it6 proceet)tngs of the geological society. 



The following communications were read : — 



1. " On the Disturbed Ilocks of I^orth-western Germany." Ey 

 Prof. A . von Konen, For.Corr.G.S. (Communicated by Sir Warington 

 W. Smyth, F.R.S., For.8ec.G,8.) 



[Abstract.] 



During the last eighteen years I have spent the better part of my 

 vacations in investigating and mapping the geology of parts of IS'orth- 

 western Germany. I have published, in the ' Jahrbuch der koniglich 

 preussischen geologischen Landesanstalt,' Berlin, for the years 1883- 

 1887, some of the results in a series of notes on dislocations. 



I have therein stated that the Palaeozoic rocks of Ehineland, 

 Westphalia, and Nassau, and of the greater part of the Harz, have 

 been plicated with a north-east strike at the beginning of Permian 

 times ; and that all the other Mesozoic rocks appear to be in perfect 

 concordance, except in cases in which discordance may be explained 

 by erosion or abrasion. Only in Tertiary times did dislocations 

 occur over a wide area, especially in Middle and later Miocene times 

 — first, with the strike to the north-west, afterwards to the north 

 or somewhat to the east. Dj^kes of basalt were intruded in both 

 directions, and cones were formed at these periods in numerous 

 places ; but large areas between them remained without any percep- 

 tible disturbance. 



I have pointed out that similar dislocations occurred even in Post- 

 glacial times, and probably originated the valleys of North Germany 

 with their peculiar directions, as well as most of the lakes of 

 Prussia, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg, &c., and perhaps of Switzer- 

 land. 



I also described how I have explained for many years past, in 

 my geological lectures, the way in which the synclinal and anti- 

 clinal lines, faults, fissures, &c. were formed by lateral or tangential 

 pressure ; but I could mention only a few of these exceedingly 

 variable cases which occur in that country. 



As I have tried to describe these phenomena in as few words as 

 possible, it will hardly be easy to follow my meaning without ex- 

 amining special maps ; but I think I may venture to ofi'er to English 

 geologists a few observations which may help to explain volcanic 

 action and volcanic energy. 



In the synclinal as well as in the anticlinal lines the strata, for 

 the most part, are not simply bent, as is generally supposed : in 

 many cases they are broken and interrupted, so that the fractures 

 converge downwards in anticlinals and diverge downwards in syn- 

 clinals. The hollows thus formed were, more or less, filled by the 

 sliding or falling down of the uppermost beds, from either one or 

 both sides, so that fissures remained. 



In the immediate neighbourbood of Guttingen there are very fine 

 sections to be seen, which explain and corroborate what is above 

 stated. 



Now I have found that the basalts were generally erupted through 



