of Salem and Barramahal. 1 79 



Basalt graduates into basaltic hornblende, and granite into 

 hornblende rock, but beyond that the series is imperfect, and 

 I have never seen, nor have been able to trace in any series 

 of specimens from black granite or from greenstone or 

 syenite, any graduation towards basaltic hornblende as might 

 be expected, if basalt and hornblende are different minerals. 



Application of the Name. 



Although it is my intention in this paper to confine 

 myself as much as possible to description, without wasting 

 time in entering upon endless considerations of imperfect 

 theoretical distinctions, yet it is necessary to offer a few 

 remarks regarding the propriety of the application of the 

 term granite to the formation in question. From its gradu- 

 ating into gneiss, some Geologists would consider it as 

 granitic gneiss, from its graduating in trap, by some it will 

 be called syenite, and not one of the true primary granitic 

 formations. 



Independent altogether of what its true geological position 

 or origin may be, I consider it best, as Dr. Boase has done, 

 to consider the term granite as a proper designation of any 

 ternary compound of quartz, felspar, and mica, hornblende 

 schorl, or chlorite, united together in a confused crystalli- 

 zation, mutually penetrating and interfering with each other, 

 without considering whether it is striped or veined, or has 

 any other peculiarities in its mode of aggregation, as long 

 as its granitic character is preserved. Almost every person 

 has an idea of what is like and what is not like granite, and 

 I do not think it necessary, therefore, to attempt to define 

 any further, except to confine the application to within a 

 certain proportion between the ingredients, which is easiest 

 done by colour. Granite at a distance has a bluish grey 

 colour; closely examined it is a regular mass of shining 

 particles, with some black specks in greater or less quantity 

 disseminated through the mass. As the quantity of these 



