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
1. Calyptraea radians. 2. Turritella cingulata. 3. Oliva Peruviana. 4.
Murex labiosus, var. 5. Nassa (identical with a living species). 6.
Solen Dombeiana. 7. Pecten purpuratus. 8. Venus Chilensis. 9.
Amphidesma rugulosum. The small irregular wrinkles of the posterior
part of this shell are rather stronger than in the recent specimens of
this species from Coquimbo. (G.B. Sowerby.) 10. Balanus (identical with
living species).
On the syenitic ridge, which forms the southern boundary of Herradura
Bay and Plain, I found the Concholepas and Turritella cingulata (mostly
in fragments), at the height of 242 feet above the sea. I could not
have told that these shells had not formerly been brought up by man, if
I had not found one very small mass of them cemented together in a
friable calcareous tuff. I mention this fact more particularly, because
I carefully looked, in many apparently favourable spots, at lesser
heights on the side of this ridge, and could not find even the smallest
fragment of a shell. This is only one instance out of many, proving
that the absence of sea-shells on the surface, though in many respects
inexplicable, is an argument of very little weight in opposition to
other evidence on the recent elevation of the land. The highest point
in this neighbourhood at which I found upraised shells of existing
species was on an inland calcareous plain, at the height of 252 feet
above the sea.
It would appear from Mr. Caldcleugh’s researches, that a rise has taken
place here within the last century and a half (“Proceedings of the
Geological Society” volume 2 page 446.); and as no sudden change of
level has been observed during the not very severe earthquakes, which
have occasionally occurred here, the rising has probably been slow,
like that now, or quite lately, in progress at Chiloe and at
Valparaiso: there are three well-known rocks, called the Pelicans,
which in 1710, according to Feuillee, were a fleur d’eau, but now are
said to stand twelve feet above low-water mark: the spring-tides rise
here only five feet. There is another rock, now nine feet above
high-water mark, which in the time of Frezier and Feuillee rose only
five or six feet out of water. Mr. Caldcleugh, I may add, also shows
(and I received similar accounts) that there has been a considerable
decrease in the soundings during the last twelve years in the Bays of
Coquimbo, Concepcion, Valparaiso, and Guasco; but as in these cases it
is nearly impossible to distinguish between the accumulation of
sediment and the upheavement of the bottom, I have not entered into any
details.
VALLEY OF COQUIMBO.
(FIGURE 9. EAST AND WEST SECTION THROUGH THE TERRACES AT COQUIMBO,
WHERE THEY DEBOUCH FROM THE VALLEY, AND FRONT THE SEA.
Vertical scale 1/10 of inch to 100 feet: horizontal scale much
contracted.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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