700 G. M. MURGOCI 



spond to the horizon from Bengesti-Cristanesti, underneath the 

 lignite zone of Cucesti-Berbesti-Seciuri. 



2. The origin of palla and andesitic tuff. — The same question 

 arises here as in the consideration of the occurrence of palla. The 

 structure of the tuff, unchanged for the most part, and the fact that 

 the very fragile crystals are still perfect and undisturbed, are proofs 

 that these rocks could not have been carried by water. It must have 

 appeared at its present site, and undergone a redeposition at its 

 upper surface only- Accordingly, there must have been volcanic 

 activity in this region at the end of the Pontic age, just as we find 

 in Transylvania, where andesites appear in the upper Sarmatic and 

 Pontic strata. It is curious, however, that no other sign of volcanic 

 activity can be found here, except possibly the hot spring at Bivolari, 

 and some S0 2 emanations at Pausesti, Maghiresti, etc. Probably 

 the volcanic region was more to the south, so that its products and 

 remains were covered by later depositions from the Pontic and Levan- 

 tine lakes. If we admit the existence of a volcanic activity in Oltenia, 

 as in Transylvania, in the Tertiary period, we can explain the occur- 

 rence of the palla which occurs in such quantities at the convexity 

 of the bend of the south Carpathians. 1 Professor Mrazec has 

 described a well-preserved andestic tuff from the Bacau district, not, 

 however, found in situ, but very interesting from our point of view. 

 Professor Laskareff states that in my specimens containing fossils 

 which come from Sacel, Buleta, etc., in the lower and upper Sarmatian, 

 there are constituents of the material thrown out by a volcano. 

 Accordingly, it is possible that in the concavity of this west bend of 

 the Carpathians, Tertiary eruptions could have taken place, just as 

 in Transylvania and in east Servia (Timoc valley). 



3. It may be of interest to mention some other geological phe- 

 nomena in relation to the Pontic deposits, particularly the marls : 



a) Mineral springs at Balanesti, Pociovalistea, Ciocadia, Putul 

 Balanescu, etc., whose origin from mineral containing sands I have 

 mentioned above. 



1 To explain this palla, Professor Mrazec assumes a possible connection between 

 the salt formation from Transylvania and Moldavia through the Oituzu valley, but 

 he observes exactly in this region that palla is wanting. A connection between Tran- 

 sylvania and Oltenia in the Pliocene age is less possible; but I must add that in east 

 Servia, in the Timoc valley, dacite tuffs in the Mediterranean deposits were described 

 by Zujovic (Annales geolog. de la peninsitle Balcanique, 1900), etc. 



