GEOLOGY OF THE WHITE MOUNTAIN DISTRICT, l8$ 



divided by fissures in two opposite directions, one of whicli is vertical, 

 while the other is parallel to the plane of the horizon, the cuboidal or 

 prismatic masses being piled upon each other after the manner of rude 

 masonry." After speaking of the made noticed in the fragments below 

 what is now Mt. Willard, he says : f 



The notices we had received concerning the geology of these mountains made the 

 appearance of any other rock than granite, quite unexpected ; and our surprise was not 

 a little heightened on being presented by Mr. Cook of Fryeburg, Me., with specimens 

 of a decidedly brecciated, or recomposed argillaceous slate, which he assured us, cov- 

 ered, to a considerable height, the flanks of the Kearsarge mountain. * * * I am 

 disposed to believe, that whenever these mountains shall be more closely studied than 

 they hitherto appear to have been, a much less degree of uniformity will be found to 

 exist in their composition than has generally been supposed ; though I am far from 

 supposing that granite is not the principal rock, and that it does not constitute the 

 summits of their most considerable elevations. 



Viezus of Prof. O. P. Hubbard respecting the geology of the White 

 Moiuiiaijis, from American yournal of Science, I, vol. 34, 1838, p. 120: 



The only particular to which I wish at jDresent to invite attention, is the nature of 

 the rock crowning the summit of Mount Washington. The peak he sees capped with 

 a rocky covering, destitute of vegetation, broken up into huge masses, which, as he 

 passes from rock to rock, seem as disjecta metnbra in the wildest confusion ; but when 

 he has once surmounted the peak, and recovered from the mingled emotions of sur- 

 prise, pleasure, and subUmity which fill his mind, and given his attention to nearer and 

 minuter objects, his satisfaction, if he be a geologist, will hardly be less than when 

 viewing the more distant and imposing scene. 



The foundation or mass of the mountain, as it is seen in the deep gorges cut by 

 the slides in the western side, is granite; and the top has been stated, by those who 

 have and by others who have not ascended it, to be granite ; and Alpine travellers, 

 who have visited Mont Blanc, have thought they saw in the vast ruins surrounding the 

 summit, the remains of lofty aiguilles that towered above the present peak ; but let the 

 observer stand at the most elevated point, near the rude artificial monument, as in the 

 centre of a decapitated summit, and let him critically examine the rocks in the whole 

 circle about him, and he will soon discover the incorrectness of these opinions. He 

 will find the rocks stratified, layer upon layer, and symmetrically arranged around the 

 centre he occupies. The rock is mica slate, consisting of coarse mica and fine quartz, 

 occasionally with fine-grained veins of the two minerals, with a little feldspar, and 

 some considerable veins of white quartz. The uniformity of this surface, in level 



'^ Amer. your. Set., \, vol. i8, p. 291. 

 VOL. II. 24 



