GEOLOGICAL FORMATIONS. 109 



in these, as in all the eruption rocks, there are often seen in 

 the granite mass quite small fragments, with sharp edges of 

 this fundamental rock. The granites of this great rock 

 collection are partly granulated, partly striated. The old 

 granite presents an appearance by no means attractive, 

 especially on the mountains of the Ssetersdal. It forms 

 th6re bare rugged cliffs and fields sown only with blocks 

 of stone, and here and there covered with with marshes. 

 In the lower lying countries, especially to the east, better 

 sheltered from the sea winds, this granite supplies, on the 

 contrary, an excellent ground for forests. 



Immediately after the great upturnings of the ground 

 which accompanied the eruptions of the old granite, or 

 perhaps while these eruptions were still occurring, there 

 was produced the laconic formation, composed of three 

 distinct strata or layers, resting in discordant non^conform- 

 able stratification on the fundamental rock. The lower 

 of the layers, particularly distinguished by the quantity 

 of fragmentary rock contained in it, has been called the 

 Sparagmitic layer from the name given to one of these 

 rocks. Sparagmite is a pudding stone or conglomerate, 

 sometimes reddish, sometimes grey, in colour, consisting 

 of fragments of felspar and quartz, often intermixed with 

 broken talcose scales. 



Where the quartz prevails, and is not covered with a 

 vegetable soil, the ground is arid, as on both banks of the 

 Glommen, from the Marafjeld to the valley of the Lille- 

 elvdal. In districts sheltered from the wind v however, the 

 Spdragmite offers a ground pretty favourable for forest 

 vegetation. 



The stratification of it is disposed in some places in 

 inclined beds, or on plateaux in horizontal layers. On 

 the Kundane these latter are cut up into pyramidal moun- 

 tains, the sides of which make apparent the horizontal 

 layers. 



The great quantities of fragments of felspar and quartz 

 seem to be the result of the decomposition of the old 

 granite. The mica is found in like broken state in the 



