106 



MINERALOGICAL NOTICES 



summit, of a conical form, evidently the second in 

 elevation ; and these two are the tops of the moun- 

 tain which strike the eye, when Cruachan is viewed 

 at any considerable distance from its base. 



The country around Cruachan, for many miles, 

 as well as the body of the mountain itself, consists 

 chiefly of primitive rocks ; although portions of 

 newer formations occasionally present themselves. 



Of these rocks, or strata, it is for the most part 

 extremely difficult, if not impossible, to ascertain 

 exactly the relative positions and directions. In 

 general, however, they correspond to the usual 

 bearings, and geognostic relations of the Highland 

 strata : — with this character to be remarked, that 

 they exhibit great varieties of dip and inclination, 

 according to the diversities of base, on which they 

 rest. 



Inverary. — Commencing our observations in 

 the direction northward from Inverary, we find, as 

 the ground rock, mica-slate, with an unusual pro- 

 portion of imperfectly crystallized quartz ; owing 

 to which, it is extremely hard, and difficultly fran- 

 gible, like a similar species, found at Loch Katte- 

 rin, and on Ben Vorlich. One of the substances 

 in this district, is a clay-stone porphyry, coloured 

 with hornblende. Clay-slate, sometimes inclining 

 to talc-slate, also appears ; with various subordinate 

 beds of greenstone, chlorite, hornstone-porphyry, 

 and rarely limestone. The first of these substances 

 probably extends, in detached masses, as far east- 



