ancient Gypsum of the Alps. ff 



My conjectures were strengthened by what I had the day 

 before observed of the Brjgg gypsum, of which I shall speak, 

 presently, and which presents a similar position with com- 

 plete evidence, and I knew moreover that many geologists 

 had referred the St. Leonard gypsum to the transition series, 

 so that I did not consider it necessary to stop at it. 



Lastly, what was then but conjecture, has since become 

 a certainty; M. Lardi, who had observed the gypsum of 

 St. Leonard on the heights, having found it evidently asso- 

 ciated with transition slate. 



4. Gypsum of Bex. 



I shall say but one word on this gypsum deposit, in which 

 subterranean works have long since been carried on in order 

 to search for the saline springs it contains, and which has 

 already been described by many mineralogists. 



I had visited it in my first travels in the Alps ; but I 

 revisited it with greater interest in company with M. de 

 Charpentier, who at present directs the works. 

 , I there as elsewhere found great confusion in the position, 

 a confusion that has given rise to so much discussion as to 

 the works ; what appears to me very probable, and what 

 has since been confirmed by a letter from M. de Charpentier, 

 is that the gypsum there forms beds in an argillaceous lime- 

 stone, and that the one and the other form part of the tran-. 

 sition series.* 



The argillaceous limestone contains some beds of a schis- 

 tose greywackCjt and there is anthracite in the upper parts. 



* Professor Buckland has shewn (Annals of Philosophy, new series, 

 vol. 1, p. 455, &c.) that the saliferous gypsum of Bex, is that of the new 

 red or saliferous sandstone of England, and therefore secondary ; lias 

 rests upon it, and it is associated with Alpine limestone, analogous to the 

 English magnesian limestone ; the observations I have myself made on 

 the spot, lead me to the same conclusions as Professor Buckland. (Trans- 

 lator.) 



+ These are not true greywacke beds, but beds belonging to the new 

 red sandstone formation. 



