Environs of St. Leger sur Dheune. 311 



The gypsum is generally compact, of small fine crystalline 

 grains, of a white or rose colour. Lamellar and perfectly 

 diaphanous gypsum is also found. Fibrous gypsum fre- 

 quently marks the separation of the different strata. 



The mass of rock is often pierced by a kind of funnel 

 filled with earth, which sometimes vertically traverses the 

 whole height. These funnels are very inconvenient, as they 

 allow the rain water to filtrate through them. 



Slips are also remarked, in consequence of which the beds 

 have descended more than a metre. It will be observed 

 that these slides have taken place on inclined planes of soft 

 clay, which fill the clefts. 



I have said that the gypsum formation principally occupies 

 the middle of the slope of the hill. Ascending a little to- 

 wards the summit, we soon observe a secondary limestone, 

 which covers the gypsum formation. It is on the side of the 

 great road, and not far from the village of Charcey. The 

 limestone is blueish grey and compact; it contains a great 

 abundance of gryphites ; belemnites, ammonites, and pectens 

 are also observed. It forms nearly horizontal beds, of 

 slight thickness, separated by strata of earth which facilitate 

 the extraction of the stone. This limestone is principally 

 employed for making lime, and building. The beds, which 

 are of a deep blueish grey colour, and contain few shells, 

 are used as marble by the masons of Dijon.* 



The foot of the hill, principally on the South and West 

 sides, is composed of sandstone. These sandstones are yel- 

 lowish, micaceous, fine grained, slightly schistose, friable, 

 often reduced to the state of sand, and form beds of little 

 thickness and inclination. Advancing towards the South, 

 beyond the small valley which, on this side, limits the gyp- 

 sum formation, these sandstones present slightly different 

 characters, and contain beds of coal. They are then gene- 

 rally larger grained : lamellar portions of felspar are seen in 



* It appears from the author's description that the gypsum and red 

 marls of St. Leger form part of the new red or sa'iferous sandstone, that 

 tliey are covered by lias, and rest, as will be afterwards seen, upon coal 

 measures. (Trans.) 



