CRAMOND— HOUND POINT. 65 



The rocks which form this assemblage of strata are slate- 

 clay, bituminous shale, clay -iron stone, and sandstone. On 

 proceeding in the direction of Cramond, they dip to the S.E. 

 at 25°, against the mantle-shaped stratification, and in se- 

 veral places the sandstone and shale are invaded by masses 

 of compact felspar, of yellow and grey colours ; but in con- 

 sequence of their great disintegration, the exact relations 

 of the rocks to each other are not seen. The sandstone 

 and shale when in contact with the felspar are changed 

 both in mineral character and disposition ; the sandstone 

 becoming quartzose, and the slate approaching in some places 

 to Lydian-stone. Farther to the west the strata contain 

 four beds of trap ; one of these is entirely composed of fel- 

 spar, a rock into which the others, which are of greenstone, 

 pass, as they approach the stratified series. As usual, indu- 

 ration is conspicuous, and in one part a breccia is formed at 

 the planes of contact, being composed of variously sized frag- 

 ments of slate and felspar. Iron-pyrites is abundantly dis- 

 tributed through both the felspar and greenstone.* On fol- 

 lowing the shore, no other rocks are observable till within a 

 short distance of Cramond, where on the beach there are 

 three alternations of sandstone and greenstone, all of which 

 dip to the N. W. at 20° ; when in contact the sandstone be- 

 comes indurated, and the greenstone passes into compact 

 felspar. On the western side of the river Almond which en- 

 ters the sea here, another bed of greenstone occurs : it dips 

 to the north-west, and is succeeded by strata of sandstone 



* The beautiful display of Plutonian and Neptunian rocks on this 

 part of the coast was, after its relations had been pointed out by Profes- 

 sor Jameson, visited by Von Buch, Boue', Mohs, Brochant, Beaumont, 

 and many other geological chiefs. There the rival theorists discussed 

 their geological systems. Unfortunately for the geologist, these rocks 

 have been lately nearly entirely removed, in preparing for the new 

 harbour in that quarter. 



VOL. VIT. E 



