SUBTERRANEAN MOVEMENTS, &c. 
123 
The popular opinion on this subject, the one almost universal 
amongst practical men, can not be better expressed than in the words 
of Werner. (On Veins, Trans, p. 51.) 
‘ Every vein which intersects another is newer than the one traversed, 
and is of later formation than all those which it traverses : of course 
the oldest vein is traversed by all those that are of a posterior forma- 
tion, and the newer veins always cross those that are older.’ Werner 
elsewhere delivers his sentiments on the mode of this intersection, 
noticing the displacements, and changes of the condition of the new 
and old vein at their intersection. He does not seem to have thought 
the difficulties attending this latter subject of such importance as to 
deserve special discussion ; but it is clear he was perfectly acquainted 
with them, and thought his hypothesis comprehended them. 
Admitting, what in the stratified country of the North of England 
can never be doubted, that the metalliferous deposits were introduced 
into open fissures of the rocks, the operations, according to the Wer- 
nerian doctrine, may be thus described. First a dislocation happens 
along an east and west fissure generally hading in one direction in 
all parts of its length and throwing down in one direction, but some- 
times changing both throw and hade at different parts ; this fissure 
is filled by the sparry and metallic substances ; subsequently it is 
broken across and a new fissure formed, which afterwards is filled 
with substances generally different from those in the earlier veins. 
The strong argument in favour of this view is the equal dislocation 
occasioned by the cross vein on both sides of the divided vein : it affects 
equally the elevated and depressed strata bordering that vein, which 
could hardly be the case if the dislocations of that divided vein had 
not been accomplished, the vein filled, and the whole mass coherent. 
It seems hardly possible in a stratified country to elude the force 
of this clear argument : but let us suppose the contrary, viz. that 
the cross vein is the oldest : upon this view the fissure of that vein 
it 2 
