282 On the Tertiary and, Secondary Rocks forming the 



hundred feet along the right bank of the Brenta ; when near 

 Campese it seems to pass into a dolomitic limestone, the beds 

 of which are also vertical and conformable to those of the 

 scaglia. Further in the interior this dolomitie rises into 

 peaks of great height; and for a full knowledge of its mineral 

 characters I refer to the works of Von Buch (Annates 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 Seefeld near Innspruck*, the 

 rock of this neighbourhood is charged with numerous and very 

 perfect casts of shells of the oolitic seriest; 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. 



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 Q 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 the 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 reeent 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 

 in different parts of the north of Italy. Brocchi having de- 

 scribed the whole of these deposits under the head of Sub- 



Dr. Pollini shows that the C'alcaire 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 torn 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 systematic, 

 and not founded on any natural distinctions; and hence he adopts a new 

 nomenclature of Ultima calcare (C'alcaire grossier), Penultima calcare 

 /chalk), Teiv.nlfima calcare (oolite). Dr. Pollini, it should further be re- 

 marked, st;itc s that N. of Verona, nummulites do not cease with the Calcaire 

 grossier in a descending series, but that they occur abnndantly in the 

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



* Read before the Geological Society, March, 1829. 



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

 instructive cabinet at Bassano. 



