Mineralogy and Geology of the White Mountains. 121 



The foundation, or mass of this mountain, as it is seen in the 

 deep gorges cut by the sHdes in the western side, is granite ; and 

 the top has been stated, by those who have and by others who have 

 tiot ascended it, to be granite ; and Alpine travellers, who have 

 visited Mont Blanc, have thought they saw in the vast ruins sur- 

 rounding the summit, the remains of lofty aiguilles, that towered 

 above the present peak ; but let the observer stand at the most ele- 

 vated point, near the rude artificial monument, as in the centre of ' 

 a decapitated summit, and let him critically examine the rocks in 

 the whole circle about him, and he will soon discover the incor- 

 rectness of these opinions. He will find the rocks stratified, layer 

 upon layer, and symmetrically arranged around the center he oc- 

 cupies. The rock is mica slate, consisting of coarse mica and 

 fine quartz, occasionally with fine grained veins of the two min- 

 erals, with a little feldspar, and some considerable veins of white 

 quartz. The uniformity of this surface, in level and appearance, 

 is such, that a passage to the top is marked out by no ravines and 

 eminences, but the path leads directly over the ruins, and the 

 guide himself is directed by masses of white quartz, or collec- 

 tions of stones raised at proper distances. Near the top are small 

 black toimmalines, and also a small spring of water. 



The case is clear. The mountain of granite was raised from 

 the deep, bearing up on its Atlantean shoulders this huge cov- 

 ering of mica slate, that extends a quarter of a mile below the 

 summit, and by disruptive agencies has been fissured in every di- 

 rection, and reduced to ruins. The granite, instead of rupturing 

 the mica slate, and protruding at the centre of elevation, itself 

 forming the peak, has broken it at some distance from the centre, 

 and we ought to find the long line of disruption of the mica slate, 

 if the rocks remain and are uncovered, very far down the moun- 

 tain ; if not, in the low grounds of the valleys. 



The different zones, or belts of vegetation, are distinctly mark- 

 ed on the flanks of the mountain — the lower forests with their 

 varied hues — the upper belt of sombre evergreens — the highest 

 of dwarf trees, stunted shrubs, and long grass and mosses, and 

 terminates at the lower line of the rough weather-worn rocks that 

 form the summit. From this height the several belts may be 

 traced, with the eye, for a great distance each way. The upper 

 limit of vegetation indicates very definitely the comparative ele- 

 vation of the neighboring peaks, according as it surmounts or 



Vol. XXXIV.— No. 1. 16 



