14 THE DEVONIAN AND CARBONIFEROUS. [bull. 80. 



In the Edinburgh Encyclopedia 1 there is an exposition of his views 

 which will serve our present purpose. 



The author divided the science of mineralogy into two divisions, 

 geognosy and oryctognosy. He said: 



Geology, according to Werner, comprehends not only geognosy but also geography, 

 hydrography, meteorology, and geogony. Geognosy makes us acquainted with the 

 structure, relative position, materials, and mode of formation of the mineral masses 

 of which the crust of the earth is composed. 



WERNER'S SYSTEM. 



In 1740 De Maillet maintained that the globe was composed of strata 

 successively deposited one over auother, by the sea, which gradually 

 retired and uncovered the present continents. This view was adopted 

 by Linnaeus. Buffon accepted it also, in part, so far as regarding super- 

 ficial strata as the deposition from water. It played a conspicuous 

 part in Werner's system. 



Werner had several pupils, of whom some of the more prominent are 

 Mohs, Oharpentier, Buch, Banmer, Freisleben, Humboldt, Steppen, 

 Engelhart, Esmarck, D'Andrada, Brocchi, De la Kio. In the article 

 before us we find Werner's system discussed under the following heads: 

 " Werner on the structure of the crust of the globe." Then follow the 

 subdivisions : 



1. Original extent of the formations. 



2. Their present extent and continuity. 



3. Position and direction of strata in relation to fundamental rocks. 



4. Position and direction of strata themselves. 



5. Relation of the outgoings [outcrop] of the strata to the exterior of mountains. 



Under the first head, "the original extent of formation," Werner dis- 

 tinguished as "universal formations" those that extend around the 

 whole globe (not, however, without interruption), and constitute by far 

 the greater mass of the crust of the earth. Almost all the Primitive, 

 Transition, and Secondary formations are "universal depositions." Of 

 these the following are named: "Granite, Gneiss, Porphyry, Lime- 

 stone." "Partial formations," of which sandstones, limestones, shales, 

 etc., are examples, were deposited only in particular places, aud were 

 due to lake or flood sediments. The author wrote : 



The spheroidal figure of the earth, its crystalline and stratified structure, and its 

 numerous petrifactions are proofs of its original fluidity. The fluidity, according to 

 Werner, was aqueous, and he conjectures that the various rocks were originally sus- 

 pended or dissolved in water, and gradually deposited from it- 2 



Two grand epochs are recognized in his system, first, "the Primitive, 

 containing no fossils or organic remains, always below the other rocks, 

 and wholly of chemical origin." "Second, the Secondary: these rocks 

 were formed posterior to the creation of organized beings." The rocks 



>The Edinburgh Encyclopedia, conducted by David Brewster, ll. d., f.r.s. 1812-1831. Article 

 •' Mineralogy," prepared by Prof. Robert Jameson, D. d., f. B. 8., L., and E., professor of natural history. 

 Edinburgh. First American edition, 1832, vol. XIII. 



2 Op. cit.,p. 437. 



