Dr, Daubeny on the Geology of Sicily. 233 
appearance of intermixture, caused probably by a disintegra- 
tion of the older rock having taken place on its surface, pre- 
viously to the deposition of the more recent one. : 
I have no data on which to rest any well grounded opinion 
with respect to the age of this limestone, having seen none 
precisely resembling it in other parts of the island. It wou 
appear, however, from the account given by Scilla, that a due 
examination of the mountains round Messina, would lead to 
the discovery of more of the same rock, and thus afford us the 
means of aacerthibing its relations. For the present, I am 
East of Melazzo, the gneiss is succeeded by a schistose 
of hills, extending in a south-west direction from thence to 
the coast, of which Noara is the most elevated peak. I 
striking across from Randazzo to the northern coast. 
This wild and little explored district, which Brydone de- 
scribes as the haunt of banditti, may be traversed at present 
in the most perfect security, and would deserve to: be visited 
by every traveller, were it only for the striking views it pre- 
sents of Mount Etna on the one hand, and the Lazo Islands 
on the other. . The prevailing rocks appear to be either some 
slate, which may be fairly considered a gray-wacke. Fer- 
rara, in his Campi Flegrei, notices the occurrence of 3 por- 
ca, red or > 
yale of quartz, and greenish-red chrysolite,” (Qu. olivine °) 
a, rolled 
masses of a hard porphyry, consisting chiefly of felspar, with 
some mica. 
The clay-slate also contains occasional beds of anthracite, 
as near Messina. ° The prevailing character of the slaty re 
is earthy and friable ; but.to this there are many exceptions, 
especially near Taormina, where we meet with 9 compact 
Wav. SNe 2, 30 os : 
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