MODE I. MARBLE. 



mains and depositions of shell-fish, and other 

 marine animals. The first who combated this 

 opinion was Palassou, in his celebrated essay on 

 the mineralogy of the Pyrenees, published in 

 1781 ; but which, through the excess of admi- 

 ration for Buffon, fell into oblivion. The opi- 

 nion was however soon after revived and con- 

 firmed by that illustrious observer Saussure, 

 especially in the latter part of his journeys among 

 the Alps. Patrin says that he has frequently 

 himself observed, in the immense mountainous 

 chains of Northern Asia, from the Uralian to 

 the river Amur, for an extent of more than 1000 

 leagues, beds of marble, which it was impossible 

 to suppose for a moment to have been posterior 

 to the other beds of primitive rock, in which 

 they were enchased. He also regards the chains 

 of calcareous hills, mingled with clay-slate and 

 serpentine, which appear at the bottom of the 

 Alps, and other lofty mountains, often in layers 

 contorted in the strangest forms, but still un- 

 broken, as being caused by the tumescence of 

 the granite, while these depositions were still of 

 a soft consistence. 



" Where the thickest calcareous beds subsided 

 in themselves, they formed homogenous masses, 

 without any divisions, or at least there are only 

 accidental fissures. These marbles are granular, 



I 



