Beagle Expedition (1831-1836); Geology -- South America; Volcanoes
This ridge consists, as before remarked, of grey feldspathic lavas, and
of red, brecciated, argillaceous tuffs, like the beds of the upper
coloured series. The grey lavas contain numerous, minute, black, easily
fusible specks; and but very few large crystals of feldspar. They are
generally much softened; with the exception of this character, and of
being in many parts highly cellular, they are quite similar to those
great sheets of lava which overhang the coast at Prosperous Bay.
Considerable intervals of time appear to have elapsed, judging from the
marks of denudation, between the formation of the successive beds, of
which this ridge is composed. On the steep northern slope, I observed
in several sections a much worn undulating surface of red tuff, covered
by grey, decomposed, feldspathic lavas, with only a thin earthy layer
interposed between them. In an adjoining part, I noticed a trap-dike,
four feet wide, cut off and covered up by the feldspathic lava, as is
represented in Figure 9. The ridge ends on the eastern side in a hook,
which is not represented clearly enough in any map which I have seen;
towards the western end, it gradually slopes down and divides into
several subordinate ridges. The best defined portion between Diana’s
Peak and Nest Lodge, which supports the highest pinnacles in the island
varying from 2,000 to 2,700 feet, is rather less than three miles long
in a straight line. Throughout this space the ridge has a uniform
appearance and structure; its curvature resembles that of the
coast-line of a great bay, being made up of many smaller curves, all
open to the south. The northern and outer side is supported by narrow
ridges or buttresses, which slope down to the adjoining country. The
inside is much steeper, and is almost precipitous; it is formed of the
basset edges of the strata, which gently decline outwards. Along some
parts of the inner side, a little way beneath the summit, a flat ledge
extends, which imitates in outline the smaller curvatures of the crest.
Ledges of this kind occur not unfrequently within volcanic craters, and
their formation seems to be due to the sinking down of a level sheet of
hardened lava, the edges of which remain (like the ice round a pool,
from which the water has been drained) adhering to the sides. (A most
remarkable instance of this structure is described in Ellis “Polynesian
Researches” second edition where an admirable drawing is given of the
successive ledges or terraces, on the borders of the immense crater at
Hawaii, in the Sandwich Islands.)
(FIGURE 10. DIKE. (Section showing layers 1, 2 and 3 from top to
bottom.)
1. Grey feldspathic lava.
2. A layer, one inch in thickness, of a reddish earthy matter.
3. Brecciated, red, argillaceous tuff.)
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