Ch. VI.] PRIMARY ROCKS. 113 



contact with the granite, only 5 : and in the adjoining glen 

 of Balveagh, a precipitate mass of this slate reposes on the 

 granite in a nearly horizontal position : in Glenmacanass, the 

 mica-slate has various dips in different places, varying from 

 20, 25, to even 70 : on the western side of the mountain 

 range, the mica-slate adjoins the granite at Glenismaule, and 

 dips towards the N. W. at 75 ; and near the same spot, 52 

 in the same direction : at Seefiniane, it dips 45 north : in 

 the northern part of Seechon, it inclines towards the south 

 at an angle of 75; in this neighbourhood there appears to 

 be a gradual reversion in the direction of the dip, as the slate 

 is seen in a nearly horizontal position, inclined at an angle of 

 45, then 52, and, lastly, of 75 : at the eastern side of Bris- 

 selstown, it dips 65 towards the east : at Kilranela Hill, the 

 mica-slate is remarkably contorted, dipping near the summit 

 at 30 ; while, on the eastern side of the hill, the dip is 65 : 

 in Baltinglass, Tinoran, and Manger Hills, the inclination 

 of this slate is generally about 60 towards the N. E. ; and 

 near Graige, on the eastern bank of the Barrow, it dips 65 

 to 70 S.E." 



From these statements we learn, that in Ireland, as in 

 Cornwall, the crystalline slates dip at very different angles, 

 not only in distant places, but also within a narrow compass, 

 even on the side of the same hill, owing to the curvature of the 

 strata : and, moreover, that the strata are variously situated ; 

 reclining, in some places, in positions conformable with the 

 granite ; and, in others, they are so disposed, that if the dip 

 were prolonged, they would abut against or pass under the 

 granite. Although, however, this disposition in the direc- 

 tion of the dip often corresponds with the curvatures of these 

 rocks, it must not be considered as dependant thereon ; since 

 these variations of dip often occur when the rocks are dis- 

 posed in straight and regular beds. 



Details on this subject might be multiplied to a great 

 length, for the convolutions of rocks has always been a 

 favourite object of research to the geologist, but the purpose 



