360 



PROCEEDINGS 



OF 



THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



POSTPONED PAPER. 



On the Granitic District o/Inverary, Argyllshire. 

 By the Duke of Argyll, F.G.S. 



[Read April 6, 1853*.] 



The whole area of the county of Argyll, with the exception of its 

 islands and a mere strip along its outer coast-line, is occupied by the 

 metamorphic rocks, with occasional masses of granite. On one por- 

 tion of the mainland of the county, adjacent to the island of Mull, 

 there is a large development of trap ; and over the whole of the 

 county there are to be seen frequent dykes of the same material, in- 

 tersecting the strata in various directions. 



But, with the exception of the localities already mentioned, I have 

 seen no vestige, in any part of Argyllshire, of any of the palaeozoic 

 or secondary rocks. Nor is it probable that their absence is due to 

 denudation, as in this case fragments would remain either amidst the 

 masses of transported material, which are common on the surface, or 

 — like the Old Red Sandstone along the external coast — preserved, 

 in situ, among the intricacies of the hills. It would rather appear, 

 therefore, that the mountainous district of this part of Scotland had 

 already raised its head above the earliest seas which have yielded in 

 their deposits the remains of life. 



I need hardly say, therefore, that the geology of the county is 

 Avanting in that element which not only gives to geology the greatest 

 interest as a study, but is the chief foundation of its certainty as a 

 science. 



When we have to deal with the Azoic rocks, nothing remains for 

 us to elucidate but that which, as yet, is the obscurest branch of 

 geology, I mean its mechanics ; — a branch, however, on which we 

 have every reason to hope that the science and researches of our late 

 President will continue to cast new and important lights. 



* For the account of this evening's Proceedings, vide sujjra, p. 131. 



