MINERALOGY. 



409 



winds, the alteration of the shape of coasts, and many 

 ' other cause*, produce alterations in the level of the ocean. 

 Werner, with his usual acuteness, soon discovered 

 that the documents for the illustration of this supposed 

 phenomenon, were not to be sought for in the forma- 

 tions that have taken place within the limits of human 

 history, but in the solid ttrata of which the crust of the 

 earth is composed. His investigations led him to the 

 following observations, 1st, That the outgoings of the 

 newer strata are generally lower than the outgoings of 

 the older, from granite downwards to the alluvial depo- 

 sitions, and this not in particular spots, but around the 

 whole globe. 2d, That the primitive part of the earth is 

 entirely composed of chemical precipitations, and that 

 mechanical depositions do not appear until a later period, 

 that is, in the Transition class ; and that from this 

 point they continue increasing, through all the succeed- 

 ing classes of rocks, to the newest or the alluvial, which 

 are almost entirely mechanical deposits. These observa- 

 tions, in his opinion, illustrate the universal diminution 

 of the waters of the globe. The sinking of tlu 

 of the outgoings of the newer and newer strata, he 

 continues, shows that the solution from which they 

 were formed must have experienced a similar change ; 

 that is, it must have diminished in height, and that 

 not in one spot, but around the whole globe. Hence 

 the water which once covered the whole globe to 

 great height, must have diminished universally. 



The period of the occurrence of mechanical deposi- 

 tions, u a further proof of the diminution of the 

 water. We find, that in the earliest periods chem- 

 ical productions only were formed, owing to the high 

 and universal submergence. It is evident, that when 

 the earth was covered to a great height with water, 

 no mechanical deposits could be formed ; for it u 

 well known, that the motion communicated to water 

 does not reach to great depth. Mechanical deposits 

 would, therefore, be first formed, as soon as part of the 

 solid mass of the earth appeared above the level of the 

 water, or when the surface of the water approached so 

 near to that of the earth, that it could act on it me- 

 chanically. Hence, as soon as the higher parts of the 

 earth rose above the surface of the water, mechanical 

 depositions would increase; and we find, accord, 

 an increase of mechanical deposition, corresponding to 

 the diminishing level of the ocean, from the transition 

 to the newest period. It follows, that as these alter- 

 ations have been universal, extending around the whole 

 globe, the level of the water ha* changed uniformly 

 and Universally, and that it has sunk by degree* to it* 

 present level. 



Several other interesting phenomena, which we have 

 already mentioned in part, strengthen and illustrate 

 more fully the preceding conclusions. Petrifactions, 

 we know, irst occur in formations of a middle age ; 

 but none have ever been observed in the older and 

 completely chemical formations. In the transition rocks, 

 where they first occur, they are but rare, yet in the new- 

 er transition rocks they increase considerably in quanti- 

 ty. In the fla'tz formations, they also continue in- 

 creasing in quantity, to the newer formations. 



In respect to the nature of these remains, Werner 

 remarks, that those which occur in the earliest periods, 

 belong to the lowest and most imperfect class of ani- 

 mals, the zoophytes. In the newer and newer forma- 

 tions, we meet with quantities of shells and fish, and 

 rot. xiv. PART u. 



these are accompanied by a variety of marine plants. Geognosy. 

 But these organic remains are completely different > * - ~V~ > '' 

 from any of the animals or vegetables of the present 

 state of the earth. The organic creation during that 

 period appears to have had a totally different aspect 

 from what it assumed in the succeeding. In the newer 

 formations, we find the remains of known genera, and 

 in the newest of all the remains of organic species, re- 

 sembling those found in the present seas. Land plants 

 appear later, and land animals still later. At first, they 

 appear to have been but few, and very different from 

 those of the present time. In the oldest of the tran- 

 sition rocks, which appear to have been formed while 

 the earth was still covered with water, we find the re- 

 mains only of marine plants and animals, but no traces 

 of terrestrial organization. We first meet with such 

 relics in the newer rocks of this class, which were 

 formed after a portion of the land was uncovered, and 

 capable of supporting terrestrial vegetation. From this 

 period to the newest or alluvial, as we have already re- 

 marked, the quantity and variety of vegetable remains 

 increase ; and this is further confirmed by a correspon- 

 dent increase of coal. 



All the appearances we have now detailed, are, in 

 Werner's opinion, distinctly connected with the dimi- 

 nution of the water, and are to be considered as effect* 

 and proofs of it* reality. It is evident that, during the 

 period when the earth was (till covered to a great height 

 with water, neither plants nor animals had been creat- 

 ed. \\ hen the water diminished in height, and the 

 dry land began to appear, marine plants, and the low- 

 est and most imperfect animals, were created. As the 

 water diminished, it appears to have become gradually 

 more fitted for the support of animals and vegetables, 

 a* we find them increasing in number, variety, and per- 

 fection, and approaching more to the nature of those 

 in the present seas, the lower the level of the outgo* 

 ings of the strata, or, what is the same thing, the lower 

 the level of the water. The same gradual increase of 

 ^y*'"' being* appear* to have taken place on the dry 

 land. 



The fact* we have just detailed, lead us to distin- Primitive 

 guish two grand epochal in the formation of rocks ; Rocks, 

 the first anterior, and the second posterior, to the for- 

 mation of organic beings. The rocks of the first di- 

 vision are named primiln-r ; they contain no fossil or- 

 ganic remains, are situated below the others, and are 

 wholly of chemical formation. The rocks posterior to 

 the creation of organized beings, are denominated xe- 

 condary. Several of these resemble those of the pri- 

 mitive class in composition and structure ; but differ 

 from them in containing petrifactions. These Werner 

 denominated transition, and other geologists, interme- Transition 

 diatf. They partake partly of the primitive, partly of rocks. 

 the secondary character, hence are named intermediate, 

 or transition. These transition rock* become inter- 

 mixed with sandstones, and other rocks of the same 

 description, and at length disappear ; when a series of 

 sandstone and limestone rocks, remarkable for their 

 abundance of vegetable and animal remain?, make 

 their appearance, and form the tectmdary, or jdtli rock$ Swondarr, 

 of geologist*. The newer, or upper rocks of the se- <* fl tl 

 condary class, are covered with an alternating series of Iocki - 

 limestone, gypsum, clay, sandstone, and sand, which 

 abounds in fossil organic remains, and particularly of 

 quadrupeds. The name tertiary has been given to these. 

 3 r 



