j^SSI M. HE. Boa Ji Ann on the ^ 



bach (two leagues to the north of Sarre Louis,) at Wahlen 

 (between Mergiz and Wadern,) &c. It is probable that this 

 great mass of arenaceous rocks comprises the two formations 

 of red sandstone, known in Germany by the names of Rothe 

 liegende and Bunter-sandstein.* I have observed vegetable 

 remains half carbonized in the sandy rock near Sarrebruck. 



The coal measures form a zone which extends, from S. W. 

 to N. E., 25 leagues in length, from the southern bank of the 

 Sarre, a little below Sarrebruck, to beyond the Nahe in the 

 environs of Sobernheim. The breadth of this zone of coal 

 Taiies from four to seven leagues, according as it is more or 

 less confined by the two chains between which it occurs. At 

 about a third of its width it is traversed by a band of the red 

 sandstone formation, which constitutes some elevated sum- 

 mits, among others that of Hocherberg, near Waldmohr, and 

 which divides the coal measures into two basins very difl'erent 

 from each other. 



The southern basin which sheds its waters into the Sarre, 

 belongs to the best characterized and richest coal measures. 

 It is principally composed of alternating beds : 1st. of argil- 

 laceous schist, slaty clay, and schistose sandstone, in which 

 are observed numerous impressions of ferns and other plants 

 common to this formation ; 2d!y. of micaceous sandstone or 

 coal measure sandstone ; Sdly. of argillaceous and quartzose 

 conglomerates. It contains good and numerous beds of coal 

 worked in the environs of Sarrebruck, as also beds and abun- 

 dant masses of earthy carbonate of iron ore, in the nodules 

 of which are sometimes remarked impressions of fish, parti- 

 cularly in the upper part of the coal measures, as ia the en- 

 virons of Lebach. The schists of the coal measures arc in 

 some places worked in order to extract the alum and sulphate 

 of magnesia : a small and slightly salt spring rises from it near 

 Sultzbach. This formation also contains, but only between 

 its upper strata, beds of compact limestone, grey or black, 

 with a splintery fracture, and sometimes a schistose structure. 



The general direction of the beds in this basin is S. W. and 

 N. E. On the east and north, it would appear that this for- 

 * The new red or saliferous sandstone. (Trans.) 



