232 Proceedings of Philosophical Societies. [Sept. 



Article XV. 



Proceedings of Philosophical Societies. 



GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



June 1. — A paper, on the Formation of Basalt, by Mr. Lilling- 

 stone, was read. 



Mr. Lillingstone conceives that basaltic formations possess a 

 degree of gravitation towards their own centres, which does not 

 belong to other strata, as may be proved by an examination of 

 the joints in the Giant's Causeway, and of the decomposition 

 which is taking place in the basaltic mass opposite Queensferry, 

 where an original spherical centre is demonstrated by the decay 

 of the surrounding mass. This spherical attraction is also exhi- 

 bited to a certain extent in the red marl strata (in which the 

 spheres exist) on the shore of the Clyde, nearly opposite Gree- 

 nock, and in many other places. It is to the operation of this 

 principle that Mr. L. is disposed to refer the formations in 

 question. 



The reading of Mr. Strangway's paper on the Geology of 

 Russia was concluded. 



The central mining district, which includes parts of the 

 governments of Nishny, Novgorod, Vladimir, Tamblof, Rezan, 

 Toula, and Calonga, extending from a little above Mourom, on 

 the Oca, to near the town of Calonga, is, in general, a poor 

 sandy country, probably belonging to the red rock formation, 

 though its connexions are not very distinct. At the depth of 

 60 feet below the surface of the soil is found a series of beds of 

 ironstone, of variable quality. The lightest coloured ore yields 

 the most iron. In general, it is manufactured where it is raised. 



Across the middle of Russia, or from the reach of Samara on 

 the Volga, to the country between Smolensk and Moscow, a 

 tract of limestone extends, generally of a very pure white, and 

 completely filled with broken encrinites, large tetrabratulites, 

 caryophyllites, pectinites, and the exuviae of other marine ani- 

 mals. This white limestone occurs also in great quantity in that 

 part of the country above Mourom where the government of 

 Nishny-Novgorod and Tamblof join those of Vladimir and Rezan. 

 Further outward it appears in the southern portion of the govern- 

 ment of Simbersk ; and on the banks of the Volga is seen for a 

 considerable distance both above and below the town of Cing- 

 hyley, forming the lofty ridge which diverts the course of the 

 river between Stavropol and Syzran, called the Markvashy and 

 Shigoulifky hills. At Sernoi-Gorodsk, it contains sulphur mines^ 

 which are no longer worked. 



The Oural mountains, which extend form the Icy Sea to the 

 Steppe, north of the Caspian Sea, form the natural boundary 



