Rocky Mountains, 405 



amygdaloidal trap, and the coal strata, are in direct and 

 immediate connexion, while limestones, except the sulphate, 

 are of rare occurrence. 



Recapitulation 



The Secondary Formations along the eastern base of the 

 Rocky Mountains, are 



1st. — Red Sandstone. Rests immediately on the granite, 

 is rather indistinctly stratified; strata sometimes inclined, 

 and sometimes horizontal. Abounds in gypsum, salt, and 

 iron, but contains no indications of coal. 



2d. — Argillaceous^ or gray Sandstone. Overlays the red, 

 conforming to it in the inclination of the strata. Occurs 

 principally near the primitive; contains coal and iron. 



3d. — Greenstone and Graystone.* Of an imperfectly co- 

 lumnar structure, resting on the argillaceous sandstone. 



4th. — Amygdaloid. Sometimes containing augit, and some- 

 times hornblend. Occurs with the greenstone, about the 

 sources of the Canadian river, and constitutes, with the fore- 

 going, the newest floetz trap formation. 



5th. — Sand and Gravel. Resting on the sandstones, and 

 extending over the Great Desert, but rarely found with the 

 trap rocks. 



Sect. II. — Of the Rocky Mountains.! 



The principal summits of this lofty chain of mountains are 

 visible in some conditions of the atmosphere, at the distance 

 of one hundred and forty miles. In approaching them from 

 the east, across the great plain, as the curvature of the sur- 

 face appears to subside, peak after peak becomes visible, and 

 at the distance of one hundred miles, the view is that oi se- 

 veral conic summits rising, unconnected with each other 

 from their bases. At a nearer approach, the mountain is dis- 



* Pinkerton. 



f We use this name, because it appears to be most generally adopted, 

 and is perhaps as appropriate as any of those hitherto applied to this great 

 and almost unknown chain of mountains. If any has a claim to be re- 

 ceived on account of greater antiquity, it is certainly that of Chippewyan, 

 used by Carver, M Kenzie, and the earliest English writers, and far more 

 applicable than Missouri, Mexican, Caous, Shining, Sandij, or any of the 

 many other unmeaning adjuncts which have been proposed. The Indians 

 are said to have no name for the whole range. Those parts about the 

 sources of the Arkansa and Rio Del Morte, have been called Sierra Ma- 

 ^re, and Sierra Vert, by the Spaniards of New Mexico. 



