MINERAL GEOGRAPHY. 
119 
of Cape Comovin, three-fourths of that peninsula, and the whole 
of Ceylon, being occupied by primitive rocks ; through Birmah, 
down into the peninsula of INIalacca, which abounds in stannif¬ 
erous granite ; and finally into China. The tract along the shore 
of the Arctic ocean is tertiary. About the Caspian is a volcanic 
region. East of this are the sterile, secondary, plains of Tar¬ 
tary, abounding in salt, and farther still ; between the longitudes 
of 70°, and 90°, another seat of volcanic action. The rocks of 
Palestine are mostly secondary limestone, but around the sea of 
Tiberias, and the Dead Sea, (whose surface is 134 3 feet below that 
of the ocean) are some of volcanic origin. Mount Sinai is a 
mass of granite. Of the central regions of Asia, we know hardly 
more than of those of Africa. There are several rich mining 
districts within the limits of this continent; three within the 
limits of the Russian Empire, indicating the existence of primi¬ 
tive and transition rocks, along the southern confines of Siberia, 
and others near the south-eastern coast. The Ural mountains are 
rich in iron, copper, gold, silver, and platinum, especially on their 
eastern or Asiatic side. That part of the Altaian mountains from 
which flow the head waters of the Irtish, contains an abundance 
of the same metals, (platinum excepted,) but especially of silver. 
The third district is that of Nertschink, southeast of the lake 
Baikal. Some of the finest specimens, as well of the earthy 
minerals, as of the ores of these metals, that give beauty to the 
cabinet of the mineralogist, are from Siberia. South-eastern Asia 
yields the precious gems ; India beyond the Ganges, the ruby, 
and sapphire ; Indostan and Borneo, the diamond. The penin¬ 
sula of Malacca, and the island of Banca, contain inexhaustible 
stores of tin ; nearly all the antimony of commerce comes froiii 
Borneo. 
Europe. A large part of Europe is covered by tertiary de¬ 
posits. This is true of Holland, the kingdom of Hanover, Prus¬ 
sia, Poland, and much of Russia, but near the southern border of 
all these, except Holland, rocks of an earlier period make their 
appearance. Sweden and Norway are mostly primitive, and 
from their southern extremity, we may suppose the elevated edge 
of a basin, of the same character, and including the central states, 
to be continued under the sea, through the western part of Scot¬ 
land, England, and Ireland, the provinces of Brittanny and Au¬ 
vergne in France, the Alps, and ancient Mccsia, and Thrace. 
Much of Bohemia is also primitive. The same secondary and 
tertiary strata which occur at low levels, and in a horizontal po¬ 
sition, in England, are elevated and inclined at high angles, along 
the sides of the Alps, proving that these mountains have risen 
to their present height, since the secondary strata of England be¬ 
gan to be deposited. But of the mineral geography of the dif¬ 
ferent kingdoms of Europe, a more particular account must be- 
given, 
Ireland. Groups and ranges of primitive and transition moun 
