CALCAREOUS STRATA. 371 



the table-land ; the granular texture of their limestone, sur- 

 rounded by trap rocks, are objects worthy the attention of 

 the geologist who has studied in the southern Tyrol, the 

 effects produced by the contact of poroxenic porphyries.* 



The calcareous soil of the littoral Cordillera prevails most 

 on the east of Cape Unare, in the southern chain ; it extends 

 to the gulf of Paria, opposite the island of Trinidad, where 

 we find gypsum of Quire, containing sulphur. I have been 

 informed 'that in the northern chain also, in the Montana de 

 Paria, and near Carupana, secondary calcareous formations 

 are found, and that they only begin to shew themselves on 

 tfie east of the ridge of rock called the Cerro de Meapire, 

 which joins the calcareous group of Guacharo to the mica- 

 slate group of the peninsula of Araya ; but I have not had an 

 opportunity of ascertaining the accuracy of this information. 

 The calcareous stratum of the southern chain is composed of 

 two formations, which appear to be very distinct the one from 

 the other : viz. limestone of Cumanacoa and that of Caripe. 

 When I was on the spot, the former appeared to me to have 

 some analogy with zechstein, or Alpine limestone; the 

 latter with Jura limestone ; I even thought that the granular 

 gypsum of Guire might be that which belongs in Europe to 

 zechstein, or is placed between zechstein and variegated 

 sandstone. Strata of quartzose sandstone, alternating with 

 slaty clay, cover the limestone of Cumanacoa, Cerro del Im- 

 posible, Turimiquiri, Guarda de San Agustin, and the Jura 

 limestone in the province of Barcelona (Aguas Calientes). 

 According to their position, these sandstones may be consi- 

 dered as belonging to the formation of green sandstone, or 

 sandstone with lignites below chalk. But if, as I thought I 

 observed at Cocollar, sandstone form strata in the Alpine 

 limestone before it is superposed, it appears doubtful whe- 

 ther the sandstone of the Impossible, and of Aguas Calientes, 

 constitute one series. Muriatiferous clay (with petroleum 

 and lamellar gypsum) covers the western part of the penin- 

 sula of Araya, opposite to the town of Cumana, and in the 



* Leopold von Buch. Tableau geologique du Tyrol, p. 17. M. Boui- 

 singault states that these singular Morros de San Juan, which furnish a 

 limestone with crystalline grains, and thermal springs, are hollow, and 

 contain immense grottos filled with stalactites, which appear to have been 

 anciently inhabited by the natives, 



2 B S 



