Geological Observations on South AmericaDarwin, Charles
Science
Geological Observations on South America
Darwin, Charles
Beagle Expedition (1831-1836); Geology -- South America; Mollusks, Fossil -- South America; Paleontology
The uniclinal axis [I] intersected near the Puente del Inca (of which
the strata at [H] form a part) ranges N. by W. and S. by E., forming a
chain of mountains, apparently little inferior in height to the Cumbre:
the strata, as we have seen, dip at an average angle of 30 degrees to
the west. (At this place, there are some hot and cold springs, the
warmest having a temperature, according to Lieutenant Brand “Travels,”
page 240, of 91 degrees; they emit much gas. According to Mr. Brande,
of the Royal Institution, ten cubical inches contain forty-five grains
of solid matter, consisting chiefly of salt, gypsum, carbonate of lime,
and oxide of iron. The water is charged with carbonic acid and
sulphuretted hydrogen. These springs deposit much tufa in the form of
spherical balls. They burst forth, as do those of Cauquenes, and
probably those of Villa Vicencio, on a line of elevation.) The flanks
of the mountains are here quite bare and steep, affording an excellent
section; so that I was able to inspect the strata to a thickness of
about 4,000 feet, and could clearly distinguish their general nature
for 1,000 feet higher, making a total thickness of 5,000 feet, to which
must be added about 1,000 feet of the inferior strata seen a little
lower down the valley, I will describe this one section in detail,
beginning at the bottom.
1st. The lowest mass is the altered clay-slate described in the
preliminary discussion, and which in this line of section was here
first met with. Lower down the valley, at the R. de las Vacas, I had a
better opportunity of examining it; it is there in some parts well
characterised, having a distinct, nearly vertical, tortuous cleavage,
ranging N.W. and S.E., and intersected by quartz veins: in most parts,
however, it is crystalline and feldspathic, and passes into a true
greenstone often including grains of quartz. The clay-slate, in its
upper half, is frequently brecciated, the embedded angular fragments
being of nearly the same nature with the paste.
2nd. Several strata of purplish porphyritic conglomerate, of no very
great thickness, rest conformably upon the feldspathic slate. A thick
bed of fine, purple, claystone porphyry, obscurely brecciated (but not
of metamorphosed sedimentary origin), and capped by porphyritic
conglomerate, was the lowest bed actually examined in this section at
the Puente del Inca.
3rd. A stratum, eighty feet thick, of hard and very compact impure
whitish limestone, weathering bright red, with included layers
brecciated and re- cemented. Obscure marks of shell are distinguishable
in it.
4th. A red, quartzose, fine-grained conglomerate, with grains of
quartz, and with patches of white earthy feldspar, apparently due to
some process of concretionary crystalline action; this bed is more
compact and metamorphosed than any of the overlying conglomerates.
5th. A whitish cherty limestone, with nodules of bluish argillaceous
limestone.
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