300 Doubts Relative to the Epochal and 



occurring along with primary and transition strata ; the 

 trappean of a darker and less crystalline structure than the 

 granitic, and occurring along with the secondary and 

 tertiary rocks; and the volcanic, still less crystalline and 

 compact, and of comparatively recent origin, or still in 

 process of formation." 



It is, then, from this primary rock, granite, that we ought 

 to seek for the elements found in subsequent rock formations, 

 which take their origin from the granitic series ; oceanic 

 currents, winds, rains, floods, frosts, thaws, heat, rivers, 

 and seas, all aiding to disintegrate and drift from one point 

 to another fine particles of dust, sand, and detritus 

 generally, accumulated from the attrition of granite in the 

 first instance, and afterwards from rocks formed out of such 

 attrition, and exposed to like disintegrating agents as first 

 acted upon the granite, each assisting by their own 

 materials in the formation of subsequent strata. But in 

 the secondary and tertiary formations, vegetable and animal 

 organization largely contribute to fix the character and 

 structure of considerable portions of particular strata. 



Such being a general outline of the formation of strata, 

 and the source from whence they proceed, it follows that 

 from this primary rock, granite, we ought to seek for the 

 elements which make up the more recent ones, which are 

 said to originate from it. But if elements are found in 

 these rocks which granite does not contain, or if elements 

 are contained in very great abundance in the strata above 

 granite, and in granite they are found in very small pro- 

 portions, it is evident that they are not derived from the 

 mechanical disintegration of that rock, aided by the 

 accumulation of depositions in the form of organic remains* 



From the foregoing general observations it will not be 

 deemed irrelevant if the attention is now directed to the- 

 ORIGIN OF LIME, as a constituent of most stratified and 



