THE DISTRICT OP SCHEMNITZ, HUNGARY. 305 



derable quantity of tufa is deposited by the hot springs. We shall 

 show in the sequel how large a part must probably be assigned to 

 the action of mineral springs and fumaroles in filling those fissures 

 in the old volcanic rocks of the Schemnitz district which now con- 

 stitute its far-famed mineral veins. Some of these are, as Yon 

 Pettko has shown, of later date than the eruption of the basalts. 



That since the country has assumed its present form it has been 

 visited with severe earthquake-shocks, we have sufficient proof. 

 Near Eisenbach there occurs, on the slope of a mountain composed 

 of quartz-trachyte, a most remarkable accumulation of gigantic 

 blocks, which is known as the " Stein-Meer." Although no re- 

 cord or tradition of the formation of this singular mass of debris 

 appears to be in existence, I think that no geologist will be in- 

 clined to doubt that its origin must be assigned to the secondary 

 effects of some great earthquake-shock, which has affected the dis- 

 trict and hurled down from the mountain-side the vast masses 

 already conveniently prepared for the catastrophe by a peculiar 

 system of jointing. 



The district is still subject to earthquakes. In 1854 and 1855 

 three shocks were felt at Schemnitz within the space of nine months, 

 the attendant phenomena and effects of which were carefully noted 

 by M. Russegger*. Each shock is said to have been attended with 

 a loud noise, like the report of a cannon ; and the whole town was 

 violently shaken. The vibrations appear to have followed the line 

 of the principal mineral vein of the district, but not to have ex- 

 tended to any very great distance from it. The secondary effects of 

 the shocks seem to have gradually increased to greater depths, as 

 was proved by a subsequent careful examination of the workings of 

 the mines ; and the maximum action appears to have been experi- 

 enced at a depth of between 600 and 700 feet from the surface. 



Part II. — Chi the Interpretation of the Geological Structure of tJie 

 Schemnitz District. 



Having now described the main features of this very interesting 

 district, we will proceed to discuss the question of their true inter- 

 pretation, and endeavour to define the exact relations and geological 

 age of the several rock-masses of the central area; for on these 

 points there have arisen, as we have before remarked, the widest 

 diversities of opinion among geologists. 



Without attempting to notice the works of all the earlier writers 

 on Hungarian geology, it will be sufficient if in this place we make 

 our retrospect of geological opinion on the questions at issue com- 

 mence with the justly celebrated work of Beudantf, published in 

 1822. The distinguished Erench geologist, as is well known, de- 



* "Das Erdbeben in Schemnitz am 31. Januar. 1855, von J. Russeger," Sitz- 

 ungsber. Wien. Akad. xv. p. 368. " Berickt iiber das am 30. September, 1855, 

 stattgefundene Erdbeben, yon J. Russeger," ibid. xyii. p. 479. 



t Voyage mineralogique et geologique en Hongrie pendant l'amiee 1818, 

 3 vols. Paris, 1822. 



