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HUTtONIAN THEORY. 



279 



by that of aqueous depofition. It is, however, 

 a moil complete proof of the original foftnefs of 

 the fubftance of which the veins confift, and af- 

 fords one of the ftrongeit poffible arguments for 

 fuch an operation of fire as is fuppofed in the 

 prefent theory. The main arguments, there- 

 fore, which have been propofed as fubverfivt of 

 the igneous origin of bafaltes, are only fubver- 

 live of their formation by one modification of 



/ 



fire, viz. of fire ading near the furface ; and 

 thus the weapons which direcUy pierce the ar- 

 mour of the Volcanift, and inflid a mortal 

 wound, are eafily turned afide by the fuperior 

 temper of the Plutonic mail. 



249. An arg 



founded on fa6ts very fi 



milar to fome of the preceding, and leading to 

 the fame conclufion, is employed by the mine- 

 ralogifi: to whom the Neptunian fyftem owes its 

 chief fupport. Werner, in his obfervations on 

 volcanic rocks and on bafaltes, has refted his 

 proof of the aqueous forraajiion of the latter, On 

 their interpofition between beds of fione in 

 mountains regularly ftratified, and obvioufly 



formed by water. 



He defcribes an inftance of 



this in the bafaltic hill of Scheibenberg ; and the 

 fads, though mod of them are not uncommon, 

 are highly deferving of attention. Near tiie 

 top of this hill, and above the bafaltic rock 

 which compofes the bod; of it, he tells us, that 



S4 



there 



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