International Geological Congress. 463 



tive rocks require no classification further than this, the words 

 and coloration are sufficient for the Archaean. 



Dr. Beyrich said that all that was necessary at present was 

 the acceptance of the Archaean as anterior to Paleozoic time. 



M. Stefanescu proposed the term "group" for all the rocks 

 preceding the Paleozoic. His question was, " Shall we say 

 Archaean ' system ' or ' group ?' " 



M. Firkot said there were two questions involved : 



1st. Archaean or Primitive? 2d. Group or system ? 



M. Dewalque spoke to the same effect. 



Dr. Hauchecorne asked for a vote on the terms "group " or 

 system." "Group" was chosen. 



The vote was then taken on "Archaaan" or "Primitive." 

 "Archaean" was adopted, after M. Eenevier (chairman of the 

 committee on the chart of Europe), had explained his views 

 upon the question. 



M. Dewalque proposed that some member should make a 

 motion to divide the Archaean into three parts. 



Dr. Hauchecorne asked M. Dewalque to make some propo- 

 sition in order to bring the question before the Congress. No 

 action was taken. 



He stated that it was proposed to subdivide the Archaean 

 into Azoic schists, Crystalline schists, and Protogine schists. 



Professor Hughes suggested that it would be better to 

 express the petrographic character and not divide the group 

 chronologically. To this M. Eenevier agreed. 



M. Jacquot stated that no division of the Archaaan in France 

 was possible at present. The work of M. Lory in Prance and 

 in the Alps results in establishing, as the best procedure, the 

 coloration of mica-schists and gneisses in the same manner. 

 He also supported M. Hughes's proposition. 



M. Firket agreed to the petrographic divisions, but objected 

 to the term "Azoic." It begs the question of the existence of 

 life. 



M. Stefanescu stated that the Archaean is well represented 

 in Koumania, but there was extreme difficulty in making 

 subdivisions. 



M. Lapparent respectfully requested that the term " Proto- 

 gine " be suppressed once for all, and gave his reasons. A 

 vote was taken and the term was suppressed. 



The proposition of Professor Hughes was then adopted, viz : 

 to accept the Archaean as a group, leaving the petrographic 

 divisions to each geologist and not assigning to them any 

 chronological value. 



The question then taken up was B 4, 5, and 6 (p. 14 of the 

 committee's report), as follows: 



The conference at Zurich has admitted provisionally the 



