164 



MUSCHEL KALK. 



In the beds of the gres higarre there are found thin beds and con- 

 cretions of magnesian limestone ; and above this is a more extensive 

 formation of smoke grey limestone called muschd-kalk, abounding in 

 organic remains. In this limestone, the beautiful fossil, the lily encri- 

 nite, is found. (See the cut.) The muschel-kalk occurs also in Ger- 

 many, but is entirely wanting in England. In its mineral character it 

 bears a near resemblance to the limestone called lias, but it is sep- 



arated from the lias of the Vosges by thick beds, corresponding with 

 the English red marl, but called by the French marnes irrisees, from 

 iheir spotted and variegated colours. The fossils in the muschel- 

 kalk bear a nearer relation to those in the lias than to the shells in 

 the magnesian limestone below it : but neither belemnites nor gry- 

 phites occur in this limestone in the Vosges. Its chief fossils are the 

 lily encrinite, two species of ammonite, the terebratula subrolunda, 

 and a species of muscle. According to M. E. Beaumont, were it 

 not for the intervention of the muschel-kalk, there would be a com- 

 plete passage of the red sandstone into the red marl, as occurs in 

 England. It deserves attention, that the lily encrinite has just been 

 discovered in limestone brought from Ireland to the Isle of Wight. 

 The drawing I have seen of it leaves no doubt of the fact; but 

 whether the limestone be mountain limestone, as it is called, or the 

 muschel-kalk, remains to be determined. Thick beds of red marl, 

 with fibrous gypsum, compose the upper part of the new red forma- 

 tion in the midland counties of England : the red marl is, generally 

 spotted, and striped by greenish and yellow marl. 



