ZIRKEL STRUCTURE OF ROCKS AND MINERALS. 21 



On the Geology of Cyprus. By Prof. Unger. 



[Proceed. Imp. Acad. Vienna, February 5, 1863.] 



This island exhibits, on a surface of only 173 square miles, two 

 distinct mountain-systems, — the larger occupying- the south and 

 south-west portion, and partly rising to a height of 6000 feet 

 above the level of the sea ; the other running parallel with the 

 north coast in a lengthened range of steep cliffs. The funda- 

 mental rock of both is greenstone, with its varieties, as diorite, 

 gabbro, aphanite, &c, extending into a continuous mass in the 

 south and west of the island, while in the northern chain it occurs 

 only in small subordinate domes. This igneous rock, associated 

 with a small portion of trachyte, is everywhere overlain by sedi- 

 mentary deposits. In the north chain these are red cliff-limestone 

 and white compact limestone, the latter containing Corals of an Upper 

 Jurassic appearance. The Jurassic strata are overlain by non-fossili- 

 ferous, fine-grained sandstone, which maybe identified with theVienna 

 Sandstone (Cretaceous and partly Eocene); it crops out only along the 

 north chain, and disappears in other parts of the island beneath a deposit 

 of Tertiary marls and marly limestones. These Tertiaries sometimes 

 include large layers of gypsum, and are prevalent in the eastern and 

 southern slopes of the main mountain-mass. The most recent 

 deposits are conglomerates and sandstones, filling up the depression 

 between the two mountain-systems and bordering the whole island. 

 Their numerous and well-preserved organic remains denote their 

 Quaternary age, belonging to a time when the geological constitution 

 of the Mediterranean basin was nearly the same as at present. The 

 upheaval by which this marine sediment was raised above the level of 

 the sea and the present physical features were given to the island must 

 have established a land-communication with Syria. This supposition 

 alone may account for the concordance of the Cyprian fauna and flora 

 with those of the neighbouring continent. The communication may 

 have been taken away by the sinking of the isthmus shortly before 

 the beginning of the historical period, in consequence of one of those 

 commotions which in later times, and even in our own days, have 

 converted several places on the island into heaps of ruins. 



[Count M.] 



Intimate Structure of Eocxs and Minerals. By Dr. Zirkel. 



[Proceed. Imp. Acad. Vienna, March 12, 1863.] 



The author has submitted to microscopical examination extremely 

 thin laminae of rocks and minerals. All the varieties of quartz 

 entering into the composition of granites, porphyries, and trachytes 

 show innumerable cavities containing liquids ; some of them are so 

 small that, even under a magnifying power of 2000*, they appear only 

 as minute points. These varieties of quartz, and the felspar associated 

 with them, include particles of matter, fused by igneous action, which 



* This measurement is probably superficial, in which case it would be equal 

 to about 45 diameters. 



