322 The Amaican Geologist. May, ]S98 
The great plain is an eastward sloping delta or alluvial deposit of this 
great river system. 
Tlie Wei river in its northward course divides the mountain region 
into two portions geologically and orographically distinct from each, 
other. The elevations are not of much magnitude. The Tai-shan. in the 
western part reaches the hight of i,6oo meters with occasional ridges 
in its vicinity 1,200 to 1,300 meters high. East of the river the eleva- 
tions are lower, but the mountains are precipitous and wild. A chain 
of mountains, much cut into by deep arms of the sea, follows the south- 
ern coast of the peninsula. Between the foothills of the Lauschan with 
its elevation of 1,090 meters and the western continuation of the range 
lies Kiaochau bay, a circular basin 26 kilometers in diameter and with 
a depth of more than 40 meters of water. 
Toward the north from here there extends a broad gently inidulating 
lowland reaching the northern coast of the peninsula. It extends also 
far toward the east into the mountains, but consists of decomposed rock- 
material rotted down in place rather than of alluvium. This region 
supports the tnost prosperous and populous communities. 
The mountain region of Shantung consists geologically only of old 
formations; folded Archean rocks at the bottom and Paleozoic schist 
formations free from folding and metamorphism above. The lowest 
rocks are primary gneisses and granites and hornblende schists pene- 
trated by pegmatyte and quartz veins. Then follow crystalline schists 
and limestones. Granite eruptions (Korea granite) accompanied the 
active and intense mountain-making phenomena. The greater portion 
of the superincumbent and little disturbed Paleozoic schist massif is 
included in the so-called "Sinisch" (Cam.brian) formation. In it,s lower 
portion are found coarse conglomerates and sandstones; in the middle 
are quartzose sandstones and clay slates interbedded with flat limestones; 
in the upper horizons limestones predominate and are characterized by . 
the oolitic structure. 
Unconformable upon these strata follows the Carboniferous, the 
Silurian and Devonian being apparently absent. The Carboniferous 
begins with limestone: then follow calcareous, occasionally fossiliferous 
but usually rather sandy clay slates. With the uppermost members are 
found porphyries and porhypritic tufifs of Permian age or younger. 
This completes the series of the older formations. The covering consists 
of the loess which rests upon all valleys, slopes and low hills. 
As is shown or the map published in the "Zeitschrift fiir oraktische 
Geologic," p. T], east and west Shantung dififer from each other geo- 
logically and orographically. Upon the eastern side the Coal Measures 
are wanting and the "Sinisch" is not prominently developed; on the 
west the strata of the latter formation have a great development and 
the Carboniferous is abundantly in evidence. Toward the west the 
crystalline rocks do not form prominent features of the landscape; on 
the east they predominate. In western Shantung the loess covering is 
universal; in eastern Shantung it is rare. 
This important dividing line between east and west Shantung is a 
