RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 4.1834. Geological diary: Santa Cruz. CUL-DAR34.122-124. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Kees Rookmaaker, corrections and editing by John van Wyhe 3.2011. RN1

NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. This document, part of the largest scientific document composed by Darwin during the voyage of the Beagle, is written mostly in ink. Marginal notes are here integrated into the text.

Reproduced with the permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin.

See the introduction to the Geological Diary by Gordon Chancellor.


122

(1) April 14th [1834] — Santa Cruz.

The cliffs are 350 feet high. & essentially composed of pale faint yellow, soft partly indurated sandstone. The lower part bed of this is blackish & harder & contains very many shells, broken & irregularly placed: in general appearance resembles South Bananca at P. Desire & in concretionary sandstone in its Turritella. Arcae & Venus. — Pectens I saw none or Balaenidae or Spatangus. — Ostreae are present but not very numerous. Even here there are some veins of gypsum & curious salt: — (Z). —

Above this. the upper part in most cases is partly divided into three varieties: the lowest & superior of which are the same, consisting of pale earthy sandstone — divided into numerous horizontal layers, which are also shown by ferruginous bands: there is a sort of cleavage. — contains these interlaced veins of gypsum. — & large concretionary masses of ([blank]). — & others, but very few slate: The central part is much more shells are infrequent, yet some are present. ([blank]). — The central part is harder — more compact, less stratified, is peculiar by containing in lines which large round concretionary masses of ([blank] These also occur in the superior & inferior varieties: while very generally specimen rocks contain shells. chiefly Venus

122 verso

I believe Isocardium of R. Negro is Arca

Some Gypsum is present when shells exist

(Z) The salt (146 tin label occurs more or less pure (sometimes snow-white in veins running in every direction, oftentimes with gypsum. (N.B. The gypsum has very often been insufficient to fill the veins hence ([sketch]) this appearance). — Salt lies, in the veins in a most lightly uncompressed form, is common in the earthy sandstone. (V. specimen). just above most shelly stratum: — Specimen must contain much impurity

(Mud from grinding of pebbles.)

Similarity of hypogene metamorphic trappean & volcanic rock over whole world all [anser]

123

(Z). I should think between 5 & 600 feet above the sea. — : from an escarpement (like chalk) to the 350 plain. — it is about 8 to the SW by W of present cliff. — but not nearly so far from the sea coast ∴ to which this 350 plain only forms a step: We may imagine as present causes has made cliff A. leaving (D), low. so in old times the (350) plains lose to escarpement (Z): — a double elevation: —

[sketch]
(low) (B)
R. [illeg]
SW now 350 ft
A
high table land (Z)

Extent to the south. &c
Modernness of earthy covering of lower plain as compared to gravel of the upper

123 verso

(3)

bone bed: (without tosca rock)

Perhaps 15 feet thick Does it represent E. T. del F. [East Tierra del Fuego] alluvium? — On the surface there were many modern shells, chiefly blue striated Mytilus. Also one Buccinum. — — Plain level: irregularities caused by the earth. — Some miles South other set of plains; considerably more elevated & with sloping cliff. (Z) —

Features of country as before. —

From inspection of chart, doubtless these formations extend to N. shore of Gallegos. —

The relation of E. T.del F. & this is problematical: this is not present: ∴ either it never existed or has been denuded: in favor of the former is the necessary change in sea. from great gaps in W. mouth of Magellan & the entire absence of porph. pebbles, but it is more probable it only extended in a very lessened degree. to near St of Magellan (v not further south or surely in such quiet deposit some pebbles would be present) & than it was their course washed away — during the depositions of the coarser sort & hence has left larger pebbles at C. St Ines: (my sounding notes. make me skeptible about form of ordinary tides having sufficient power: —

or it is buried deep beneath the alluvium. — probably, hence pebbles. —

124

(4)

These masses are even 3 or 4 (even more ) feet in diameter. Are arranged in straight lines for long distances (Z) & oftentimes 5 or 6 2 or 3 yards apart. At other times closer, & vary in size. —

It is clear. that where a layer containing calcareous (?) matter was deposited: such particles united to form these balls. — therefore there was chemical motion in a rectangle [sketch]

It is impossible not to be struck with the resemblance of these beds with those of E. T.del F. viz (especially concretionary masses. of calcareous sandstone)

The difference of shells & gypsum also of pebbles at once separated them. — Yet, perhaps the approximation to same class of mountains is same cause in both. —

These beds with gypsum & few organic remains clearly represent the two at P. Julian & Desire:

Above this formation are the porphyry pebbles 20 or 30 feet thick. (perhaps rather less than to North. essentially the same. St Julians yellow one: I fancy more black ones: —

Above thus in most places this was a bed of earth, with few pebbles. somewhat like St Julian

124 verso

Many of the pebbles were far size of large potato. — I saw a few on beach (St Julian yellow sort) as large as half mans head. —

(Z) The globular form is the rarest: generally this [sketch]: which when close have united forming this [sketch]: oftentimes it is nearly a layer or strata [sketch]: when so small thin & [illeg] & close: —

In the great central bed, there are several layers lines of balls one above the other: Balls formed of concentric layers: —


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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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