Phenomena of Granite Veins. 



499 



I have met with, to the old Wernerian notion of the filling up of veins 

 by infiltration from water. Yet there is nothing in the case incon- 

 sistent with the igneous origin of the granite : for if that rock was 

 originally in a molten state, it would flow horizontally and down- 

 wards through any openings that were made for it : and we have on- 

 ly to suppose that b and c have an unseen connection with a mass of 

 granite that has been forced upward. And that such a mass exists 

 in the vicinity, the vein a, having no opening above, shows to be 

 probable. Such masses also appear at the surface in the vicinity. 



(44) Granite Veins in Mica Slate ; Con way. 



No. 45 occurs in Goshen, not more than a mile or two from No. 

 42; and it is analogous to No. 42. It may be seen two miles west 

 of the village, on the old road to Cummington, on the margin of a 

 pond. It represents a ledge of mica slate a few feet high, whose 

 strata dip from the observer, and whose basset edges only appear. 

 On coming within 30 inches of the mass of granite b, the laminae of 

 slate are bent upwards 20 ; and on the other side of the granite, c.they 

 actually stand perpendicular or even lean a few degrees from the 

 granite. The width of the protruding mass of granite, which is 

 partly hid by the soil, is from three to four feet. It is co mmon to see 

 mica slate and other stratified rocks as much disturbed n the vicinity 

 of granite as this case exhibits : but it is not common to meet w.ih the 

 disturbance on so small a scale. 



