530 



On the Age of Mountains, 



the horizon, and this holds good even when the strata are 

 perpendicular. 



Those flots masses which rest against the higher moun- 

 tain masses, were therefore not formed at that place, and in 

 that position, which they now occupy; they have been ele- 

 vated under a greater or smaller angle, at a period when the 

 mountains on which they lean, were elevated from the bosom 

 of the earth. 



If this be granted, it is clear, that those flots bjerge masses, 

 whose layers are now in a leaning or perpendicular position 

 on the slopes of the mountains, existed before these moun- 

 tains were lifted up to their present height. But those flots 

 bjergene which stretch themselves in a horizontal posi- 

 tion close to the foot of mountains, and are not found on 

 mountain tops, are newer than these mountain elevations ; 

 because one cannot conceive how these elevations could 

 have been raised without at the same time raising the alrea- 

 dy formed superincumbent strata. 



Beaumont has, in his latest treatise on this subject, dis- 

 tinguished twelve different and distinct systems of moun- 

 tains in Europe, some of which we may here mention without 

 entering into particulars. 



On VagufarneT) eastern side, the strata of the coal forma- 

 tions are oblique, whereas the Jura limestone is horizontal. 

 This mountain-mass has thus been raised after the coal for- 

 mation was deposited, but before the Jura limestone was 

 formed. 



In the Ertzgeberge the coal formation and Jura lime stone 

 are both slanting, whereas the green sand and chalk are 

 horizontal. Thus the epoch for these mountain elevations 

 corresponds with the Jura limestone formation, but is ante- 

 rior to the period of the green sands. 



On the sides of the Pyrenees lie the coal forma- 

 tion, Jura lime, green sand, and chalk in a slanting posi- 

 tion, whereas the tertiary formation is horizontal. This 



