RECORD: Darwin, C. R. [1840]. Abstract of Agassiz, Études sur les glaciers. CUL-DAR5.B70-B71. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and John van Wyhe, edited by edited by John van Wyhe 12.2021, 1.2025. 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.

Agassiz, Louis. 1840. Études sur les glaciers. Neuchâtel: Aux frais de l'auteur. Darwin recorded reading this book on 2 March 1840 in his 'Books to be read / Books Read' notebook. CUL-DAR119.-


[B70]

p. 22 deposit of Mer de Glace

p 45 where moraine rise to surface is [lined] between glaciers & les névés

p 58 blue from crosses – compact ice bluest as we ascend blueness diminishes with compactness

59 névé not blue

p 62 to 75 on organisms of glaciers Agassiz

p 100 on angular & rounded blocks only surface Rocks angular

102 in usage part or fragments on surface

104 no stone in Glacier

do at certain height near summit boulder began to surface themselves in snow

106 Boulders never rise to surface at spot; when they entered surface of névé

116 only under foot will sink with ice

117 Block rise through & Red ice

[B70v]

122 blocks fall into crevices are they not embedded

153 Saussueres granite block [square] 40 ft. each side

162 I presume glacier adhere to foundation soil

172 [illeg] in upper part foundation below sea lower part above [illeg]

185 in [former] frozen to soil-

186 pebbles at bottom embedded

220 stratified gravel from lakes on sides & glaciers on moraines

266 not moraines on plains ++

p 272 famous block de Pierre de Bot, 50,000 cub. ft

279 Jura 25 ft x 10 x 15 ft other 10 x 15 in all sides=

237 & (184) no explanation of gravel top & sand below.-

294 reason against floating ice- (++ only good reason scratch [wear] by verdun-) why not on lowest beach- ice from Jura glaciers

It is clear, that direction of (p 295) make no difference.

297 - How can cascades in glaciers act on same spot long enough to make hole?? erosion independent of temperature, & moving glacier = so it is.- & the sillons appearing as if they had there had been walls of ice – 2d good reason –

[B71]

p 300 there are proper glaciers on Jura but angular blocks he says could not have been so brough there – there are moraines from Alps to Jura

(Mem alludes to stratified deposits on Jura) = Hence S. Cruz one cannot be moraines - There is some contradiction about rounding of rocks in moraines & not on surface

All surface ice has been moraines

- why should sea of ice [illeg] from Mont Blanc-

p 318 [Blors] erratic differ essentially from moraines - deposited before.

[B71v]

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Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

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