38 Mr, W. J. Hamilton and Mr. H. E. Strickland, on the Geology of 



of Asia Minor are found almost universally distributed, become extremely rare 

 towards the south. 



4. Trachytic or other igneous rocks are frequently found associated with the 

 crystalline marbles, as at Erythrae and Boodroom, along the coast ; and at Cy- 

 zicus and in the Catacecaumene, in the interior. But in the absence of organic 

 remains, it is impossible to decide whether these marbles may not have had the 

 same origin as the scaglia, and have been altered and crystallized by their proximity 

 to the foci of igneous eruptions ; or whether the volcanic outbursts have not raised 

 to the surface, formations of a former period, and from a greater depth, in the im- 

 mediate neighbourhood of their elevation*. 



We will conclude this imperfect contribution to the geology of Western Asia 

 Minor by comparing some of its more remarkable features with those portions of 

 North-western Europe which have been most carefully explored. It will be seen 

 that, notwithstanding the close analogy which we have shown to exist between 

 some of the most recent geological phsenomena of these two portions of the world, 

 yet on the whole the geology of Asia Minor is more remarkable for its contrast 

 than for its resemblance to that of Northern Europe. These discrepancies do not 

 indeed affect those general principles of the science, which, established on the in- 

 ductions afforded by our own and the neighbouring countries, have since been 

 found to prevail throughout the world. Thus, the crystallized condition of the 

 older sedimentary rocks, — their elevation on either side of granitic axes, — the dis- 

 ruption and alteration of strata by igneous injections, — the parallelism of mountain- 

 chains within limited districts, — the absence of organic remains in the older strata, 

 — their gradual approach to existing forms as we descend the chronological scale, 

 — even the want of continuity between the secondary and tertiary series of depo- 

 sits, — all these phaenomena of Northern Europe find their counterpart in the region 

 here described. But when we enter into greater detail, we shall find that Asia 

 Minor, while it agrees in many respects with the geological types afforded by 

 Greece, Italy, Spain, and the whole circuit of the Mediterranean as far as it is 

 known, differs no less from those parts of Europe which lie to the north of the Alps 

 and Pyrenees. For the sake of brevity and perspicuity we will recur to the tabular 

 form in exhibiting these points of disagreement. 



* Mr. Strickland is however of opinion, that the mica-schists and saccharine marbles constitute a di- 

 stinct and well-marked formation, long anterior in age to the Scaglia. He considers it as an hypogene 

 rock, which owes its present metamorphic character to causes far more extensive and deeper-seated than 

 the volcanic eruptions which appear on the surface. He grounds this opinion on the constancy of cha- 

 racter in this rock, whether in the vicinity of trachyte or otherwise ; and on the fact, that the alterations 

 produced in the tertiary beds by the injected trachyte, are very limited in extent and frequently imper- 

 ceptible.— H. E. S. 



