GEOLOGICAL FORMATIONS. 109 
in these, as in all the eruption rocks, there are often seen in 
the granite mass quite small fragments, with sharp edges of 
this fundamental rock. The granites of this great rock 
collection are partly granulated, partly striated. The old 
granite presents an appearance by no means attractive, 
especially on the mountains of the Setersdal. It forms 
there bare rugged cliffs and fields sown only with blocks 
of stone, and here and there covered with with marshes, 
In the lower lying countries, especially to the east, better 
sheltered from.the sea winds, this granite supplies, on the 
contrary, an excellent ground for forests, 
Immediately after the great upturnings of the ground 
which accompanied the’ eruptions of the old granite, or 
perhaps while these eruptions were still occurring, there 
was produced.'the taconic formation, composed of three 
distinct strata or layers, resting in discordant non-conform- 
able ‘stratification on the fundamental rock. The lower 
of the layers, particularly distinguished ‘by the quantity 
of fragmentary rock contained in it, has been called the 
Sparagmitic. layer from the name given to:one of these 
rocks, Sparagmite is a pudding stone or conglomerate, 
sometimes reddish, sometimes grey, in colour, consisting 
of fragments of felspar and quartz, often intermixed with 
broken talcose scales. 
Where the quartz prevails, and is not covered with a 
vegetable soil, the ground is arid, as on both banks of the 
Glommen, from the Marafjeld to the valley of the Lille- 
elvdal. In districts sheltered from the wind, however, the 
Sparagmite offers a ground pretty favourable for forest 
vegetation. - 
The stratification of it is disposed in some places in 
inclined beds, or on plateaux in horizontal layers, On 
the Rundane these latter are cut up into pyramidal moun- 
tains, the sides of which make apparent the horizonial 
layers. “ 
The great quantities of fragments of felspar and quartz 
seem to. be the result of the decomposition of the old 
granite. The mica is found in like broken siate-in the 
