- 

 careous Alps to within that distance. Judging from the sec- 

 tion as described by Dr. Buckland, it would appear to be the 

 same as that of various parts of Dauphiny, where, fortunately, 

 fossils enable us to form conclusions respecting the ages of the 

 different rocks; and these would seem to place the lias as the 

 lowest part of the series, notwithstanding the dolomite and 

 gypsum sometimes contained in it. 



The limestones connected with the red sandstone formation 

 at Toulon, and thence towards Frejus, belong to the muschel- 

 kalk, and contain the characteristic fossils of that formation ; 

 indeed, if we are to look for other limestones in the Alps, be- 

 tween the lias and the red conglomerates, it is much more pro- 

 bable that we should find the muschelkalk than any equiva- 

 lent of the zcchstein formation of Germany ; for the former 

 rock is not far distant from the Alps both in Switzerland and 

 Provence. As yet, however, no limestone containing the mus- 

 chelkalk fossils have been discovered in these mountains. It 

 would l)e curious, and all new observations seem to render it 

 more probable, if in the end no Alpine limestone should be 

 found to exist in the Alps; that is, no etjuivalent to the zcch- 

 stein f(jrmation of Germany, to which this name has been pe- 

 culiarly api)lied. 



Ihil to reluni to the Nice limestones. — It would a) pear from 

 the series ol' observations made by M. Elie dc Beaumont, and 



above 



