Emirons of Lons It Saunier. 137 



west, among the veins which conceal the variegated marls, 

 and is distinguished at a great distance by its colour, which 

 is whiter than that of the neighbouring rocks. 



A point of junction is discovered there between the gry- 

 phite limestone and variegated marls. 



From this point a narrow hill descends towards the town, 

 composed of the same beds, the direction of which suflFers 

 accidental variations, and which lose themselves in the mea- 

 dow behind the barracks. 



I shall en passant remark, that this edifice, though very 

 modern, threatens to fall into ruin, from the foundations re- 

 posing on the variegated marls, and because a solid frame 

 work has probably not been formed. 



If, from the same point that has been mentioned, the view 

 is directed towards Pimont, on the other side of the town, 

 we always discover in the principal direction of the beds, 

 between the tower and the Villeneuve road, a ridge, not very 

 salient, of gryphite beds, which commences from the mea- 

 dow, rises to the summit of the knoll (butte), and descends 

 on the opposite side to the village of Villeneuve. 



By studying this ridge, the same beds are not only recog- 

 nized with the same inclination and direction as on the side 

 of Montaigu, but all those are discovered, which compose 

 the variegated marls from the gryphites to beneath the coal 

 bed. 



The latter crops out one-third of the way up the hill (a. 

 tiers cote) on the side of the road leading to the tower. 

 The administration of the salt springs caused a trial-pit to be 

 driven, twenty years since, which extended about 20 metres 

 [about 65 feet] ; its trifling thickness, and the great propor- 

 tion of earth it contained, caused it to be abandoned. 



Beneath the real bed, the remainder of this formation dis- 

 appears under more modern rocks. 



It may be concluded from these observations, that the 

 beds on the slope of Montaigu and the knoll of Pimont, 

 which has just been mentioned, belong to the same gryphite 

 limestone formation; that these beds, evidently moved 

 from their primitive position, have been broken in some 



