766 



GEOLOGY. 



CHAPTER XH. 



ALLUVIUM. RECENT FORMATIONS. 



Cyclopean Ilvmuiiu, Mycene. 



THE term diluvium, applied to the great col 

 lections of gravel and detached blocks, from 

 the idea that they originated with the historic 

 deluge, is still retained in such a connection, 

 because those accumulations indicate the ex 

 traordinary action of water, either in the 

 form of strong oceanic currents, while the 

 localities were in a state of submergence, or 

 of waves of translation overspreading the 

 land, produced by submarine disturbance, or 

 torrents proceeding from rapidly-melting gla 

 ciers. On the other hand, the term alluvium 

 is used to denote those formations of the mo 

 dern and current epoch which result from the 



ordinary action of water ; and, etymologically, it can only be properly employed in rela 

 tion to aqueous products. But its more comprehensive application is sanctioned by usage, 



Plains of Mantinea in Arcadia. 



