Mineralogy of the Scottish Isles Volume 1 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1800 Excerpt: ... of this, however, I cannot say any thing satisfactory. I observed many basaltic veins. traversing this sandstone; and, upon examining the connection of the veins and strata, I found the basalt and sandstone, at: their junction, in several places, intermixed; and also the basaltic veins, besides the angle they form with the horizon, had a considerable inclination of themselves-. At a little distance from the columnar promontory, I observed low, shelving rocks of clay-porphyry, which extend beyond the point Rue-Varey on the one hand, and seem to be connected with the porphyry on the other., The promontory is a striking object; is pretty high; and composed of red-coloured argillaceous sandstone, which i& covered, by irregular columns of a porphyry which, in some places, has much resemblance to basalt-porphyry, in others is evidently clay-porphyry. This fact is a presumptive proof that the conjecture I have O 2 made, made, with regard to the situation of the porphyry of Glencloy and Corygills, may be true. Having passed Rue-Varey, which is the most: western point of Arran, we came to the farm of Drurnoodon, which is situated upon the sea-stiore, with a considerable sandy beach before it, and, behind, the sandstone cliffs are still continued. Here we find, resting upon the sandstone, a curious species of rock, having a tendency to split into columns; but of which I cannot give a determinate opinion, as I do not find any description, in the mineralogical works I have consulted, that corresponds with it. I have marked it, in the short description that is detailed in the following chapter, as intermediate between basalt and sandstone. These cliffs become gradually lower, and at length disappear, being succeeded by an extensive beach covered with fragments of ...