The Hartz. Ill 



Secondary formations. 



We have already given an idea of the general disposition of these 

 formations as they surround the primitive Hartz. The oldest of these 

 rocks is the red sandstone with its porphyry which are seen in the 

 south east extremity of the range. The porphyry terminates at 

 Halle where it is intercepted by the alluvion of the Baltic, and of the 

 ocean ; rolled masses of granite continue to be found, until they 

 eventually disappear under the waters of the sea. 



The porphyry has its principal extent from South Neustadt to 111- 

 feld, forming the mountains of Metzberg and the romantic valley of 

 Barre ; at this point it becomes particularly interesting, by the exist- 

 ence of the amygdaloids and the magnificent veins of the peroxide 

 of manganese which it contains. The analogy that exists between 

 the amygdaloids of this locality and those of Galgenberg at Ober- 

 stein near the Rhine is very remarkable, as also to some of the spe- 

 cimens lately shown me from Nova Scotia by Mr. Jackson. This 

 locality differs from that of Oberstein inasmuch as the agates found 

 here are rare, and cannot vie in beauty with those of Oberstein, 

 whence after being manufactured into vases, seals, ornaments and in- 

 struments of various shapes they are sent to all parts of the world. 



The red sandstone is covered by the zechstein formation rendered 

 so very interesting by its bituminous marles, containing argentiferous 

 pyrites, which is extensively explored near Mansfeld. This formation 

 is constantly associated with gypsum throughout the range, which 

 appears to be intermediate between the zechstein and the new red 

 sandstone. 



The gypsum is wrought at Blankenburg in the eastern part of the 

 Hartz, but on a much larger scale at Osterode where it forms a 

 range of hills running parallel with the Hartz, commencing a little to 

 the south of this village. The zechstein contains two caverns of 

 considerable extent, situated in the valley of Lauterberg near Scharz- 

 feld. The new red sandstone covers the zechstein, extending to the 

 south west as far as Cassel. This formation is not seen on the north of 

 the mountains. The superpositions becoming more and more recent 

 as they leave at a distance the ancient rocks of the Rhine, and Sax- 

 ony which are the true bases of this secondary formation, in the cen- 

 ter of which the Hartz is an isolated rock which has but slightly in- 

 terrupted the general disposition of these vast plains. 



From what has been said the reader will perceive that the erup- 

 tion or elevation of this group, took place near, the limits of the new 



