Ill 
qfGrcmlte^ Quartz-rock^ and Red Sandstoiie. 
the arrangements of these rocks on the great scale are of the 
same general nature., This investigation will lead us to detail 
the geognostical relations of Granite, Quartz-Rock, and Red 
Sandstone. 
I. — Geognostical Relations of Granite. 
It is an opinion entertained by many, (and one which I at one 
time considered as the most plausible,) that granite is the oldest of 
all rocks, and was therefore the first formed of the different for- 
mations of which the crust of the earth is composed ; others 
maintain, that granite is newer than most rocks. The first 
opinion is that of the Neptunists, the other that of the Pluto- 
nists. Both opinions we consider as improbable, and are rather 
inclined to consider granite as of cotemporanecus formation with 
the rocks along with which it is associated. The following 
statement will shew how far this opinion is consistent with the 
geognostical relations of granite. 
Imbedded Granite. 
a. Granite occurs in imbedded masses^ varying in magnitude 
from a few fathoms to several miles in extent, and often of great 
breadth, in rocks of different kinds. These masses sometimes 
rise above the bounding strata, forming hillocks, hills, moun- 
tains, or ranges of mountains. The surrounding strata oc- 
cur in different positions ; sometimes they are horizontal all 
around the mass, or they rest on the mass on one side, and rise 
from under it on the opposite side ; and occasionally the strata 
are mantle-shaped, or dip towards the granite from all sides. 
In some instances, the strata are observed under the mass of 
granite, as well as on its sides, thus proving that it is imbedded ; 
and we see no reason why the same may not be the case in all 
similarly situated masses of granite, of whatever magnitude they 
may be. 
b. These imbedded granite masses, at their line of junction 
with the bounding strata, present precisely the same series of 
phenomena as occur among the distinct concretions of granite, 
and other granular rocks, and at the junctions of smaller im- 
bedded masses of different rocks. Here, then, we have, on the 
great scale, in junctions often visible for miles, either the inter- 
