Venetia during the Neogene. 301 



Concerning the structure, one can say, in general terms, that 

 the Miocene by its mere presence marks synclinal zones; for, 

 indeed, it is in the synclines protected by the older and more 

 resistant rocks, that the Miocene beds, always more or less 

 marly or " molassic," have been preserved from complete 

 destruction. Four synclines can be recognized affecting the 

 Miocene terrains of the intra-alpine remnants, — from Friuli (or 

 the province of TJdine, or eastern Yenetia) through Belluno 

 (province of Belluno) and Yalsugana, to the Lago di Garda. 



A band of ^Neogene deposits of varymg width, in general 

 elevated or overturned, borders almost without interruption 

 the prealpine chain, forming chains of hills, elevated some hun- 

 dreds of meters, " en echelon " in many lines, from Udine to 

 Bassano and beyond ; further to the west this band divides 

 into many small fragments, composed of horizontal or nearly 

 horizontal beds, surmounting the Paleogene formation of Yi- 

 cenza, of Yerona, and of the province of Brescia. The extra- 

 alpine remnants can in general be considered as the southern 

 wing of the prealpine anticline, although the latter may some- 

 times be complicated by secondary folds. 



Tlie Freadriatic Gidf. 



Contrary to accepted opinions, I have been led to think that 

 he intra-alpine remnants, enclosed in general in the bottoms of 

 the valleys, are not evidence of little gulfs, or of narrow arms 

 of the sea, which the surrounding mountains must have formed 

 before the deposition of the Miocene beds. The Miocene 

 beds of the intra-alpine remnants have been ruptured, elevated, 

 overturned, at the same time as the Paleogene or Mesozoic 

 beds on which they rest, and which in turn compose the sur- 

 rounding mountains; they are only the remains, protected from 

 the forces of erosion, of a formation which must have been 

 continuous or almost continuous, at least from the Taglia- 

 mento to the Chiese, and extending in the interior of the coun- 

 try to Belluno, Borgo Yalsugana, and Riva di Trento; that is 

 to say (fig. 1) over the whole extent of the Yenetian region in 

 the broad sense of the word. The fragment at C. Caulana, 

 elevated to a height of 1065 meters, is a most striking proof of 

 this. 



This group of fragments of greater or less extent, is more- 

 over well characterized compared to other Neogene basins. 

 To the east are found only marine deposits in the Balkan 

 Peninsula, in Servia ; to the north, the nearest marine Mio- 

 cene formation is found in the Yienna Basin. Everything 

 causes one to think that the Yenetian ]^eogene basin had an 

 individuality all its own, and that it was bounded by a coast on 



