Rudiments of Geology[W. & R.] Chambers, 1859 - 226 páginas |
Términos y frases comunes
abundant accumulations agency ammonite appearance arenaceous argillaceous atmosphere basalt beds bituminous bones boulder boulder clay calcareous carbonate carboniferous chalk Chambers's character chemical chiefly clay clay-slate coal measures colour composed composition conglomerate contain coral crustacea crystalline debris deposits depth districts drifted dry land earth earth's crust earthquakes elevation estuaries existing extensive feet felspar fishes fissures formation fossil fresh-water genera geologists geology gigantic globe gneiss granite grauwacke gravel heat hornblende igneous rocks imbedded iron islands lakes layers less lime magnesian limestone marine marls mass material matter mica mica schist miles mineral mountain limestone numerous occur ocean old red sandstone oolite organic remains origin petrifaction plants and animals present produced quartz reefs reptiles rivers sand schist sedimentary shales shell-fish shells shores silt silurian slates soil species stone strata stratified rocks structure substances subterranean surface temperature term terrestrial texture thickness tion unstratified valleys vegetable volcanic zoophytes
Pasajes populares
Página 192 - ... invisible. These animals are of a great variety of shapes and sizes, and in such prodigious numbers, that, in a short time, the whole surface of the rock appears to be alive and in motion. The most common...
Página 88 - With regard to the atmosphere, also, we infer, that had it differed materially from its actual condition, it might have so far affected the rays of light that a corresponding difference from the eyes of existing Crustaceans would have been found in the organs on which the impressions of such rays were then received. Regarding light itself, also, we learn, from the resemblance of these most ancient...
Página 192 - ... the tide reaches every day, it is found to be full of worms of different lengths and colours, some being as fine as a thread, and several feet long, of a bright yellow, and sometimes of a blue colour.
Página 192 - The growth of coral appears to cease when the worm is no longer exposed to the washing of the sea. Thus, a reef rises in the form of a cauliflower, till its top has gained the level of the highest tides, above which the worm has no power to advance, and the reef of course no longer extends itself upwards.
Página 133 - ... but stumps of trees from three to seven feet in height, in an erect position, with their roots extending beneath them. Stems of trees are found prostrate upon the same stratum ; some of them are from twenty to twenty-five feet in length, and from one to two feet in diameter.
Página 34 - ... inches will lift fine sand, 8 inches sand as coarse as linseed, and 12 inches fine gravel ; while it requires a velocity of 24 inches per second to roll along rounded pebbles an inch in diameter, and 36 inches per second to sweep angular stones of the size of a hen's egg. Rivers, during floods...
Página 176 - From the northernmost point of the Gulf of Trieste, where the Isonzo enters, down to the south of Ravenna, there is an uninterrupted series of recent accessions of land, more than one hundred miles in length, which, within the last two thousand years, have increased from two to twenty miles in breadth.
Página 186 - It may consist of any of the numerous plants which are capable of growing in such stations: but a species of moss (sphagnum palustre) constitutes a considerable part of the peat found in marshes of the north of Europe; this plant having the property of throwing up new shoots in its upper...
Página 91 - ... is inconstant, and shifts at short intervals, then the cleavage planes hold their course right on, irrespective of the varying position of the planes of bedding; in other words, that the strike of the cleavage coincides with the prevailing strike of the beds in each district, and does not vary with the subordinate and local irregularities in the strike of the beds.
Página 176 - Sabine, that its sediment discolours the waters of the ocean three hundred miles off shore. This sediment is constantly carried to the north-west as far as the...