of the Neighbourhood of Smyrna. 399 



trine strata, which form the upper portion of the hill. The highest stratum 

 exposed, is a compact white limestone, containing, though rarely, a small 

 species of Paludina. A singular substance is also found here, being an aggre- 

 gate of coarse crystals of carbonate of lime, but too loosely united to constitute 

 saccharine marble*. 



Below the limestone containing Paludinje, strata of marl with calcareous 

 nodules are exposed, till they are obscured by the trachyte below. The only 

 alteration apparent in the lacustrine strata, from their contact with the igneous 

 rock, consists in a greenish colour imparted to the marl, limestone, and ac- 

 companying flint or resinite, and not observable at a distance from it. 



In descending from this point to the ford through the Meles, a singular 

 mass of conglomerate is found in the midst of the trachyte. It consists of rolled 

 quartz pebbles, imbedded partly in a red and partly in a bright green paste. 

 This mass, which is but a few feet in extent, seems to have been derived from 

 the subjacent lacustrine beds, and caught up by the trachyte. Near this point, 

 the latter rock contains some veins of white chalcedony. 



We now proceed to the geology of the north side of Smyrna Bay, where 

 pha^nomena are exhibited similar to those, which are described above. 



The gray limestone of Mount Sipylus seems to have formed part of the 

 northern margin of that ancient lake, which was bounded on the east by Mount 

 Tartali, and on the west by Corax ; as lacustrine strata still flank the south side 

 of Mount Sipylus ; and they probably once extended across the alluvial plain 

 from Bournabat to Cucklujah. Whether that extensive vale has been formed 

 by denudation or by subsidence is uncertain, but its origin is probably con- 

 nected with the igneous action, which has convulsed the district. 



A vast eruption of trachytic matter, apparently contemporary with that near 

 Smyrna, has on this side also broken up and overlaid the lacustrine deposits. 

 It forms the western half of the Sipylus range, called Cordileon, a mountain 

 whose height may be estimated at about 2000 feet above the sea. 



§. 1. The eastern part of Sipylus consists of compact gray limestone, rising 

 precipitously from the plain of the Hermus. Further westward, the limestone 

 is accompanied by black and greenish shales, resembling those of Tartali, be- 

 fore mentioned. The boundary between this formation and the trachytic 

 rocks coincides in general with the ravine, which descends from the lake of 

 Kizghioul to Bournabat, but considerable intermixture of these two rocks 

 occurs along the line of junction. 



* Strata of the same substance are seen in ascending by the easternmost road from Smyrna to 

 Boudjah. 



