RECORD: Darwin, C. R. n.d. Considering enormous degradation 5 or 6 miles of strata formed chiefly from degradation of other rocks. CUL-DAR205.9.267. (John van Wyhe ed., 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 10.2021. RN2
NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin. The volume CUL-DAR205.9 contains notes on palaeontology and geology [regarding theory of evolution].
[267]
Considering enormous degradation 5 or 6 miles of strata formed chiefly from degradation of other rocks — we see at once cause why superficial deposits & caves even most mountains seem recent & volcanos are hardly even preserved — Average volcanos eocene — Generally no fossil will be preserved except it be embedded in very thick stratum & not ultimately preserved, without this stratum have great horizontal extension →
[267v]
See what Lyell says — on preservation of organism—
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 15 January, 2026