GRANITE AND SANDSTONE JUNCTION-ARRAN. 157 



the Geological Relations of the Secondary Strata in the 

 Island of Arran,''' it is stated " that the granite could not 

 have been in a fluid state at the time of its elevation ; for, 

 had that been the case, it could never have risen into lofty 

 mountains, and mural precipices, overhanging the second- 

 ary strata, without ever flowing over their broken edges, or 

 penetrating their mass in the form of dykes." These rea- 

 sons appear, however, in no way sufficient to prove that the 

 granite of Arran has been elevated in a solid state, after its 

 fluid protrusion through the primitive rocks with which it 

 is connected. In regard to its having, unless elevated in a 

 solid state, been unable to form mountains and mural pre- 

 cipices, we have a statement which may as well be applied to 

 all the granite and trap rocks of Scotland, as to the granite 

 of Arran, and indeed to almost every igneous rock which 

 does not occur in streams. Concerning the circumstances 

 which have allowed the granite and trap to assume their 

 existing forms, this is no place for a discussion ; and be- 

 sides, they will suggest themselves on reflection to any geo- 

 logist. Data are awanting also to prove, either that the 

 granite does or does not penetrate the sandstone ; and be- 

 sides, the sandstone is so related to the granite that it might 

 be older than it, and still not be traversed by veins ; for, 

 as we have just stated, the granite is, with one exception, 

 always separated from the secondary rocks by a great for- 

 mation of slate, consequently it might easily happen, that 

 the plutonic rock might be newer than both, and still might 

 have not sent out veins of a length sufficient to invade the 

 secondary series. The nature of the ground, however, where 

 a solitary instance of the sandstone being in contact with 

 the granite may be observed, is such as to render it impos- 

 sible to affirm whether the sandstone is crossed by granite 

 dvkes or not. 



