PHYSIOGRAPHY OF SHAN-TUNG. 79 
The recession of fault-scarps in consequence of erosion has greatly 
reduced the altitudes which might exist, and probably did exist, as a 
result of faulting. There are few, if any, differences of elevation which 
approach the probable vertical throw of the faults; the ridges, as a rule, 
present sharp residual crests; and it is evident from an inspection of the 
horizontal distribution of mountains and of their cross-sections that they 
are but the isolated remains of more extensive masses. 
During the prolonged epoch of erosion, which has followed upon the 
development of the tectonic relief, the resistances offered by different 
rock masses have had an important effect upon the distribution of heights 
and lowlands. The adjustment of eminences to hard rocks and of valleys 
to soft rocks is exceedingly perfect. Among the rocks of the T’ai-shan 
complex the schists are somewhat softer than the granites, and the latter 
form bosses in extensive exposures of the series; but effects of jointing 
seem to be of more consequence than differences of petrographic character. 
The temple-crowned summit of the T’ai-shan consists of large blocks 
divided by but few widely spaced joint-planes. Along these joints deep 
clefts are developed, and the precipitous cliffs correspond with vertical 
faces. A similar and even more striking instance is that of the Ts’in- 
lung-shan southeast of Sin-t’ai. South of this hill passes the great fault 
Na; north of it the gneiss is minutely sheared in an east-west direction, 
apparently by distributed branches of the fault. The rock between the 
two faults is jointed on a large scale, but not sheared; the great blocks 
which constitute the center of the mass have so resisted erosion that they 
form a peak 600 feet in height, which is one of the most conspicuous 
features of this picturesque region. 
Among the stratified rocks the Sinian limestones are the most resistant. 
They are interbedded with relatively very soft shales, which rapidly 
disintegrate and are either washed or blown away from the limestone 
surfaces. It is therefore common to find divides established on the edge 
of a limestone stratum which forms a questa, that is, a hill bounded by 
a cliff on one side and a dip slope of the hard stratum on the other. 
Adjustment of sireams.—In a stream system which retains the features 
of early adjustment to normal faults we should expect to find many 
channels situated parallel to the faults along the downthrown margins of 
fault-blocks; and in escaping from a depressed region, streams should cross 
the faults where they have least throw, or pass around their ends. It 
is only the master streams of Shan-tung which conform to these expecta- 
tions. While the smaller streams are usually consequent, in that they 
flow from the upthrow to the downthrow, they cross the dislocations 
at right angles, and frequently at points where the throw is considerable. 
