86 THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA. 



DEPOSITS IN COUKSE OF FOKMATION AT THE 

 BOTTOMS OF SEAS. 



1. Universality of the process of Sedimentation — General view of 

 the Mechanism of this Phenomenon. 



From the solid rock to the smallest particle of slime, 

 from the monstrous whale to the microscropic infu- 

 sorise, from the algae and the polypus to the tower- 

 ing denizen of the forest and the bird which hovers 

 high above it in the air, the Geogenic Basin (a term 

 which will be presently explained) absorbs all. The 

 work of sedimentation is universal. 



In order the better to comprehend this pheno- 

 menon we will follow it through some of its various 

 phases. The rock which forms the culminating- 

 point of the highest mountains flies into splinters 

 when subjected, as in winter, to sudden changes of 

 temperature ; or, if not, it yields slowly to the con- 

 stant action of atmospheric agencies, and, broken 

 up by continually increasing fissures, rolls its debris 

 into the bed of a torrent. The troubled water 

 breaks fuiiously against the obstruction, and grinds 



