RECORD: Darwin, C. R. [1836-1837]. Red notebook. EH88202322. (John van Wyhe ed., 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed and edited by Sandra Herbert. Prepared and edited by John van Wyhe 11-12.2025. RN2
NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with the permission of Sandra Herbert, English Heritage (Darwin Collection at Down House) the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin.
See an introduction to this notebook in: Herbert, Sandra ed. 1980. The red notebook of Charles Darwin. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Historical Series 7 (24 April): 1-164. Text Image PDF F1583e
[front cover]
R.N
[inside front cover]
Up to 1° / July 1835. the excess of harbor = 180
See Daubisson both Volumes, and Molina 1st Vol & Lyell
Sailed, 27th
Friday, gale 29th
Friday
Thursday 29th gale
Lyell's Geology
The living atoms having definite existence, those that have undergone the greatest number of changes towards perfection (namely mammalia) must have a shorter duration, than the more constant: This view supposes the simplest infusoria same since commencement of world.—
1. Aubuisson de Voisins 1819.
2. Molina 1788–95, 1.
3. Charles Lyell.
4. Lyell 1830–33 or, possibly, a later edition of the same work or Lyell 1838a. The dates preceding this entry probably pertain to the departure of H.M.S. Beagle from England. The Beagle sailed from England Tuesday 27 December 1831. The ship encountered heavy seas, caused by gales elsewhere, on Thursday 29 December 1831. For Darwin's description of the ship's departure see his letter to his father of 8 February–1 March 1832 in Correspondence 1:201 and his own Diary:18-19.
5. The probable stimulus for this passage was Ehrenberg 1837c, 1:555–76.
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[page 3]
Henslows pap— P 403
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1. Henslow 1821-22:403
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La. billardiere mentions the floating marine confervæ, is very common within E. Indian Archipelago, no minute description, calls it a Fucus. P Vol I 287
P 379. Henslow Anglesea, nodules in Clay Slate, major axis 2.½ ft.— singular structure of nodule, constitution same as of slate same.— longer axis in line of Cleavage, laminæ fold round them; Quote this. Valparaiso Granitic nodules in Gneiss.
1. Labillardière 1800, 1:287, Je revis le fucus que j'avois auparavant rencontré tout près de la Nouvelle-Guinée; il ressemble à de l'étoupe très-fine coupée par petis morceaux longs d'environ trois centimètres: ce sont des filamens aussi fins que des cheveux. On les voyoit souvent réunis en faisceaux, et si nombreux qu'ils ternissoient 1'eau de la rade.'
2. Henslow 1821–22:379, ‛The major axis of some of the larger nodules is two feet and a half, and the minor one foot and a half; and the conical structure extends to the depth of three or four inches. The direction of the longer axis is placed parallel to the schistose laminae, which pass round the nodules.' Darwin scored this passage.
[page 6e]
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Epidote seems commonly to occur where rocks have undergone action of heat, it is so found in Anglesea, amongst the varying & dubious granites.— Wide limits of this mineral in Australia. Fitton's appendix
Would Slate. & unstratified rocks show any difference in facility of conducting Electricity? Would minute particles have a tendency to change their position?
1. Fitton in King 1827, 2:585, ‛The Epidote of Port Warrender and Careening Bay, affords an additional proof of the general distribution of that mineral; which though perhaps it may not constitute large masses, seems to be of more frequent occurrence as a component of rocks than has hitherto been supposed.'
[page 7e]
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Carbonate of Lime disseminated through the great Plas Newydd dike.— Mem tres Montes. ((Henslow Anglesea))
great variety in nature of a dike.— Mem. at Chonos & Concepcion. P. 417
Veins of quartz exceedingly rare Mem C. [Cape] Turn P. 434 & 419
As Limestone passes into schist scales of chlorites— Mem. Maldonado P 375
Much Chlorite in some of the dikes.— P 432. as in Andes.
1. Henslow 1821–22:403, ‛Carbonate of lime is very generally disseminated through every part [of the Plas-Newydd dike].'
2. Henslow 1821–22:417, ‛The most interesting phenomena exhibited by this dyke, are the various changes which it assumes in its mineral character.'
3. Henslow 1821–22:434, ‛Through this dyke there run several veins of quartz, which also abound in the surrounding rock, a fact which I do not recollect wit-nessing in any other dyke in Anglesea.' Also p. 419: ‛At its [the dyke's] Northern termination the trap has been removed by the continued action of the sea, and its original walls, composed of quartz rock, form a small bay about eighty feet wide.' In his copy Darwin commented on p. 434 ‛At C. Turn Quartz broad vein traversed Slate & greenstone' and on p. 419 ‛just what occurs in the Magdalen Channel at C: Turn T del Fuego'.
4. Henslow 1821–22:375, ‛As the limestone passes into the schist [at Gwalchmai], it assumes a fissile character, and scales of chlorite are dispersed over the natural fractures.' Next to this passage in his copy Darwin reminded himself to ‛Mem: Maldonado Limestone . . .'.
5. Henslow 1821–22:432, ‛The whole [mass of trap] assumes a greenish tinge, but the colouring substance does not appear to be of a very crystalline nature, and is probably chlorite.' In his copy of the work Darwin scored this passage, adding a comment—now partly cropped— that ends ‛of Chili'.
[page 8e]
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In Dampier's voyage there is a mine of metereology with respect to the discussion of winds & storms:— in Volney's travels also
Dampier's last voyage to New Holland P 127.— Caught a shark 11 ft long. "Its maw was like a leathern sack, very thick & so tough that a sharp knife could not cut it: in which we found the Head & Boans of a Hippotomus; the hairy lips of which were still sound and not petrified, and the
1. Dampier 1698–1703, 2, pt 3.
2. Volney 1787b, 1, chap. 20 the section entitled ‛Des vents', and chap. 21 entitled ‛Considérations sur les phénomènes des vents, des nuages, des pluies, des brouillards et du tonnerre'.
3. Dampier 1698–1703, 3:125. Exact edition unknown.
[page 9]
jaw was also firm, out of which we pluckt a great many teeth, 2 of them, 8 inches long, & as big as a mans thumb, the rest not above half so long; The maw was full of jelly which stank extreamly."— This shark was caught in Shark's Bay. Lat 25°. The nearest of the E. Indian Islands, namely Java is 1000 miles distant! Where are Hippotami found in that Archipelago? Such have never been observed in Australia
[page 10]
Dampier also repeatedly talks about the immense quantities of Cuttle fish bones floating on the surface of the ocean, before arriving at the Abrolhos shoals.∦—
N.B. The view of the Volcanos of the chain of the Cordilleras as arising from the expulsion of fluid nucleus through faults or fissures, produced by the elevations of those mountains on the continent of S. America is inadmissible may have happened from incipient elevation. The volcanos originated
1. Dampier 1698–1703, 3:114.
[page 11]
in the bottom of the ocean. & the present Volcanos have been said to be merely accidental apertures still open.— The fault like appearance arising from the manner of horizontal upheaval of the shore of the Pacifick is 60 miles distant from the grand ancient volcanic axis of the Andes.— Has this fault determined side of volcanic activity. That axis was produced, from a fissure in a deep & therefore weak part of the ocean's bottom.
[page 12]
With respect to Sharks distributing fossil remains: Sharks followed Capt. Henry's vessel from the Friendly Isles. to Sydney; know by having been seen & from the contents of its maw, amongst which were things pitched over board early in the passage!!—
M. Labillardiere in Bay of Legrand, (SW part). describes a Small granite Is. capped by Calcareous rock; following
1. Samuel P. Henry: personal communication, Darwin met Capt. Henry and his father, a missionary, at Tahiti. See FitzRoy 1839, 2:524, 546, 615; and Williams 1837:471.
2. Labillardière 1800, 1:394, ‛L'îlot sur lequel nous étions est composé d'un beau granit, où le quartz, le feld-spath et le mica dominent; . . .' and, p. 395, ‛La partie occidentale de cet îlot offre, dans un des points les plus élevés un plateau de pierre calcaire. . . .'
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Curvature of hill; states could discover no shells: nothing said about K. Georges Sound
The idea of the water at Cauquenes. coming from the [. . .] Cordillera & flowing
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The gradual shoaling of the water to more than 100 fathoms, proves the existence of some moving point power ⸮ Submarine currents
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Find instances; The whole coast of New Holland shoals much: Dampier remarks on great flats on the NW coast:—
8 leagues, from Sydney 90 fathoms La Peyrouse.
South of Mocha; 19 miles. 65 Fathoms
Vide facts in Beechey. on NW coast of America
off Cape of Good Hope 70 fathoms 20 miles from the shore? Beagle
Coast of Brazil? where not rivers in my Coral paper
1. Dampier 1698–1703, 3:151, ‛The Land here abouts was much like that part of New Holland that I formerly described. . . . ‛tis low, but seemingly barricado'd with a long Chain of Sand-hills to the Sea, that let's nothing be seen of what is farther within Land.'
2. La Pérouse 1798–99, 2:179, ‛From Norfolk Island, till we got sight of Botany Bay, we sounded every evening with a line of two hundred fathoms, but we found no bottom till we were within eight leagues of the coast, when we had ninety fathoms of water.'
3. Beechey 1832. See note RN45–1
4. Eventually published as Darwin 1833–38a.
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|
leagues |
Fathoms |
Parallel of St Catherine [27° 30′ S.]1 |
18 |
— 70 |
Paranagua [25° 42′ S.] |
12 |
— 40 |
St Sebastian [23° 52′ S.] |
12 |
50 |
Joatingua SE [23° 22′ S.] |
5 |
35 |
R. de Janeiro SE [23° 58′ S.] |
18 |
77 |
C. Frio [23° S.] |
7 |
60 |
Soundings about same as last to N. of C. Frio Except at Abrolhos. [18° S.] |
|
|
Bahia [12° 57′ S.] |
8 |
200 |
Morro S. Paulo [13° 22′ S.] |
9 |
120 |
Garcia de Avila [lighthouse] [12° 35′ S.] |
9 |
124 |
Itapicuru [R.] [11° 46′ S.] |
9 |
200 |
R. Real [11° 31′ S.] & [R.] Sergipe [11° 10′ S.] |
20 |
190 |
R. San Francisco [10° 32′ S.] |
10 |
50 |
Whole coast to Olinda [8° S.] |
9-10 |
= 30-40 |
at twice or [18-20] <60> — 80 120 parallel of Olinda
Shoaler N. of Olinda. — a little WNW of C. Rock. [5° 29′ S.] still shoaler, coast composed of sand dunes. 15 — 15
Does not seem to consider this a very shoal coast.2
Beyond the 10 or 12 leagues sea deepens suddenly. coast of Brazil generally. —
1. The sequence of points on this list runs from south to north along the Brazilian coastline. A bar with a dot over a number indicates that no bottom was found at that depth.
2. Probably Robert FitzRoy.
[page 17]
Mrs Power at Port Louis talked of the extraordinary freshness of the streams of Lava in Ascencion known to be inactive 300 years?
No Volcanic Earthquakes or Hot Springs in T. del Fuego=The Wager's Earthquake the most Southern one I have heard of
1. Mrs Power: personal communication.
2. The shipwrecked crew of the H.M.S. Wager identified their position as 47° 00' S., 81°40' W. Capt. FitzRoy recalculated the probable position of the ship as 47° 39' 30" S., 75° 06' 30" W. See Bulkeley and Cummins 1743:48; FitzRoy 1839, appendix to vol. 2:78; and JR:287.
[page 18]
In a preface, it might be well to urge, geologists to compare whole history of Europe, with America; I might add I have drawn all my illustrations from America, purposely to show what facts can be supported from that part of the globe: & when we see conclusions substantiated over S. America & Europe, we may believe them applicable to the world.—
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My general opinion from the examination of soundings, from about 80 fathoms & upwards, that life is exceedingly rare, at the bottom of the sea.— certainly data insufficient, yet good (I suspect fragments of shells will generally be found to be old & dead) (I have not kept a record) In looking over the lists of organic remains in De la Beche, for the older formations I must believe they the limestones have been formed in shallow water: so have the Conglomerates: Yet this view is directly opposed to common opinion
1. De la Beche 1831, sec. 5–10.
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The Tertiary formation South of the Maypo at one period of elevation must in its configuration have resembled Chiloe
In De La Beche, article "Erratic blocks" not sufficient distinction is given to angular & rounded.—
Fox Philosoph. Transactions on metallic veins. 1830 P. 399.— Carne. Geolog. Trans: Cornwall Vol II
1. De la Beche 1831, sec. 3, ‛Erratic Blocks and Gravel'. In his treatment of the subject De la Beche did not discuss the shapes of individual pieces of gravel.
2. Fox 1830:399–414.
3. Carne 1822.
[page 21]
It is a fact worth noticing that cryst of glassy felspar in Phonolite arrange themselves in determinate planes ∴ such action can take place in melted rocks
The frequent coincidence of line of veins & cleavage is importants; veins appearing a galvanic phenomenon, so probably will the Cleavage be
There is a resemblance at Hobart town between the older strata & the bottom of sea near T. del Fuego.—
[page 22]
Is there account of Baron Roussin's voyage.—
In Europe proofs of many oscillations of level, which in the nature of strata & Organic remains does not appear to have taken place in the Cordillera of S. America.
Study Geolog: Map of Europe
Conybeare. Introduct XII P. silicified bones not common in Britain. Mem Concepcion Says Echinites. Encrinites. Asteriæ, usually petrified into
1. Baron Albin-Reine Roussin did not write a general account of the hydrographical expedition he led in 1819– 1820 to South America; but see Roussin 1826.
[page 23]
a peculiar cream-coloured Limestone:the strange substitution of matter in shells, like Concretions & laminæ, show what movements take place in semiconsolidated rocks
P xv. mentions in what formations Conglomerates are found.—
The above oscillations remarkable because the formations are now seen in regular descending steps
1. Conybeare and W. Phillips 1822:xii, ‛. . . one instance of a bone penetrated by silex has occurred to the author, on the beach at Reculver. The calcareous substance of shells, echinites, encrinites, corals, &c. in its slightest change seems only to have lost its colouring matter and gelatine; next they become impregnated with the mineral matrix in which they lie, especially if that matrix be calcareous; hence they become much more compact; often at the same time their original calcareous matter undergoes a change of internal structure, assuming a crystalline form, and in some cases, viz. asteriæ, encrinites, and echinites, a calcareous spar of very peculiar character results, of an opaque cream colour:. . .'
2. Conybeare and W. Phillips 1822:xv, ‛These consolidated gravel beds are called conglomerates, breccias, or puddingstones; we find them among the transition rocks, in the old red sandstone, in the millstone-grit and coal-grits, in the lower members of the new red sandstone, in the sand strata beneath the chalk, and in the gravel beds associated with the plastic clay, and interposed between the chalk and great London clay.'
[page 24]
Mem.; rapidity of germination in young corals.— vide L. Jackson's paper. Philosoph Transact: at R. de Janeiro. Coquimbo. Balanidæ. at Concepcion.
Humb: Pers. N. vii P. 56 Serpentine form: of Cuba for comparison (?) with St Pauls
1. Despite the faulty citation the reference is certainly to Lister 1834.
2. Humboldt and Bonpland 1819–29, 7:56, ‛Farther south towards Regla and Guanabacoa [to the east of Havana], the syenite disappears, and the whole soil is covered with serpentine, rising in hills from 30 to 40 toises high, and running from east to west.' Darwin's copy of Humboldt's Personal Narrative is inscribed, ‛J. S. Henslow to his friend C. Darwin on his departure from England upon a voyage round the World. 21 Sept 1831.' It consists of vols. 1—2, 3rd ed.; vol. 3, 2nd ed.; vols. 4, 5, 6, 7, 1st ed. (1819–1829).
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[page 27]
The frequency of shells in the Calc. Sandstone Concret, is connected with frequency of shells in flints in Chalk
New Providence more hilly than others of the Bahama consists of rock & sand mixed with sea shells— about 500 Is. & great banks, effect of Elevation. United service Journal
1. ‛Proteus' 1834:215, ‛[New Providence] is more hilly than most of the islands, the surface being composed of rock and sand intermixed with sea shells.' See also pp. 216 and 226 for mention of the banks.
[page 28]
In the Iron sand formation would wood converted into siliceous pyritous & coaly matter. Mem: Chiloe
In the endless cycle of revolutions. by actions of rivers currents. & sea beaches. All mineral masses must have a tendency, to mingle; The sea would separate quartzose sand from the finer matter resulting from degradation of Feldspar & other minerals containing Alumen.— This matter
[page 29]
accumulating in deep seas forms slates: How is the Lime separated; is it washed from the solid rock by the actions of Springs or more probably by some unknown Volcanic process? How does it come that all Lime is not accumulated in the Tropical oceans detained by Organic powers. We know
[page 30]
the waters of the ocean all are mingled. These reflections might be introduced either in note in Coral Paper or hypothetical origin of some sandstones, as in Australia.— Have Limestones all been dissolved, if so sea would separate them from indissoluble rocks? Has Chalk
[page 31]
ever been dissolved?
Singularity of fresh water at Iquiqui. not from rain, because alluvium saline; Mem: on coast of Northern Chili as springs become rarer, so does the rain, therefore such rain is cause, hence at least no water is absorbed into the earth
I did not see one dike in the whole Galapagos Arch; because no sections
same cause as no colour
[page 32]
Sir J. Herschels idea of escape of Heat prevented by sedimentary rocks, & hence Volcanic action, contradicted by Cordillera, where that action commenced before any great accumulation of such matter.—
Dr A. Smith says. that Boulders do not occur in the South African plains.— Sydney no
1. John F. W. Herschel: presumably personal communication. Darwin met Herschel sometime between 8– 15 June 1836 during the Beagle's call at the Cape of Good Hope. Months before, Herschel had described his new notion of the cause of volcanic action in a letter to Charles Lyell dated 20 February 1836. Probably he repeated the same explanation to Darwin in June. Herschel's letter to Lyell has been published (Cannon 1961). From it see, for example, Herschel's summary comment to Lyell on p. 310, ‛I don't know whether I have made clear to you my notions about the effects of the removal of matter from . . . above to below the sea.— 1st it produces mechanical subversion of the equilibrium of pressure.—2dly it also, & by a different process (as above explained at large) produces a subversion of the equilibrium of temperature. The last is the most important. It must be an excessively slow process. & it will depend 1st on the depth of matter deposited.—2d on the quantity of water retained by it under the great squeeze it has got—3dly on the tenacity of the incumbent mass—whether the influx of caloric from below—which MUST TAKE PLACE acting on that water, shall either heave up the whole mass, as a new continent—or shall crack it & escape as a submarine volcano—or shall be suppressed until the mere weight of the continually accumulating mass breaks its lateral supports at or near the coast lines & opens there a chain of volcanoes.' This passage from Herschel's letter was read at the 17 May 1837 meeting of the Geological Society of London (Herschel 1833–38:550) and also appeared in Babbage 1838:235.
2. Andrew Smith: personal communication. Darwin's Diary:409 records for 8–15 June 1836 while he was at the Cape of Good Hope, ‛During these days I became acquainted with several very pleasant people. With Dr A. Smith who has lately returned from his most interesting expedition to beyond the Tropic, I took some long geological rambles.'
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I believe the secondary? formations of Brazil, all originate from the decomposition of Granitic rocks Mem. Chanticleers voyage at [. . .] Maranh Pernambuco.
[newspaper clipping:]
EARTHQUAKE AT SEA.— Extract from the log-book of the James Cruikskank, Captain John Young, on her voyage from Demerara to London:— "Feb. 12, 1835. At 10h. 15m. a severe shock of earthquake shook the ship in a most violent manner. Although it lasted about a minute, there was no uncommon ripple on the water. It was quite calm at the time. Latitude 8 deg. 47 min. N: longitude 61 deg. 22 min. W. mid. calm and clear.
Caermarthen Journal
1. The meaning of this entry is obscure. The H.M.S. Chanticleer did not stop at Pernambuco [Recife] during its 1828-31 voyage, nor was Pernambuco on the Beagle's itinerary in June of 1836, when this entry was presumably made. In the narrative from the Chanticleer's voyage, however, there are passages which describe decomposing granitic rock at Rio de Janeiro, and refer to what seem to be related formations at Para [Belem] and Maranham [Sao Luis]. Given Darwin's apparent uncertainty in this entry about location, as indicated by his two cancellations, it may have been these passages which he had in mind. See W. H. B. Webster 1834, 1:52-53, ‛The country about Rio in a geological point of view has large claims to attention. Granite and gneiss are the prevailing formation. . . . The rocks in some parts are decomposed into sand and petunse; the sand having been carried down into the plains, while the petunse remains, and forms extensive beds of porcelain clay admirably adapted for the use of the potter. The lower parts of the granite hills were found chiefly in this condition; the granite having crumbled into micaceous sand and greasy unctuous clay.' Also 2:367, ‛The geology of Para will detain us a very little while; as there is very little variety or novelty. Precisely the same materials are found here as at Maranham, so that it would be impossible to distinguish them. It is a rare and unusual circumstance to find such a striking coincidence, in two different places. The soil upon which the city stands is of clay and sand. The beds of clay are very extensive, and frequently thirty or forty feet deep. There is scarcely any rock, and that only in particular and isolated masses; it is a coarse dark iron sand-stone, with numerous particles of quartz in it . . . . This dark iron sand-stone, with fragments of white quartz, is observable at Maranham, and is the predominant formation at St. Paul's, a little to the southward of Rio.'
2. The clipping, entitled ‛Earthquake at Sea', is from the Carmarthen Journal, 3 April 1835. The story was reprinted verbatim from The Times (London), 28 March 1835, p. 5, with the unfortunate error of a lost digit in the quotation of the ship's latitude. The ship's coordinates as given in The Times were 18° 47' N., 61° 22' W., which would place the ship in the Atlantic Ocean to the northeast of the Leeward Islands, rather than, as in the incorrectly printed version, in Venezuela. See Anonymous 1835c, 1835d.
[page 34e]
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I look at the cessation northwards of the Coal in Chili as clearly bearing a relation to present position of Coal Forests. These thick beds of Lignite stratified with substances so like the Coal measures in England (Excepting Conglomerates?) & absence of limestone? have been collected on the open coast. Perhaps as at Concepcion. favoured by basin formed by outlying rocks; (such as between Mocha & main land). [illeg] At Carelmapu.— Within Chiloe:—
[page 35e]
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On open coast, near where Challenger was lost: I know no reason for supposing these matters are not now collecting, in the bottom of an open & not deep sea.— (Character of coast regular & not very rather deep soundings, 60–100 fathoms 2 & 3 miles from shore. V. Chart) Every winter torrents must bring much vegetable matter from thickly wooded mountains, probably chiefly leaves.— This position agrees with character of. .
in Basins from rivers. & natural position
1. The H.M.S. Challenger ran aground on the Chilean shore at Punta Morguilla [Point Molguilla] (37° 46' S., 73° 40' W.) 19 May 1835. See FitzRoy 1839, 2:451-56 Capt. FitzRoy led the party which rescued the crew.
[page 36e]
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position at N.S. Wales & Van Diemen's land.—
Whole coast S. of Concepcion where there are Tertiary strata there is Coal—
⸮ No shells in all cases. .Mytilus.—
at Guacho on N. Chile? Washington.—
Mem: Micaceous formation of Chonos. interesting from great quantity of altered Carbonaceous shales
Examine chart of Patagonian coast to see proportional cliff & low or sloping land
What are the "palatal Tritores" found in the coraliferous mountain Limestone
1. In this series of place names the locations of Guacho and Washington are uncertain. There is presently a Quebrado del Guacho, a small stream, at 33° 58' S., 71° 09' W. in Chile, and a Cerro Guacho, a mountain, nearby. ‛Washington' may refer to the Canal Washington at 55° 40' S., 67° 33' W. in Tierra del Fuego.
[page 37e]
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are they allied to the jaws of the Cocos fish
Rio Shells argument for rise
In Cordillera, the dikes do not generally appear to have fallen into lines of faults
I do not think so many faults in Cordillera, as in English Coal field— because lowered & raised— so on— but gradually & simply raised
No Faults in Patagonia enormous extent; if lowered again & covered no sign of upheaval
[page 38e]
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To Cleavage add other instances in old world of symetrical structure. East India Archipelago. Aleutian Arch.— V. Fitton. Australia: cases in Europe.—
Auvergne. very little Pumice, though Trachyte. same fact in Galapagos. Daubeny P 24
V. back of page 1 of New Zealand Geological Notes.
at St. Helena. This structure was very clear at base of great lava cliffs
[sketch]
line of high tidal action
NB. patches of modern Conglomerates
[sketch]
1. Fitton in King 1827, 2:604, ‛The tendency of all this evidence is somewhat in favour of a general parallelism in the range of the strata,—and perhaps of the existence of primary ranges of mountains on the east of Australia in general, from the coast about Cape Weymouth to the shore between Spencer's Gulf and Cape Howe.' And on p. 605, ‛If . . . future researches should confirm the indications above mentioned, a new case will be supplied in support of the principle long since advanced by Mr. Michell which appears (whatever theory be formed to explain it,) to be established by geological observation in so many other parts of the world,—that the outcrop of the inclined beds, throughout the stratified portion of the globe, is every where parallel to the longer ridges of mountains,—towards which, also, the elevation of the strata is directed.'
2. Daubeny 1826:24, ‛It [a formation at the hill of Mouton] should be noticed, as one of the few localities in Auvergne where pumice is to be found, which seems the more remarkable, as this substance is a common product of that class of volcanos, which consists of trachyte.'
3. The back of page 1 of Darwin's geological notes on New Zealand is DAR 37.2:802. The page contains a sketch of the silhouette of an island in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand. Darwin noted that at high water the island had the figure of a hill and at low water the figure of a hill surrounded by a level ledge of naked rock. He associated the formation of the ledge with the action of the tides. This page in Darwin's geological notes also contains a cross-reference to ‛R.N.' page 38.
4. See GSA: 25–26, for the published version of this description of the origin of the cliffs at St Helena.
[page 39e]
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The action of sea A.B. will be to eat in the land in line of highest tidal action. this will at length be checked by increased vertical height thickness (DZ) of mass to be removed & from the resistance offered to the greater lateral extension of the waves. by the part beneath the band of greatest action not having been worn away.— If the level of the sea was to sink by very slow & gradual movements to line (2). The part (o) which was before beneath band. of greatest action, would now by degrees be exposed to it, & the result would [be] a uniform slope to base of cliff (Z). to which point the waves would not reach. If now the ocean should suddenly
[page 40e]
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fall, (3) the case would be as at first. & according to the greater or less time of rest. so would the size of the triangular mass removed vary.— The gradual rising continuing. a another sloping platform would be made, & so on.— This is grounded on the belief of constant rising with successive periods of greater activity & rest.— Such changes could be shown (as represented), along line of coast.— [Fig. 2] Mem San. Lorenzo; Valley of Copiapo & parts of coast of Chile.—
Must first explain top of tidal band of action.
[page 41]
This case differs. I think. from Patagonian steps, because the deposition & accumulation is brought into play
As in Ocean & Air; there are likewise differences of temperature at equal distances from centre of rotation & a circulation owing rotation in fluid matter of globe. must there not be a circulation however slow & weak.; (cause of not accumulation of Coral limestone in intertropical) hence varieties of substances ejected from same point. & changes. (changes in variation?) as in Cordillera.—
From poles to Equator current downwards & to West.— From Equator to poles, nearer the surface & to the Eastward.— If matter proceeds from great depth. from axis to surface must gain a Westerly current:— If great changes of climate have happened. hurricane in bowels of earth cause:— exp does not explain cleavage lines./ possibly general symetry of world.—
[page 42]
I feel no doubt. respecting the brecciated white stone of Chiloe, after having examined the changes of pumice at Ascension
In Calc: sandstone at Ascension, each particles coated by pellucid envelope of Lime.— form resembles the husks at Coquimbo: in that case, may not central and rather differently constituted lime have been removed?— As shell out of its cast which, although not very intelligble is a familiar case: If refiltered with other matter how very curious a structure: Have shells ever casts alone in Calcareous. rocks??— if so case precisely analogous: fragments instead
[page 43]
Peak of Teneriffe. also Cotopaxi has a in cylinder placed on the rim of conical crater: at Teneriffe Wall of Porph. Lava with base of Pitchstone; Mem Galapagos.
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chiefly red glassy scoriæ.— could walk round base:— not universal: could not climb up many parts, in James Is.— Mem St Helena— All Trachytic.— Daubeny P. 171. Vol I. Humboldt
There is long discussion on Pumice & Obsidian: in the I Vol. Humb:
There is rather good abstract of Humboldt. S. American Geolog. in Daubeny. P. 349
Admirable little table showing long periods of great violence volcanic. from Humboldt: Comparison P 361. Daubeny
1. Humboldt and Bonpland 1819–29, 1:171, ‛The Peak of Teneriffe, and Cotopaxi, on the contrary, are of very different construction. At their summit a circular wall surrounds the crater; which wall, at a distance, has the appearance of a small cylinder placed on a truncated cone.' Also, with respect to the peak of Teneriffe, on p. 176, ‛The wall of compact lava which forms the enclosure of the Caldera, is snow white at it's surface. . . . When we break these lavas, which might be taken at some distance for calcareous stone, we find in them a blackish brown. nucleus. Porphyry with basis of pitch stone is whitened externally by the slow action of the vapors of sulphurous acid gas.'
2. Reference uncertain, possibly to Daubeny's representation of Humboldt's ‛unpublished' views. See Daubeny 1826:345–351.
3. Humboldt and Bonpland 1819-29, 1:219–32.
4. Daubeny 1826:349. Not easily summarized, see note 43-2.
5. Daubeny 1826:361, ‛Humboldt gives us the following series of phænomena, which presented themselves on the American Hemisphere between the years 1796 and 97, as well as between 1811 and 1812.
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Von Buch is very strong about Trachyte being the most inferior rocks— The stream at Portillo Pass example of do? Poor
Daubeny good account of ejected granitic fragments. P. 386
Mem. Lyell's fact about sulphuric vapours in East Indian Volcanos
Gypsum
Andes
1. Daubeny 1826:382–83, ‛With regard to the mineralogical characters of lava, I shall appeal to the authority of [Leopold] Von Buch. . . . Almost all lavas he conceives to be a modification of trachyte, consisting essentially of felspar united with titaniferous iron, to which they owe their colour and their power of attracting iron.... This felspar is derived immediately from trachyte, that being the rock which directly surrounds the focus of the volcanic action; for if we examine the strata that successively present themselves on the sides of a crater, we are sure to find that the lowest in the series is trachyte, from which is derived by fusion the obsidian, as is the case at Teneriffe.'
2. Daubeny 1826:386, ‛. . . in the collection of Dr. Thomson, now in the Museum of Edinburgh, there is said to be a fragment of lava enclosing a real granite, which is composed of reddish felspar with a pearly lustre like adularia, of quartz, mica, hornblende, and lazulite. I have likewise seen among the specimens from the Ponza Islands, ... a piece of granite, or perhaps rather of a syenitic rock, . . . found in the midst of the trachyte from this locality. But the most interesting fact perhaps of this description, is ... the presence of a mass of granite containing tin-stone, enveloped in the midst of a stream of lava from Mount ætna. ... It may be remarked, that these specimens of granitic rocks have, in general, a degree of brittleness, which accords very well with the notion of their exposure to fire.'
3. Lyell 1830–33, 1:318 refers to Java, ‛where there are thirty-eight large volcanic mountains, many of which continually discharge smoke and sulphureous vapours.'
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Mem. Beechey. account of regular change in soundings. on approaching the coast of NW. America P. 209–13 P & 444 (Yanky Edit)
I think At Ascension, the laminæ . . . changes in rocks. connected with & alternating with obsidian must clearly be chemical differences. & not those of rapid cooling &c &c
My results go to believe that much of all old strata of England. formed near surface: Mem Patagonian pebbles beds, most unfavourable to preservation of bones &c &c— Yet silicified turn over
1. Beechey 1832:209, ‛In latitude 6o° 47' N. we noticed a change in the colour of the water, and on sounding found fifty-four fathoms, soft blue clay. From that time until we took our final departure from this sea the bottom was always within reach of our common lines. The water shoaled so gradually that at midnight on the 16th, after having run a hundred and fifty miles, we had thirty-one fathoms.' P. 211, ‛We soon lost sight of every distant object, and directed our course along the land [St Lawrence Island], trying the depth of water occasionally. The bottom was tolerably even; but we decreased the soundings to nine fathoms, about four miles off the western point, and changed the ground from fine sand, to stones and shingle. When we had passed the wedged-shaped cliff at the north-western point of the island, the soundings again deepened, and changed to sand, as at first.' P. 212–13, ‛In our passage from the St. Lawrence Island to this situation, the depth of the sea increased a little, until to the northward of King's Island, after which it began to decrease; but in the vicinity of the Diomede Islands, where the strait became narrowed, it again deepened, and continued between twenty-five and twenty-seven fathoms. The bottom, until close to the Diomedes, was composed of fine sand, but near them it changed to course stones and gravel, as at St. Lawrence Island. . . .' P. 213, ‛Near the Asiatic coast we had a sandy bottom, but, in crossing over the [Beering's] strait, it changed to mud, until well over on the American side, where we passed a tongue of sand and stones in twelve fathoms which, in all probability, was the extremity of a shoal, on which the ship was nearly lost the succeeding year. After crossing it, the water deepened, and the bottom again changed to mud, and we had ten and a half fathoms within two and a half miles of the coast.' P. 444, ‛In this parallel [61° 58' N] the nearest point of land bearing N. 74° W. true, thirteen miles, the depth of water was 26 fathoms; and it increased gradually as we receded from the coast. . . . We made the land [St Lawrence Island] about the same place we had done the preceding year, stood along it to the northward, and passed its N.W. extreme, at two miles and a half distance, in 15 fathoms water, over a bottom of stones and shells, which soon changed again to sand and mud. . . . On the after-noon of the 2d we . . . anchored off Point Rodney . . . in seven fathoms, three miles from the land. . . .'
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silicified wood. Cordilleras, Chiloe. &c seems the organic structure most easily preserved.—
Mr Conybeare introduct to Geolog— "Between the height of same beds, deposited in different basins; little or no relation appears to exist be made out, but in those belonging to the same district there seems. I think, little ground for skepticism, as to the general truth of the proposition."— If such can happen in troubled England; the more minute equalities
1. The quotation is from Daubeny 1826:402 which summarizes the argument presented in Conybeare and Phillips 1822:xx.
[page 47]
of elevation, may well be preserved at Patagonia. The English fact is astonishing consult book itself. P. xx: same fact is indeed shewn ? by the parallel bands of formations on any Geolog Map: Quoted from Daubeny P 402: likewise, mean height of tertiary. being less than secondary:— consider arguments for oscillation of level independent of mineralogical nature & dependent: & then how wonderful level of same beds should have been kept; it shows that throughout all England, whole surface oscillated equably.—
1. See note RN46–1.
[page 48]
These facts become easy if we look at the action as a deep & extensive movement of viscid nucleus, which in any one country would produce equable effects.— though so immense to short breathed traveller Mountains, which in size are grains of sand, in this view sink into their proper insignificance; as fractures, consequent on grand rise, & angular displacement, consequent of injection of fluid rock.—
Try on globe. with slip paper a gradually curved enlargement
[page 49]
see its increased length. which will represent the dilatation, which dilated cracks must be filled up by dikes & mountain chains.—
Introduce part of the above in Patagonian paper; & part in grand discussion
Consult. reconsult Geolog. Map of Europe
1. While he did not publish a paper on the subject, Darwin did eventually treat the subject of elevation in Patagonia in GSA, chap. 1.
[page 50]
Consult charts for distribution of pebbles.— Plains. off coast of Patagonia.— British channel &c &c.
There is a Hill. near Copiapò which is asserted to make a noise,— My impression. is not very distinct, from some of the lower orders; it was connected with movement of sand.— it is called "Bramidor"(?).— it was a strange story; I believe it was necessary to ascend the hill,— but my recollection is imperfect & was recalled by note in
[page 51]
Daubeny. P. 438., of similar fact near the Red Sea.— which occurred in a sandy place.— (the sound was long & prolonged). NB, Is it generally known. the acute chirping sound produced in walking over the sand: I am nearly sure, it is necessary to ascend the hill.—
The absence of Second form, except near submarine Volc: in harmony with the prevailing movement being one of elevation alone.— In England much subsidence: hence difference; action on land different
1. See Daubeny 1826:438 for the following note, ‛Cet endroit [near the Red Sea] recouvert de sable, environné de rochers bas en forme d'amphitheatre, offre une pente rapide vers la mer dont il est eloigné d'un demi mille, et peur avoir trois cent pieds de hauteur sur quatre-vingts de largeur. On lui a donné la nom de Cloche, parcequ'il rend des sons, non comme faisait autrefois la statue de Memnon, au lever du soleil, mais à toute heure du jour et de la nuit et dans toutes les saisons. La premiere fois qu'y alla M. Gray, il entendit au bout d'un quart d'heure un son doux et continu sous ses pieds, son, qui en augmentant ressembla à celui d'une clocha qu'on frappe, et qui devient si fort en cinq minutes, qu'il fit detacher du sable, et effraya les chamaux jusqu'a les mettre en fureur.' See also JR:441.
[page 52]
Volney, P 351. Vol I. woody bushes, gazelles hares, grasshoppers & Rats. characteristic of the deserts of Syria chara ditto for Patagonia, especially rocky parts of central Patagonia
Does Andes in Chili. separate geographical ranges of plants. V. Lyell. Chap XI Vol II.
Urge the entire absence of any rock situated beneath low water in the Southern ocean not being buoyed with Kelp.—
1. Volney 1787b, 1:351 with reference to the deserts of Syria, ‛Presque toujours également nue, la terre n'offre que des plantes ligneuses clair-semées, et des buissons épars, dont la solitude n'est que rarement troublée par des gazelles, des lièvres, des sauterelles et des rats.'
2. Lyell 1830–33, 2, chap. 11 bears the following summary heading, ‛Theory of the successive extinction of species consistent with their limited geographical dis-tribution—The discordance in the opinions of botanists respecting the centres from which plants have been diffused may arise from changes in physical geography subsequent to the origin of living species—Whether there are grounds for inferring that the loss from time to time of certain animals and plants is compensated by the introduction of new species?—Whether any evidence of such new creations could be expected within the historical era, even if they had been as frequent as cases of extinction?—The question whether the existing species have been created in succession can only be decided by reference to geological monuments.'
[page 53]
With respect to degradation
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of rocks— It may be a question, whether organic remains protect a rock, or that the rock not weathering allows such
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Compare the elevated estuary of the Plata. to the Bay of Bengal. dimensions?
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Strong currents off the Galapagos.— strata must be accumulating which like the secondary strata of England, besides ordinary marine remains may contains shells few corals Tortoise remains of Amphibia, exclusively. & Turtle bones. & the bones of two graniniverous a herbivorous lizard.— from the action of torrents. marine Tortoise & other species of large lizard.— There would probably be no other organic remains.—
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On Pampas looked in vain for a pebble of any sort; not one was found.— Miers saw then near?
P
1. Miers 1826, 1:77, ‛About two miles to the eastward of Barranquitos [32° 35' S., 64° 20' W.] I picked out of the sand a small fragment of quartz, about half the size of a hazel nut. This was the first pebble or stone of any sort I had seen since I left Buenos Ayres.'
[page 56]
Mem. La Condamaine on the Amazons. Consult
Insist on the frequency of dikes in Granitic countries, enumerate cases.— M. Video exception, but even there, hills of Basalt & other Volcanic rocks. Bahia, Rio de Jan: B. Oriental? level surface not disturbed.— Whole West coast. Chonos to Copiapo.— Sydney. K.G. Sound. C. of Good Hope.— Carnatic
1. La Condamine 1747:24, ‛Below Borja, even for four or five hundred leagues, a stone, even a single flint, is as great a rarity as a diamond would be. The savages of those countries don't know what a stone is, and have not even any notion of it. It is diversion enough to see some of them, when they come to Borja, and first meet with stones, express their admiration of them by signs, and be eager to pick them up; loading themselves therewith, as with a valuable merchandize; and soon after despise and throw them away, when they perceive them to be so common.' See JR:289.
[page 57]
It has been common practice of geologist.
Lyell considers (P 84 Vol III.) whole of Etna series of coatings; hence it will be necessary to state all arguments for believing that there must be a central core of melted rock— I think the strongest is the consideration of the state at a grand eruption when whole summit of mountain is blown off; & again when in great crater. different little craters are all burning, surely there must be somewhere below a field of fluid rock.— In the discussion it will be better not to refer to Lyell. but merely to
1. Despite the fragmentary nature of the entry, there exists a reference in Darwin's notes from the voyage, again by way of addition made in light brown ink, which identifies the use of ‛Carnatic' in this context. See DAR 33:115v for citation of the following reference: Allardyce 1836:332–33, ‛It has been remarked that granite in America is found at a much lower level than in Europe: this is also the case throughout the south of India, by granite—meaning always granitic rocks; for a regularly crystallized compound of quartz, felspar and mica, is not to be expected. The Carnatic, and several other similar tracts, occurring along both coasts, are, as granitic plains, surprisingly level: the slight tertiary diluvium with which they are covered, cannot be considered as a principal cause of this uniformity, for the rock itself is everywhere found near the surface: every appearance here indicates the granitic formation has at one time been a great deal more flat than it is generally understood to have been.'
2. Lyell 1830–33, 3:84, ‛It is clear, from what we before said of the gradual manner in which the principal cone [of Etna] increases, partly by streams of lava and showers of volcanic ashes ejected from the summit, partly by the throwing up of minor hills and the issuing of lava-currents on the flanks of the mountain, that the whole cone must consist of a series of cones enveloping others, the regularity of each being only interrupted by the interference of the lateral volcanos.'
[page 58]
state these reasons, & saying that they refer to central nucleus & that envelopes no doubt existed. These higher portions probably formed Isls from which proceeded pebbles & on which trees grew.— ? Are not the dikes in upper strata. quite different from the Porphyries: certainly appearance leads me to believe mere fissures filled up.— the appearance will here be the strongest argument:— ⸮ Consider causes for subaqueous crater being of diff: form subaerial one?— In former not so much; or no rapilli; & from action of water probably not so much aluminated.
1. ‛Rapilli' was equivalent in meaning to ‛lapilli'. See, for example, the use of ‛rapilli' in Daubeny 1826:251.
[page 59]
As argument in favor of lines of anticlinal violence crossing lines of crater, arg state that all the great Volcanoes, have been elevated considerably, which shows an afflux of inferior melted rocks to those parts.
Are not the dikes generally vertical? if so posterior to elevations? & not sources of lava streams.— Urge not tilted strata.—
It will be well to urge the case of St Helena, where dikes certainly have not been points of eruption.
Nobody supposes that all the dikes in Cornwall or in the coal measures have been conduits to volcanoes.—
[page 60]
Talking of the cricket valley the most remarkable feature in the structure of Ascension give as an example the great subsidence at the famous eruption of Rialeja, & the more true analogy from the Galapagos—
Mr Lyell. P. 111 & 113. seems to considers that successive terraces mark as many distinct elevations; hence it would appear he has not fully considered the subject.—
S. America in the form of the land decidedly
1. An oval depression towards the eastern end of Ascension Island was described by the resident English marines as the cricket ground because 'the bottom is smooth and perfectly horizontal'. See DAR 38.2:941v.
2. Lyell 1830–33, 3:111 begins the section entitled,'Seacliffs—proofs of successive elevation' Lyell's point is stated most succinctly on page 113 where he cites the testimony of another author writing on the alterations produced by the sea on calcareous rocks on the shores of Greece 'that there are four or five distinct ranges of ancient sea cliffs, one above the other, at various elevations in the Morea, which attest as many Successive elevations of the country.'
[page 61]
bears the stamp of recent elevation. which is different from what Mr Lyell supposes.
Lyell P 116 Vol III, says that in N. Pliocene formation of Limestone, castsof shells, as in some older formations: Mem the envelopes at Coquimbo. the analogy is now perfect
The grand propulsion of fluid rock, which elevates a continent
We are more abound to take analogy of movements of W coast in explaining plains because such are found in perfection on that side.—
1. In this passage Darwin would seem to be addressing Lyell's argument (1830–33, 3:114) that, '. . .a country that has been raised at a very remote period to a considerable height above the level of the sea, may present nearly the same external configuration as one that has been more recently uplifted to the same height.'
2. Lyell 1830–33, 3:116, '. . . we have seen [for the newer Pliocene] that a stratified mass of solid limestone, attaining sometimes a thickness of eight hundred feet and upwards, has been gradually deposited at the bottom of the sea, the imbedded fossil shells and corallines being almost all of recent species. Yet these fossils are frequently in the state of mere casts, so that in appearance they correspond very closely to organic remains found in limestones of very ancient date.'
[page 62]
Add from M. Lesson. Character of Flora to New Zealand, which agrees with St Helena in being unique, yet no quadrupeds.—
Is the white matter beneath pebbles, the degraded matter of such pebbles extending to seaward, the alternating with such matter at St Julians looks like such?— destructive to animal life.— Patagonia
1. Lesson and Garnot 1826, 1, pt 1:14, '. . . mais il est à remarquer que cette île vaste et composée de deux terres séparées par un détroit, quoique rapprochée de la Nouvelle-Hollande et par la même latitude, en diffère si complétement, qu'elles ne se ressemblent nullement dans leurs productions végétales. Toutefois la Nouvelle-Zélande, si riche en genres particuliers à son sol et peu connus, en a cependant d'indiens, tels que des piper, des olea, et une fougère réniforme qui existe, à ce qu'on assure, à l'île Maurice.' Also p. 22, 'II est à remarquer qu'on ne connaît aucun quadrupède comme véritablement indigène de la Nouvelle-Zélande, excepté le rat, si abondamment répandu sur les îles de l'Océanie, comme sur presque l'univers entier.'
[page 63]
In the Chonos Isls we must imagine bituminous shales have been metamorphised, as in Brazil feruginous sandy ones have undergone the same process.—
Neither lakes or Avalanches (Glaciers very rare) to cause floods in valleys, which must aid in preserving the terraces … Molina's Case
At Vesuvius. Vol III P. 124. Lyell. dikes have a parting of pitchstone; which is described as very rare Mem. St Helena; probably more abundant in this case from intersecting a mass probably cold & not warm as sides of a crater as Vesuvius.—
1. Molina 1788, 1:30, 'La erupcion mas famosa de que tenemos noticia, fue la del volcan del monte de Peteroa, que el dia tres de Diciembre del año 1762 se abrió una nueva boca ó cratéra, hendiendo en dos partes un monte contiguo por espacio de muchas millas. El estrepito fue tan horrible, que se sintió en una gran parte del Reyno, pero no causó vibracion alguna sensible. Las cenizas y las lavas rellenaron todos los valles inmediatos, y aumentaron por dos dias las aguas del rio Tingiririca; y precipitandose un pedazo de monte sobre el gran rio Lontué, suspendió su corriente por espacio de diez dias, y estancadas las aguas, despues de haber formado una dilatada laguna que exîste en el dia, se abrieron por ultimo con violencia un nuevo camino, é inundaron todos aquellos campos.' Darwin noted this passage in his own copy of the work with the remark, 'P 30—Piteron Earthquake caused lake & deluge—state of valleys'.
2. Lyell 1830–33, 3:124, 'Towards the centre [of the dikes at Somma, the ancient cone of Vesuvius]. . .the rock is coarser grained, the component elements being in a far more crystalline state, while at the edge the lava is sometimes vitreous and always finer grained. A thin parting band, approaching in its character to pitchstone, occasionally intervenes on the contact of the vertical dike and intersected beds. M. Necker mentions one of these at the place called Primo Monte, in the Atrio del Cavallo; I saw three or four others in different parts of the great escarpment.'
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There may have been oscillations in the upheaval of Andes.— but as long as all below water no evidence— The depth of shells (which being packed, in beds) lived there, makes it very doubtful whether they could have lived in so deep a sea.— Perhaps agrees with formation of pebbles & vertical trees
Grand Seco at B. Ayres; mention about the deer approaching the wells.— the effect of Salt water of the Salado.— Mem. in Owens Africa it is mentioned that the Elephant came
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after walk far more regularly
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towns driving by the want of water.— I believe in all flat countries. years of drought are common.— Mr Lyell has mentioned the drifting of carcases putrid.
In Rio paper. when discussing probable rise of land: Mention M. Gay's fact about shells: Hibernation of fresh water Shells. multitudes.—
The question of shell's concretions, living only in that spot & being cause of concretion; or being only preserved in that part, having lived over whole bottom is important; because in this latter case, we cannot judge whether such fossils. lived in groups or not.
1. W. F. Owen 1833, 2:274–75, '[at Benguela] . . . the elephants were likewise common, but at present are scarce. A number of these animals had some time since entered the town in a body, to possess themselves of the wells, not being able to procure any water in the country. The inhabitants mustered, when a desperate conflict ensued, which terminated in the ultimate discomfiture of the invaders, but not until they had killed one man and wounded several others.'
2. Lyell 1830–33, 2:189, 'Thousands of carcasses of terrestrial animals are floated down every century into the sea, and, together with forests of drift-timber, are imbedded in subaqueous deposits, where their elements are imprisoned in solid strata. . . .' Also p. 247, '. . . we see the putrid carcasses of dogs and cats, even in rivers, floating with considerable weights attached to them. . . .'
3. Gay 1833:371, 'Ces contrées [Rio de Janeiro, Monte Video, Buenos Aires] m'offrirent aussi une assez belle collection d'insectes et plusieurs coquilles fluviatiles et marines, telles que des Mytilus, des Solens, des Ampullaires, etc., qui offraient ce phénomène digne de remarque, de vivre pêle-mêle dans les eaux simplement saumâtres.' See JR:24.
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Ferruginous veins of this figure [sketch] in sandstone: evidently depend on a concretionary contraction: the fact is in alliance with those balls at Chiloe, full of sand.— the scale quantity of iron being there in excess.— If veins [Fig.] are secretionary, so are all those plates in Australia. New Red Sandstone. at Bahia in modern sandstone. a circle, [sketch] , had in its middle a short fissure vein terminated each way, which little vein was like the rest of these thin veins which project outwards.—
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In Patagonia. the blending of pebbles & the appearance of travelling may be owing to successive transportal from prevailing swell, (as Shingle travels on the Chesil bank. V. De la Beche). Ask Capt. F.: R: how the swell, generally & during gales would tend to travel on a me central line of Patagonia. NB. Mr Lyell P. 211 Vol III. talks of line of cliff marking a pause
When mentioning pumice of Bahia Blanca, mention black scoriaceous rocks of R Chupat. & fall of Ashes of Falkner,
⸮how far is the distance?—
1. De la Beche 1831:73, 'The Chesil Bank, connecting the Isle of Portland with the main land, is about sixteen miles long, and . . . the pebbles increase in size from west to east. . . . The sea separates the Chesil Bank from the land for about half its length, so that, for about eight miles, it forms a shingle ridge in the sea. The effects of the waves, however, on either side are very unequal; on the western side the propelling and piling influence is considerable, while on the eastern, or that part between the bank and the main land, it is of trifling importance.'
2. Robert FitzRoy.
3. Lyell 1830–33, 3:210–11, 'The situation of this cliff [at Dax, France], is interesting, as marking one of the pauses which intervened between the successive movements of elevation whereby the marine tertiary strata of this country were upheaved to their present height, a pause which allowed time for the sea to advance and strip off the upper beds a,b, from the denuded clay c.'
4. Falkner 1774:51, 'Being in the Vuulcan, below Cape St. Anthony, I was witness to a vast cloud of ashes being carried by the winds, and darkening the whole sky. It spread over great part of the jurisdiction of Buenos- Ayres, passed the River of Plata, and scattered it's contents on both sides of the river, in so much that the grass was covered with ashes. This was caused by the eruption of a volcano near Mendoza; the winds carrying the light ashes to the incredible distance of three hundred leagues or more.'
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Fossil bones black as if from peat.— yet cetaceous bones so likewise of miocene period.— Mem Bahia blanca P. 204 Vol III. Lyell
Owing to open faults in mountains: to elevated strata in eocene lakes of France, & unequal action of Earthquakes. on Chili & delta of Indus, my belief in submarine tilting alone, must be modified. Moreover, the Volcanos from sea there burst out, after rise from sea: As did as did those aerial Volcanos in Germany
In the Valle del Yeso it is probable that point of Porphyry has been upheaved in a dry form
It is clear the forces have acted with far more regularity
1. Lyell 1830–33, 3:204, 'Some of these bones [in certain strata in the basin of the Loire] have precisely the same black colour as those found in the peaty shell-marl of Scotland; and we might imagine them to have been dyed black in Miocene peat which was swept down into the sea during the waste of cliffs, did we not find the remains of cetacea in the same strata, bones, for example, of the lamantine, morse, sea-calf, and dolphin, having precisely the same colour.'
[page 69]
in S. America: in France we have freshwater lakes unequally elevated, which movements if present in the Andes, would have destroyed regularity of slope of valleys.— All my observations of period & manner of elevation Volcanic action, must be more exclusively confined to that country.
Read description of channels or grooves in rocks at Costorphine hills. to compare with Galapagos.— Chiloe. M. Hermoso. & Coral reefs (imperfect in latter).
[page 70]
[At] Lyell. Vol I. P. 316. Earthquake of 1812 affected valley of Missisippi & New Madrid & Caraccas.— Is this mentioned by Humboldt in his account of extensive areas.—
P. 322 In any archipelago. & neigbouring Volcanos. eruption from more than one orifice . . . does not occur at same time: this is contrasted to contemporaneous action over larger spaces of the globes & "periods" of increased activity.— such as that of 1835.—
State the three or 4 fields of Earthquakes in Chili:—
1. Lyell 1830–33, 1:316, 'We have before mentioned the violent earthquakes which, in 1812, convulsed the valley of the Mississippi at New Madrid, for the space of three hundred miles in length. As this happened exactly at the same time as the great earthquake of Caraccas, it is probably that these two points are parts of one continuous volcanic region. . . .'
2. Humboldt and Bonpland. 1819–29, 4:11–12, 'The extraordinary commotions felt almost continually during two years on the borders of the Missisippi and the Ohio, and which coincided in 1812 with those of the valley of Caraccas, were preceded at Louisiana by a year almost exempt from thunder storms.'
3. Lyell 1830–33, 1:321–22, 'Syria and Palestine abound in volcanic appearances, and very extensive areas have been shaken, at different periods, with great destruction of cities and loss of lives. It has been remarked . . . that from the commencement of the thirteenth to the latter half of the seventeenth century, there was an almost entire cessation of earthquakes in Syria and Judea; and, during this interval of quiescence, the Archipelago, together with part of the adjacent coast of Lesser Asia, as also Southern Italy and Sicily, suffered extraordinary convulsions; while volcanic eruptions in those parts were unusually frequent. A more extended comparison . . . seems to confirm the opinion, that a violent crisis of commotion never visits both at the same time. It is impossible for us to declare, as yet, whether this phenomenon is constant in this, or general in other regions, because we can rarely trace back a connected series of events farther than a few centuries; but it is well known that, where numerous vents are clustered together within a small area, as in the many archipelagos for instance, two of them are never in violent eruption at once.'
[page 71]
Chiloe. Concepcion. Valparaiso (Copiapò & Guasco). yet whole territory vibrates from any one shock—
In S. America— continuity of space in formations & durability of similar causes go together. add. "" from "in the same line" to "from the epoch of Ammonite to the present day.
at Mauritius. (consult Bory dip of strata on East) cannot believe in a great explosion, nor would sea remove more internally than externally— I did not see any number of dikes in the
1. Bory de Saint-Vincent 1804, 1, chap. 6 describes the physical geography of Mauritius but does not answer Darwin's question directly. While at Mauritius Darwin was unable to inspect the entire island himself and sought information from other sources. See VI:28–31 and pp. 118–120 of this notebook.
[page 72]
cliffs.— wide valleys.— central peak small; yet great body of lavas have flowed from centre—
Pisolitic balls occur in the Ashes which fill up theatre of Pompeei (?).— Such have been seen to form in atmosphere.— Mem. Ascencion. concretions & Galapagos.—
Humboldts. fragmens.
Read geology of N. America. India.— remembering S. Africa. Australia.. Oceanic Isles. Geology of whole world will turn out simple.—
1. Bory de Saint-Vincent 1804, 1, chap. 6 describes the physical geography of Mauritius but does not answer Darwin's question directly. While at Mauritius Darwin was unable to inspect the entire island himself and sought information from other sources. See VI:28–31 and pp. 118–120 of this notebook.
[page 73]
Fortunate for this science. that Europe was its birth place.— Some general reflections might be introduced on great size of ocean; especially Pacifick: insignificant islets— general movements of the earth;— Scarcity of Organic remains.— Unequal distribution of Volcanic action, Australia S. Africa— on one side. S. America on the other: The extreme frequency of soft materials being consolidated; one inclines to belief all strata of Europe formed near coast. Humboldts quotation of instability of ground at present. day.— applied by me geologically to vertical movements.
1. The exact quotation is uncertain, but the following sentence suggests Humboldt's views (1831, 1:5–6) 'La volcanicité, c'est-à-dire, l'influence qu'exerce l'intérieur d'une planète sur son enveloppe extérieure dans les différens stades de son refroidissement, à cause de l'inégalité d'agrégation (de fluidité et de solidité), dans petit nombre de points, intermittente, moins souvent déplacée, très simplifiée dans ses effets chimiques, ne produisant des roches qu'autour de petites ouvertures circulaires ou sur des crevasses longitudinales de peu d'étendue, ne manifestant sa puissance, à de grandes distances, qui dynamiquement en ébranlant la croûte de notre planète dans des directions linéaires, ou dans des étendues (cercles d'oscillations simultanées) qui restent les mêmes pendant un grand nombre de siècles.'
[page 74]
In Cord: after seeing small Bombs. without a vesicle. we may consider appearances of eruption at bottom.— solution under high pressure of gazes. especially the most abundant. Sulp. Hyd: Carb: A. Mur: A.= (& this effect of water thus holding matter in solution must be great: & in the fact of bombs in tufa there is proof of such gaz) steam condensed.— Perhaps these mighty changes might go on. & not a bubbles on the surface bespeak the changes.—
metallic veins solution of silex & many other phenomena
[page 75]
I do not believe that the extraordinary fissures of the ground at Calabria were present at the Concepcion earthquake.— expatiate on difficulty of evidence about eruptions of Volcanos. (where there are no country newspapers)— At the Calabrian earthquake things pitched off the ground. Ulloa states that Volcanos!! were in eruption at time of great Lima earthquake
In the Chili earthquakes if rise was more than inland than on coast it would be invariably discovered; this may be mentioned with general slope of the country; (perhaps generally over whole world)
1. Juan and Ulloa 1806, 2:84, 'According to an account sent to Lima after this accident, a volcano in Lucanas burst forth the same night and ejected such quantities of water, that the whole country was overflowed; and in the mountain near Patas, called Conversiones de Caxamarquilla, three other volcanoes burst, discharging frightful torrents of water. . . .'
[page 76]
Yet eruptions both at sea (as wells as in the Cordillera), they may be considered as accidents (if [. . .] part of a regular system can be called accidental; the proportional force of crust of globe & injecting matter on the great rise).—
The great rains which attend severe Earthquakes ⸮ 1835? 1822 alone, (& the general belief in N. Chili, where rains are so infrequent; so as to exclaim, as I have heard how lucky! when they hear of a place having a pretty severe shock), are much more curious
[page 77]
& perplexing. than those that attend Eruptions: Mr P. Scopes explanation of low Barometer?
In a subsiding area, we may believe the fluid matter instead of afflux (always slightly oscillating as that of a spring) moves away.— Will geology ever succeed in showing a direct relation of a part of globe rising, when another falls.— When discussing connection of Pacifick & S. America.—
1. Scrope 1825, chap. 2, sec. 41–42 including the statement on p. 60, 'It is obvious how the powerful ascending draught of air which constitutes a hurricane, and which acts so strongly in depressing the barometer, will have an equal effect in setting loose the imprisoned winds of the earth.' Also see JR:431.
[page 78]
Volcanos must be considered as chemical retorts.— neglecting the first production of Trachyte. look at Sulphur. salt. lime. are spread over whole surface; how comes it they do not flow out together? How are they eliminated.— Sulphur last.— Metallic veins likewise must separate ingredients if we look to a constant revolution.— Are we to consider that the dikes which so commonly (state facts) traverse granites, are granitic materials simply altered by circumstances; & not in chemical nature, or has a subterranean fluid mass itself changed.— No.—
[page 79]
Yet the fluid granitic mass under [illeg] less pressure might have its proportional particles altered.—
With respect to Volcanic theory. I want to ground, that the first phenomem. is an inward afflux of melted matter. — Volcanos perhaps may be admittance of water, through the rent strata:
Mr Lyell considers that Plutonic rocks are generated as often as Volcanic. I consider latter as accidental on the afflux of the former.—
Ascension. Vegetation? Rats & Mices. At St Helena there is a native mouse
1. Lyell 1830–33, 3:364, ‛If ... we conceive it probable that plutonic rocks have originated in the nether parts of the earth's crust, as often as the volcanic have been generated at the surface, we may imagine that no small quantity of the formerc class has been forming in the recent epoch, since we suppose that about 2000 volcanic eruptions may occur in the course of every century, either above the waters of the sea or beneath them.'
[page 80]
Did wave first retreat at Juan Fernandez: the first great movement was one of rise (any smaller prior ones might have been owing to absolute movement of ground). Michell (Philos: Transacts) seems to considers that fall first movement (as in Peru 1746).— At great Lisbon Earthquake Loch Lomond water oscillated between 2 & 3 ft. (as in Chili lake). Therefore motion of sea ought to be considered as a plain movement communicated to it as well as by the vertical as lateral movement.— At first one would think movement, owing to water keeping its level whilst land rose up & down.— But from above reasons, do not think so
1. Michell 1760:617, 'The great earthquake that destroyed Lima and Callao in 1746, seems also to have come from the sea; for several of the ports upon the coast were overwhelmed by a great wave, which did not arrive till four or five minutes after the earthquake began, and which was preceded by a retreat of the waters, as well as that at Lisbon.' Darwin's own copy of this article was a reprint which had been repaginated by the printer; this quotation appears on p. 54 of his copy.
[page 81]
also elevating Earthquake of Valparaiso. (1822) no great wave on record.— also neighbouring sea must partake in absolute movement Moreover wave with same general character reaches far beyond coast, which has been raised.— It must be considered as an oscillation, from violence. Is it not same as swell travelling across Pacifick.— excepting in number of waves & in wind, instead of sea's bottom being in motion what difference? In watching heavy swell, sea retreats & then breaks: i e to form a wave in ocean, is not this [sketch] form present, i e a part below mean level before the higher part.— Does the
[page 82]
sea fall on banks as a bow wave rushes up? (NB. Earthquake wave is an oscillation, body of water manifestly does not travel up.— ) If these view are right the coincidental retreat at Portugal & Madeira (Lyell. vol I. P. 471) is explained. also the similar fact at Concepcion? Read the various accounts & see if fall is not the first very evident movement.— The swelling first on beach I cannot understand, without (cs [illeg] raised above as).—
1. Lyell 1830–33, 1:471–72, 'Sometimes the rising of the coast must give rise to the retreat of the sea, and the subsequent wave may be occasioned by the subsiding of the shore to its former level; but this will not always account for the phenomena. During the Lisbon earthquake, for example, the retreat preceded the wave not only on the coast of Portugal, but also at the island of Madeira and several other places.'
[page 83]
In great Calabrian wave did not sea break first? I can imagine from local form of coast (as seen in swell) the undertow & overfall must vary proportionally
Partial shrinking after elevation in perfect conformity with Mr Lyell's idea of an injected mass of fluid rock
In Patagonia plains. long periods of rest & vice versâ more likely to be coincidental than single elevations along whole line of coast
1. Lyell did discuss 'partial shrinking after elevation', but, as Darwin's cancellation indicates, did not relate it to the existence of an underlying injected mass of fluid rock. See Lyell 1830–33, 1:477, 'It is to be expected, on mechanical principles, that the constant subtraction of matter from the interior will cause vacuities, so that the surface undermined will fall in during convulsions which shake the earth's crust even to great depths, and the sinking down will be occasioned partly by the hollows left when portions of the solid crust are heaved up, and partly when they are undermined by the subtraction of lava and the ingredients of decomposed rocks.' In his own copy of this work Darwin commented: 'if there are hollows left what forces up the lava' and then crossed out his remark. A few pages previously (p. 468) he had challenged Lyell's association of the occurrence of submarine earthquakes with the percolation of sea water to underlying masses of incandescent lava with the remark, 'We may more easily imagine the fluid stone injected (as occurs in every mountain chain) amongst damp strata.' He also questioned whether water could percolate through strata already under great pressure. In short, it would seem that Darwin realized he was describing his own idea rather than Lyell's in the course of writing this entry.
[page 84]
Darby mentions beds of marine shells on banks of Red River Louisiana. V. Lyell. Vol I. P. 191
State at St Helena, pebbles entirely coated with Tosca. which implies motion in the loose bed of pebbles. (On a sea beach under a cascade, one can understand pebbles thus coated.— The motion is most wonderful, from chemical attraction, as a blade of grass penetrating by action of Organic power a lump of hard clay.—
1. Lyell 1830–33, 1:191, 'Darby mentions beds of marine shells on the banks of Red River, which seem to indicate that Lower Louisiana is of recent formation: its elevation, perhaps, above the sea, may have been due to the same series of earthquakes which continues to agitate equatorial America.' The work referred to is Darby 1816.
[page 85]
In the History of S America we cannot dive into the causes of the losses of the species of Mastodons, which ranged from Equatorial plains to S. Patagonia. To the Megatherium.—To the Horse. = One might fancy that it was so arranged from the forseight of the works of man
Feeling surprise at Mastodon inhabiting plains of Patagonia is removed by reflecting on the nature of the country in which the Rhinoceros lives in S. Africa: the same caution is applicable to the Siberia case
[page 86]
We must not think alluvial plains always most favourable; In what part of the globe are there such vast numbers of wild animals. both species & individuals as in the half desert country of S. Africa. It would be well to quote Burchell. V. where the Rhinoceros was killed.—
In Patagonia, are all beds same age? is white substance triturated Porphyritic rock. s (mem white tufas with purple Claystones of P. Desire). = Where talking of such substances being worn into channels.
1. Burchell 1822–24, 2:71–79 describes the killing of two rhinoceroses south of the Hyena Mountains (30° 10' S., 24° 0' E.). In his own copy of the work Darwin scored the passage on p. 78 where Burchell described his sensation of the heat on a day of the hunt, 'Although so chilling at sunrise, the weather had, by noon, changed to the opposite extreme. Exposed in the middle of a dry plain, where not a tree to afford shade was to be seen, I scarcely could endure the rays of the sun, which poured down, as it were, a shower of fire upon us.' See also JR: 101–102.
[page 87]
mention submarine channels. such as that in front of Sts. of Magellan
In Chiloe curvilinear strata subsidence.—The sudden increased dip is not parallel case to Isle of White. but rather to one out of a series of faults. [sketch]
[page 87e]
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In Cordill: should basal lavas be called Volcanic or Plutonic
The cellular state of all the Porphyry specimens, must be well examined
At M. Video facts of Passages marked by do. discuss quartz veins, there contemp—yet similar ones in Clay. Slates contemporaneous others subsequent. as in dikes
[page 88e]
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In Granite great crystals arranged on sides. V. Lyell P 355 Vol III. constitution of veins, is there said granite in close contact varies in nature,— Does not granite at C. Tres Montes become more siliceous in close contact?— Cordillera??? Porphyry at Valparaiso; Epidote—
1. Lyell 1830–33, 3:355, 'The main body of the granite here [in Cornwall] is of a porphyritic appearance with large crystals of felspar; but in the veins it is fine-grained and without these large crystals. . . . The vein-granite of Cornwall very generally assumes a finer grain, and frequently undergoes a change in mineral composition, as is very commonly observed in other countries. Thus, according to Professor Sedgwick, the main body of the Cornish granite is an aggregate of mica, quartz, and felspar; but the veins are sometimes without mica, being a granular aggregate of quartz and felspar.'
[page 88]
Must we look at regular greenstone cones at S. T. del Fuego as nucleus of a Volcano or as an injected mass.—From conical form I incline to latter former; & thus occurring in groups.—As these greenstone rocks are seen to graduate into granites
[page 89]
the conta passage from lava to Granite is much more perfect. than in believing mere agency of dikes: & indeed when do these dikes lead to a conical mass. will this conical mass be granite? Why not more probably greenstone? What probable origin can be given to the numerous hills of greenstone?—
Daubeny. P 95. Glassy & Stony Pearlstones alternate together in contorted layers: Mem: Phillips Mineralogy some such fact stated to exist in Peru.—Ascension
1. Daubeny 1826:94–95, 'Trachytic porphyry also appears to pass by imperceptible gradations into the next species, pearlstone, which is characterized by the vitreous aspect generally belonging to its component parts. . . . In its simplest form, this rock presents an assemblage of globules, varying from the size of a nut to that of a grain of sand, which have usually a pearly lustre, and scaly aspect. . . . In some varieties the globules are destitute of lustre, and exhibit at the same time sundry alterations in their size, structure, and mode of aggregation, till at length they entirely disappear, and the whole mass puts on a stony appearance, which retains none of the characters of pearlstone. . . . Various alternations occur between the glassy and stony varieties of the pearlstone, sometimes so frequent as to give a veined or ribboned appearance to the rock, at others curiously contorted as though they had been disturbed in the act of cooling.'
2. W. Phillips 1823 contains no reference to pearlstone in Peru, but on p. 112 there is the statement that, 'At Tokay in Hungary, [pearlstone] is found enclosing round masses of black vitreous obsidian, and is intermixed with the debris of granite, gneiss, and porphyry, and alternating in beds with the latter.'
[page 90]
At Ischia there is a pumiceous conglomerate with small & large fragments, nature of which is doubtful. P. 180. I think my Ascension case very doubtful.—
In Iceland Bladders of Lava are described, & many minute craters as at Galapagos. | Sir George Mackenzie must be worth reading
Some earthquakes of Sumatra no connection with a neighbouring Volcano of Priamang.—Marsden Sumatra.
M. De. Jonnes seems to
1. Daubeny 1826:180, '[The island of Ischia] is composed for the most part of a rock which seems to consist of very finely comminuted pumice, reagglutinated so as to form a tuff. . . . Although the pumiceous conglomerate, as I shall venture to call this rock, is seen in every part of the island, yet at Monte Vico ... we observe intermixed with it huge blocks of trachyte. ...'
2. Daubeny 1826:221, 'In many places [in Iceland], [Sir G. Mackenzie] says, an extensive stratum of volcanic matter has been heaved up into large bubbles or blisters, varying from a few feet to forty or fifty in diameter.' The original reference is to Mackenzie 1811:389–90.
3. As quoted in Daubeny 1826:313, 'In Sumatra, Marsden has described four [volcanos] as existing, but the following are all the particulars known concerning them: Lava has been seen to flow from a considerable volcano near Priamang, but the only volcano this observer had an opportunity of visiting, opened on the side of a mountain about 20 miles inland of Bencoolen, one fourth way from the top, so far as he could judge. . . . He never observed any connexion between the state of the mountain and the earthquake, but it was stated to him, that a few years before his arrival it was remarked to send forth flame during an earthquake, which it does not usually do.' The original reference is to Marsden 1811:29–30.
[page 91]
think that Volcanic eruptions form foundations for Coral reefs.— does he mean in contradistinction to sand??
B. Roussin states that generally in North part of Brazil. gravel becomes sand less & gravel more common, the shoaler the water & nearer the Banks
Is there not a sudden deepening on E. coast of Africa, as at Brazil
1. Daubeny 1826:334, 'The process, by which these islands, according to Moreau de Jonnes, are in many instances formed, is sufficiently curious; first a submarine eruption raises from the bottom of the sea masses of volcanic products, which, as they do not rise above the surface of the water, but form a shoal a short way below its surface, serve as a foundation on which the Madreporites and other marine animals can commence their superstructure.' The original reference is to Humboldt and Bonpland 1819–29, 4:42–43; also Cortes and Moreau de Jonnes 1810:130–31.
2. Roussin 1826:47 states that on approaching the banks of Cape S. Roque, '. . . nous croyons avoir observé que le sable est d'autant plus rare et les graviers d'autant plus communs, que les sondes sont plus petites et plus voisines des bancs.'
[page 92]
[page 93e]
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What is nature of strip of Mountain Limestone in N. Wales, was it reef.—I remember many Corals?? Breccia—Stratification?
Anomalous action of ocean.—at Ascension, (where occassionally most tremendous surf & loose sandy beach) deposits calcareous encrustations; At Bahia ferruginous.—At Pernambuco (great swell & turbid water) organic bodies protect like peat reef of sandstone.—Corals, & Corallina survive, in the most violent surfs: in both latter cases become petrified, & increase.—In Southern regions every rock is buoyed by Kelp, now Kelp sends forth branching
1. Darwin's memory of the geology of Wales stemmedfrom his tour there in August 1831 in the company of Adam Sedgwick. Darwin's notes from the trip refer to deposits of limestone and to fossil madrepores. See DAR5(ser. 2):5–14[+15–16?], fols 5–14 published in Barrett 1974
[page 94e]
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roots which must protect surface; On hard exposed rocks near Bahia, whole surface to where highest spray (there pale green confervæ) coated with living beings; In smooth seas (& even turbulent as at St Helena) I have mentioned point of greatest action; I now having seen Pernambuco believe much is owing to protection of Organic productions. = Yet everywhere on coast (Il Defonsos Kelp) rocks show signs of degradation; (soft substances worn into bare cliffs evident); the action is anomalous; It is wonderful to see Coral reef—or confervæ in the breakers or in waterfall: Excepting by removal of large fragments by mere force of waves: & action on upper tidal band, I do not
[page 95e]
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see how to account for oceans power.—excepting when pebbles are brought into play; most manifest example of degradation I ever saw on beach near Callao.—From Sir. H Davy experiment on the copper bottom, we see a trifling circumstance determines whether an animal will adhere to a certain part. Apropos to question does animal adhere to rock because it does not decompose, or vice versa. Clay slates unfavourable to attachment of many bodies
1. Davy 1824:151–58. After describing his experiments Davy concluded on p. 158, 'small quantities of zinc, or which is much cheaper, of malleable, or cast iron, placed in contact with the copper sheeting of ships, which is all in electrical connection, will entirely prevent its corrosion. And as negative electricity cannot be supposed favourable to animal or vegetable life; and as it occasions the deposition of magnesia, a substance exceedingly noxious to land vegetables, upon the copper surface; and as it must assist in preserving its polish, there is considerable ground for hoping that the same application will keep the bottoms of ships clean, a circumstance of great importance both in trade and naval war.'
[96e not located]
[page 97e]
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Beechey.—changes in bottom in NW coast of America. from shingle to sand &c &c. Vol II P. 209. 211. 213. 444 Yanky edition
Shores of Pacifick, as compared to whole E. America. East Africa.
Australia. profoundly deep: a great fault or rather many faults.—
Necessary form; as long as coast line fixed.—
[sketch]
Level of the sea
Slope*
*Slope necessary for seaward transportal of drift matter.—
1. See note RN45–1.
[page 98e]
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(98
Give various cases.
[sketch]
A advancing coast to Seaward.
Retreating case in excess as first case.
When discussing Falkland soundings introduce this discussion.—Brazil bank: (& I believe SE coast of Madagascar, where a 0/40 line shows runs at equal distance?) 1st cases.—
1. A bar and a dot over a number indicates that no See bottom was found at that depth.
[page 99e]
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The terraces in Valleys of Chili may be with much truth compared to the step = formed streams of lava at St Jago. C. de Verds
Quartz pebbles in the Cordilleras look as if some peaks elevated.—
Greywacke. as a general fact absent in T. del Fuego, excepting in Port Famine
Mr Sorrell says that numerous icebergs are commonly stranded on shores of Georgia Lat° ( ), he has rocks on surface, applicable to Patagonia.
1. Thomas Sorrell personal communication. FitzRoy 1839, 2:21. Also see JR:282
[page 100e]
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During a period of subsidence the shinglle of Patagonia would become more or less interstratified with sediment.—& escarpment worn away like english escarpment
The great conglomerate of the Amazons & Orinoco mentioned by Humboldt under name of Rothe-todte-liegende is perhaps same with that of Pernambuco?
Quote Miers about shells at Quillota
Lyell, states that contact of Granite & sedimentary rocks, in Alps becomes metalliferous. Vol III Latter Part
1. Humboldt and Bonpland 1819–29, 4:384, 'We discover between Calabozo, Uritucu, and the Mesa de Pavones, wherever men have made excavations of some feet deep, the geological constitution of the Llanos. A formation of red sandstone [Rothes todtes liegende] (or ancient conglomerate) covers an extent of several thousand square leagues. We shall find it again hereafter in the vast plains of the Amazon, on the eastern boundary of the province of Jaën de Bracamoros. This prodigious extension of red sandstone, in the low grounds that stretch along the East of the Andes, is one of the most striking phenomena, with which the study of rocks in the equinoctial regions furnished me.'
2. Miers 1826, 1:394–95, 'All around Quintero [near Quillota] ... the fishermen had employed them-selves digging shells for lime-making from a stratum four or five feet thick, in the recesses of the rocks, at the height of fifteen feet above the usual level of the sea, it being evident that at no very distant period this spot must have been buried in the sea, and uplifted probably by con-vulsions similar to the one now described.' Also p. 458, 'The recent shelly deposites mixed with loam [at Quintero] I have traced to places three leagues from the coast, at a height of 500 feet above the level of the sea. . . .' See GSA:35.
3. Lyell 1830–33, 3:371, '[According to M. Elie de Beaumont] . . . near Champoleon [in the Alps] . . . [it] is also an important circumstance, that near the point of contact both the granite and the secondary rocks become metalliferous, and contain nests and small veins of blende, galena, iron, and copper pyrites.'
[page 100]
Latter Part
[page 101]
Are there Earthquakes in the Radack & Ralix Isls?
In my Cleavage paper Dr Fittons Australia case must be quoted at length.
The Lines of Mountain appear to me to be effect of expansions acting at great depths (mem: profound earthquakes), which would cause parallel lines, but the rectangular intersections are singular—
M. Lesson considers the Sandstone & Granite districts to be separated by profound valley Sydney.—
1. Fitton 1827 as quoted in note RN38–1. Darwin did not publish a paper on cleavage but see his 36 page discussion of the subject in DAR 41. In these notes, possibly the 'paper' to which he referred, he mentioned Fitton's views twice.
2. Lesson and Garnot 1826, 1, pt 1:5, 'Toutes les côtes de la Nouvelle-Galles du Sud [New South Wales] sont, en effet, entièrement composées d'un grès houiller à molécules peu adhérentes; et ce que nous appelons le premier plan des montagnes Bleues est également composé de ce grès, qui cesse entièrement au mont York. Là, une vallée profonde isole ce premier plan du second, qui est composé en entier de granite.'
[page 102]
Lesson Zoologie
Grand tertiary formation of Payta: N. part of New Zeeland entirely volcanic!! New Zeeland rich in particular genera of plants: All St. Catherine & coast Granite: P. 199; Falkland account of cleavage differs wonderfully from mine: phyllade covered by quartzose sandstones: refers to broken hill described by Pernetty: account of streams of stones agrees with mine.—At Conception, cleavage E & W! at Payta. talcose slates, do at latter place, sandy, sandstone with gypsum, covered by limestone with recent shells 200 ft, how exact agreement with Coquimbo;
1. Lesson and Garnot 1826, 1, pt 1:260–61, 'Le lambeau de sol tertiaire [at Payta] se compose de couches ou bancs alternatifs, dont voici l'énumération, en commençant par la formation de phyllade qui le supporte. 1° Roches talqueuses phylladiformes, terrain primordial. 2° Argiles plastiques.—Sable argileux, schisteux, traversé par des veines entrecroisées de gypse fibreux . . . 3° Calcaire grossier . . .'
2. On volcanic formations in the north part of New Zealand, Lesson and Garnot 1828, 1, pt 2:410, 'De nombreux volcans, dont les traces des éruptions sont récentes, existent sur plusieurs points de ces îles [off the north shore of the North Island] . . . Aussi trouve-t-on communément des pierres ponces. . . .' With respect to richness of plant genera in New Zealand see note RN62–1.
3. Lesson and Garnot 1826, 1, pt 1:189,‛Le granite forme entièrement la croûte minérale de l'île de Sainte-Catherine et du continent voisin. . . .'
4. On the Falkland Islands see Lesson and Garnot 1826, 1, pt 1:198–99, 'Les couches se composent de feuillets fendillés dans tous les sens, dont la direction, au lieu d'être horizontale, est presque verticale, et forme particulièrement sur le pourtour de la baie un angle de 45 degrés: ceux de la grande terre se dirigent à l'Est, et ceux des îlots aux pingoins à l'Ouest. . . . Cette phyllade supporte un grès schisteux. . . .' Also on p. 200 reference is made to the discussion by 'Pernetty' of a 'montagne des Ruines' which looked man-made, and on p. 201, to what Darwin later quoting directly from Pernety called a 'stream of stones' and what Lesson referred to as 'blocs énormes du même grès, entassés pêle-mêle . . .' See JR:255 and Pernety 1769, 2:526.
5. On the region around Concepcion see Lesson and Garnot 1826, 1, pt 1:231, 'La couche la plus inférieure est formée par une sorte de phyllade noire, compacte et terne; celle qui est moyenne se compose d'un mica-schiste à feuillets très-brillants, dont la direction est de l'Ouest a l'Est.' The presence of talcose slates at Concepcion is mentioned on p. 232.
6. Lesson and Garnot 1826, 1, pt 1. Rock cleavage is described as running from east to west on p. 260. On p. 262 Lesson uses the figure 200 feet in describing the change in sea level which would have caused such configurations of strata as seen at Payta.
[103e-104e not located]
[page 105e]
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Isl near coast of America not reached. Juan. Galapagos. Cocos—
Ulloas voyage
North of Callao, the country, to the distance of 3 or 4 leagues from the coast may be concluded to have been covered by the sea—judge from the pebbles such as those on the beach—"This is particularly observable in a bay about five leagues North of Callao, called Marques, where in all appearances not many years since, the sea covered above half a league of what is now Terra Firma & the extent of a league & a half a long the coast. " The rocks in the most inland part of this bay are perforated & smoothed like those washed by the waves, a
[page 106e]
[excised, located in CUL-DAR40.9]
sufficient proof, that the sea formed these large cavities", &c &c &c Vol II. Chapt VIII. p: 97
at Potosi the veins run from North inclining to South. inclining a little to the West: the veins which follow this direction are thought by the oldest most intelligent miners to be the richest Vol II 147
Shells at Concepecion 50 toises above the sea. = talks of them being packed clean. & without earth.— Moreover that such do not occur on the beaches. Perhaps these facts attest a more decided elevation of sea's bottom. beds of shells. 2–3 toises thick.—Vol II. p. 252
1. Juan and Ulloa 1806, 2:97.
2. Juan and Ulloa 1806, 2:147, 'These are the principal mines of Potosi, but there are several smaller crossing the mountain on all sides. The situation of the former of these mines is on the north side of the mountain, their direction being to the south, a little inclining to the west; and it is the opinion of the most intelligent miners in this country, that those which run in these directions are the richest.'
3. Juan and Ulloa 1806, 2:252, 'The country round the bay, particularly that between Talcaguana and Conception . . . is noted for . . . a stratum of shells of different kinds, two or three toises in thickness, and in some places even more, without any intermixture of earth, one large shell being joined together by smaller, and which also fill the cavities of the larger. . . .Quarries of the same kind of shells, are found on the tops of mountains in this country, fifty toises above the level of the sea.' Also, p. 254 'All these species of shellfish are found at the bottom of the sea in four, six, ten and twelve fathom water. They are caught by drags; and ... no shells, either the same, or that have any resemblance to them, are seen either on the shores continually washed by the sea, or on those tracks which have been overflowed by an extraordinary tide.'
[page 107]
Urge cliff form of land, in St Helena. Ascension. Azores. (sandstone first gives half demolished craters) .—worn into mud & dust.—connection with age, & agreement with number of craters. No cliffs at Ascension (or modern streams of St Jgo) yet no historical records of eruptions how immense the time!! How well agrees with number of Craters!—At S. Cruz, there is no occasion to wonder what has become of the Basalt. Gone into fine sediment Look at St Helena!!—
[page 108]
There are some arguments which strike the mind with force.—the exact yearly rise of the great rivers prove better than any meterological table the precise periods over immense areas. (& the counterbalancing variations) of rain. = The Bulk of sediment daily yearly brought down by every torrent proves the decay atmospheric of the most solid rocks.—The grand cliffs of a thousand feet in height, of the solid lavas.—proportionally high to age. (we do not wonder to see tertiary plains consumed) Where slope plainly indicates former boundary, (as in other unworn
[page 109]
islands) we take in at once the stupendous mass which has been corroded.— If man could raise such a bulwark to the ocean, who would ever suppose that its age was limited? Who could suppose such trifling means could efface & obliterate so grand a work?—In valleys one is not sure whether fissures may not have helped it, or diluvial waves, but when we see an entire island so encircled, the one slow cause is apparent. I confess I never see such islands whose inclination natural [illeg] deepest astonishment. Perhaps scarcely a pebble might remain to tell of these losses.—
[page 110]
Cause of chimney. to crater. as at Galapagos. St. Helena.— [sketch] effect of heat on inner wall, hence resists degradation longer than outer parts.—
The common occurrence of a breccia of primitive rocks between that formation and the secondary (stated in Playfair to be the case p. 51). presupposes an elevated country of granite, not so greater for all Europe, than from the Plata to Caraccas, which is all of granite:
1. Playfair 1802:51–52, 'Indeed, the interposition of a breccia between the primary and secondary strata, in which the fragments, whether round or angular, are always of the primary rock, is a fact so general, and the quantity of this breccia is often so great, that it leads to a conclusion more paradoxical than any of the preceding, but from which, nevertheless, it seems very difficult to with-hold assent. Round gravel, when in great abundance, agreeably to a remark already made, must necessarily be considered as a production peculiar to the beds of rivers, or the shores of continents, and as hardly ever formed at great depths under the surface of the sea. It should seem, then, that the primary schistus, after attaining its erect position, had been raised up to the surface, where, this gravel was formed; and from thence had been let down again to the depths of the ocean, where the secondary strata were deposited on it. Such alternate elevations and depressions of the bottom of the sea, however extraordinary they may seem, will appear to make a part of the system of the mineral kingdom, from other phenomena hereafter to be described.'
[page 111]
In discussing circulation of fluid nucleus,—the similarity of Volcanic products over whole world argument, as well as separating causes by water.—Or rather begin & explain how water separates.—(intertropics at present fix lime). Also Volcanos separate. Volcanos blend all substances together; & products being similar over whole world, general circulation. But Volcanic action separates some sulphur (perhaps lime) salt. & metallic ores.—which mingling & separating is well adapted to
[page 112]
use of mankind.—Hutton show Earthquakes part of necessary process of terrestrial renovation & so is Volcano a useful chemical instrument.—Yet neglecting these final causes.—What more awful scourges to mankind than the Volcano & Earthquake.—Earthquakes act as ploughs Volcanos as Marl-pits:
1. The principle expressed in this passage, that the destruction of the earth's surface is required for its renovation, is consistent with the general content of the work of James Hutton. However, as Darwin's, cancellation would seem to indicate, the application of the principle failed in this instance, for Hutton, speaking providentially, had chosen rather to characterize volcanos as instruments designed 'to prevent the unnecessary elevation of land, and the fatal effects of earthquakes', and his interpreter John Playfair, while not quoting Hutton's words, did not challenge his conclusion. See Hutton 1795, 1:146, and Playfair 1802:116–19.
[page 113e]
[excised, located in CUL-DAR42.108]
Consider well age of Bones. = slowness of elevation proved at St Julian. = do not these bones differ as much nearly as the Eocene. = Should Mr Owen consider bones washed about much at Coll. of. Surgeon's? I really should think probably that B. Blanca & M. Hermoso contemp:.—Inculcate well that Horse at least has not perished because too cold:—With discussion of camel urge S. Africa productions.—
1. Richard Owen, then at the Royal College of Surgeons. Darwin commented on the single fossil quadruped he had found at the port of San Julián that the 'skeleton probably was at first perfect, but the sea having washed away part of the cliff, has removed many of the bones,—the remaining ones, however, still occupying their proper relative position to each other.' (Fossil Mammalia: 10) Owen named the fossil quadruped Macrauchenia, on which see note RN 129–1.
[page 114e]
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I think in Patagonia white beds having proceeded from gravel proved.— curious similarity of rocks of very diff. ages. at Port Desire on plain. & interstratified.—
Urge fact of Boulders not in lower strata. only in upper. in accordance in Europe with ice theory.—
Capt Ross found in Possession Bay in 73° 39 N. living worms in the mud which he drew up from 1,000 f[athoms], & the temp of which was below freezing point!!!
1. John Ross 1819:178, 'Soundings were obtained correctly in one thousand fathoms [at Possession Bay], consisting of soft mud, in which there were worms. . . . The temperature of the water on the surface was 34½° [F.], and at eighty fathoms 32°; ... at two hundred and fifty fathoms [measurement taken aboard another ship], .... 29½° [F.].' In Appendix No. III, p. lxxxv this information is summarized and the coordinates of Possession Bay given as 73° 39' N., 77° 08' W.
[page 115]
Remember idea of frozen bottom or beach of sea to explain preserved animals.—Mem: stream of water in the country.—
Sir J. Herschel. says, precip. of Sulph. B. all the infinitesimal cryst. arrange themselves in planes. Mem silky lustre ask Erasmus. whether electricity would affect this.—
State the circumstances of appearance at Concepcion [.] no sign of elevation. Effects of great waves to obliterate all land marks.—At the first it
1. John Herschel wrote to Charles Lyell on 20 February 1836 as follows (Cannon 1961:310), 'Cleavages of Rocks.— If Rocks have been heated to a point admitting a commencement of crystallization, ie to the point where particles can begin to move inter se—or at least on their own axes—some general cause must determine the position these particles will rest in on cooling—probably position will have some relation to the direction in which the heat escapes.— Now when all—or a majority of particles of the same nature have a general tendency to one position that must of course determine a cleavage plane.—Did you never notice how the infinitesimal crystals of fresh precipitated sulphate of Baryta [barium sulphate] & some other such bodies—arrange themselves alike in the fluid in which they float so as, when stirred all to glance with one light & give the appearance of silky filaments. Ask Faraday to shew you this phenomenon if you have not seen it—it is very pretty. What occurs in our expt, on a minute scale may occur in nature on a great one, as in granites, gneisses, mica slates &c—some sorts of soap in which insoluble margarates exist shew it beautifully [added: when mixed with water].' Lyell incorporated Herschel's observation into his next edition of the Principles. See Lyell 1837, 4:358. Possibly Lyell showed Darwin Herschel's letter, or discussed its contents with him, sometime in late 1836 or early 1837, or possibly Herschel had discussed this point with Darwin at the Cape in June 1836. See note RN32-1.
2. Erasmus Alvey Darwin.
[page 116]
would though be easy to see on beach successive lines of sea weed—
Histoire Naturelle des Indes
Acosta. p. 125. of French ? Edition states that the same earthquake has run from Chili to Quito a distance of more than 500 leagues. A little time after a bad earthquake in Chili; Arequipa in 82 was overthrown, & 86. Lima. next year Quito. considers these earthquakes travel in order.—
1. Acosta 1600:125 refers to 'des tremblemens de terre qui ont couru depuis Chillé, jusques à Quitto, qui sont plus de cinq cens lieues . . .' Acosta continued, 'En la coste de Chillé (il ne me souvient quelle année) fut un tremblement de terre si terrible. . . .A peu de temps delà, qui fut l'an, de quatre vingts deux, vint le tremblement d'Arequipa, qui abbatit & ruina presque toute cette ville là. Du depuis en l'an quatre vingts six ... aduint un autre tremblement en la cité des Roys [Lima]. . . .' And on p. I25v, 'En apres l'an enfuyuant, il y eut encor un autre tremblement de terre au Royaume & cité de Quitto, & semble que tous ces notables tremblemens de terre en ceste coste, ayent succedé les uns aux autres par ordre. . . .'
[page 117]
If we look at Elevations as constantly going on we shall see a cause for Volcanos part of same phenomena lasting so long.—
The great movements (not mere patches as in Italy proved by Coral hypoth. agree with great continents).
[page 118]
Voyage aux terres Australs Vol. I. p. 54. M. Bailly says."en effet toutes les montagnes de cette île se developpent autour d'elle comme une ceinture d'immenses remparts; toutes affectent une pente plus ou moins inclinée vers le rivage de la mer, tandis, au contraire, que vers le centre de' l île, elles presentent une coupe abrupte et souvent tailée a pic. Toutes ces montagnes
[page 119]
sont formées de couches paralleles et inclinées du centre d'lile, vers la mer; ces couches ont entre elles une correspondance exacte, et lorsquelles se trouvent interrompues par quelque vallées ou par quelque scissures profondes, on les voit se reproduire a des hauteurs communes sur le revers de chacune des montagnes qui forment les vallées ou les scissures.—M. B. thinks these parts incontestably formed the parts of one whole
[page 120]
burning mountain, & that the central part fell in.—Says posterior craters in centre:— Bailly talks of much granite on all East side of Van Diemen Land. All the Calcareous rocks which harden by themselves cannot be pure, for if so Chalk would
1. Joseph-Charles Bailly, mineralogist to the expedition, as quoted in Péron 1807-16, 1:54-55. Following the passage quoted, the text continues (p. 55), 'De ces observations, il résulte bien incontestablement que toutes ont la même origine, qu'elles datent toutes de la même époque; que réunies jadis, elles n'ont pu être séparées depuis, que par quelque révolution violente et subite. Quelle peut avoir été cette dernière révolution? . . . Tous les fait se réunissent pour prouver que l'île toute entière ne formoit jadis qu'une énorme montagne brûlante; qu'épuisée, pour ainsi-dire, par ses éruptions, elle s'affaissa sur elle-même, engloutit dans ses abîmes la plus grande partie de sa propre masse, et que de cette voûte immense, il ne resta debout que les fondemens, dont les débris entr'ouverts sur différens points, forment les montagnes actuelles de l'île. Quelques pitons de forme conique, qui s'élèvant vers le centre du pays, notamment le Piton du centre, portent les caractères d'une origine postérieure à l'éboulement du cratère. . . .' See also VI:29–31.
2. Bailly (note RN120-1) as quoted in Péron 1807– 16, 1:295, 'De hautes montagnes granitiques . . . dont les sommités étoient presque entièrement nues, forment toute la côte orientale de cette partie de la terre de Diémen. ...' See also p. 304.
[page 121]
harden.—Climate.!? or small Proportion of Alum: matter.—all pale cream colour.—
The Brecciated structure of all the Pitchstone (which I have seen), is a kind of concretionary structure, for the interlineal spaces are of diff cont: & even in one case contained lime.—All bear close analogy to Obsidian, & all show chemical action as well as effects of cooling
[page 123]
In Igneous rocks.—which have the cryst of glassy F. fractured, have been melted with little pressure. & perhaps cooled suddenly.—
As the rude symmetry of the globe shows powers have acted from great depths, so changes, acting in those lines, must now proceed from, great depths.—important.—
[page 124]
Decemb 10. 1802. Earthquake at Demerara. The earthquakes "seem to arise from some efforts in the land to lift itself higher & to grow upwards; for the land is constantly pushing the sea (which of course must retain same level) to a greater distance".—Afterwards speaks of this phenomena in connection with "the shooting upwards" of the ground land in the W Indies.—p. 200. Bollingbroke voyage to the Demerary
1. Bolingbroke 1807:200, contains the passage Darwin quotes and pp. 200–201 the additional comment, 'This constant shooting upwards of the land, which is so sensible in the West Indies, has been little heeded by European mineralogists.'
[page 125]
Earthquakes at St Helena. 1756. June 1780, Sept. 21st. 1817.—p 371. Webster Antarctic veg:—
Study Ulloa to see if Indian habitation above regions of vegetation.—I can find nothing. Mem Carolines quotation from Temple
Urge the mineralogical difference of formations of S. America & Europe.—If great chain of Volc. had been in action during secondary period how diff. would the rocks have been. The red Sandstone of Andes fusible?
1. W. H. B. Webster 1834, 1:371, 'Instances of earthquakes occuring in the island [St Helena] are on record. One took place in 1756, and in June 1780. On the 21st September 1817, one occurred, which it is said was particularly noticed by Napoleon . . .' The reference to antarctic vegetation pertains to Webster's discussion of the natural history of Cape Horn, Staten Island, and Deception Island in 2:290–306.
2. Darwin apparently searched Juan and Ulloa 1806 for evidence connecting Indian habitation and climatic change, and could 'find nothing'. He was more successful in his reading of Ulloa 1792. He later quoted from that work (p. 302) to the effect that Indians of one arid region in the Andes had lost the art of making durable bricks from mud. This suggested to Darwin that the local climate had once been wetter, which fitted his notion that the South American continent had undergone elevation in geologically recent times. See JR:409–11.
3. Temple 1830, 2:10, 'In the course of this day's journey were to be seen, in well-chosen spots, many Indian villages and detached dwellings, for the most part in ruins. Up even to the very tops of the mountains, that line the valleys through which I have passed, I observed many ancient ruins, attesting a former population where now all is desolate.' See also pp. 4 and 5, and JR:412. From his comment it would appear that this reference was given to Charles by his sister, Caroline Sarah Darwin.
[page 126]
no. mad dogs. Azores. although kept in numbers. p. 124. Webster
Consult W. Parish. & Azara about dry season[.] 1791. seen commonly bad over whole world. (Was it so in Sydney, consult history? Phillips.
1826.27.28. grt. drought at Sydney. which caused Capt. Sturt expedition.—
⸮Another one in 1816 (?).—
1. J. W. Webster 1821:124, 'There is scarcely a man on the island, who has not a dog, and many have half a dozen. It is a remarkable fact that, although these animals are so numerous, no instance of hydrophobia was ever known among them.' See JR, p. 436.
2. See JR: 156, 'Sir Woodbine Parish informed me of another and very curious source of dispute [in the province of Buenos Ayres]; the ground being so long dry, such quantities of dust were blown about, that in this open country the landmarks become obliterated, and people could not tell the limits of their estates.'
3. Azara 1809, 1:374, 'On voit un exemple aussi étonnant de cette fougue dans les années sèches, où l'eau est extrêmement rare au sud de Buenos-Ayres. En effet, ils partent comme fous, tous tant qu'ils sont, pour aller chercher quelque mare ou quelque lac: ils s'enfoncent dans la vase, et les premiers arrivés sont foulés et écrasés par ceux qui les suivent. II m'est arrivé plus d'une fois de trouver plus de mille cadavres de chevaux sauvages morts de cette facon.' See JR:156.
4. Hunter 1793:507, 508, 525, and 535 refer to the drought around Sydney in the first half of the year 1791. 'Phillip's Voyage' refers to Phillip 1789.
5. Sturt 1833, 1:1, 'The year 1826 was remarkable for the commencement of one of those fearful droughts to which we have reason to believe the climate at New South Wales is periodically subject. It continued during the two following years with unabated severity.' And p. 2; 'But, however severe for the colony the seasons had proved . . . it was borne in mind at this critical moment, that the wet and swampy state of the interior had alone prevented Mr. Oxley from penetrating further into it, in 1818. . . . As I had early taken a great interest in the geography of New South Wales, the Governor was pleased to appoint me to the command of this expedition.' See also JR:157.
[page 127]
Mr Owen's curious fact about Crust Bra in Brine Springs. (Henslow)
Speculate on neutral ground of 2. ostriches; bigger one encroaches on smaller.— change not progressife: produced at one blow. if one species altered: altered Mem: my idea of Volc: islands. elevated. then peculiar plants created. if for such mere points; then any mountain, one is falsely less surprised at new creation for large.—Australia's = if for volc. isl. then for any spot of land. = Yet new creation affected by Halo of neighbouring continent: ≠ as if any
1. From this entry it would appear that it was probably Richard Owen who referred Darwin to the article by Rackett quoted in JR:77, 'In the Linnean [Society of London] Transactions, [1815], vol. xi, p. 205, a minute crustaceous animal is described, under the name of Cancer salinus. It is said to occur in countless numbers in the brine pans at Lymington; but only in those in which the fluid has attained, from evaporation, considerable strength; namely about a quarter of a pound of salt to a pint of water. This cancer is said, also, to inhabit the salt lakes of Siberia. Well may we affirm, that every part of the world is habitable!' The phrase 'Crust Bra' is probably an abbreviation for Crustacea Branchiopoda.
2. John Stevens Henslow did not publish on the subject of springs, but he may have been the source for two references which Darwin quoted on the subject in the JR:78. Both works cited discuss plant life at the location of the springs, a subject which would have interested Henslow. The references were to J. E. Alexander 1830: 18–20, and Pallas 1802–3, 1:129–34.
3. The two ostriches are the greater or common rhea. Rhea americana, found from north-eastern Brazil to the Rio Negro in central Argentina, and the lesser rhea or Darwin's rhea, Pterocnemia pennata, found in the Patagonian lowlands, where Darwin collected portions of a specimen, and in the high Andes of Peru, Bolivia, northern Chile, and northwestern Argentina. The ornithologist John Gould described it and named it Rhea Darwinii at a meeting of the Zoological Society of London on 14 March 1837, since when it has been known as Darwin's rhea. However, the species had already been named Rhea pennata by Alcide Dessalines d'Orbigny. (Anonymous 1837b; d'Orbigny 1835–47, 2:67, 194, 212, 303; on the dating of d'Orbigny see Sherborn and Woodward 1901.) See also Gould 1837b:35-36; Birds: 120–25; and JR:108–10.
[page 128]
creation taking place over certain area must have peculiar character:
Contrast low limit of Palms, evergreen trees, arborescent grasses, parasitic plants, Cacti: & with limits of no vegetation at S. Shetland =
Great contrast of two sides of Cordillera, where climate similar.—I do not know botanically = but picturesquely = Both N & S. great contrast. from nature of climate. =
Perpetual snow.—subterranean lakes, near Volcanoes. lakes of brine all inhabited:
Go steadily through, all the limits of birds & animals in S. America. Zorilla:
1. One probable source for this passage was W. H. B. Webster 1834, 2:281–302. In the course of describing the 'exuberant fertility of Staten Island and Cape Horn' (p. 297), Webster mentioned evergreens and a 'parasitic shrub' (p. 292). See also note RN125-1.
2. Zorrilla is the Spanish word for skunk. The notes on species ranges of South American forms which Darwin suggested making in this entry are presumably those found in DAR 29.1. The 'Birds' list is numbered fol. 41; the 'Animals' list appears between fols. 46–47. The zorrilla appears on the list for animals.
[page 129]
wide limits of Waders: Ascension. Keeling: at sea so commonly seen. at long distances; generally first arrives:—
New Zealand rats offering in the history of rats, in the antipodes a parallel case.—
Should urge that extinct Llama owed its death not to change of circumstances; reversed argument. knowing it to be a desert.— Tempted to believe animals created for a definite time:—not extinguished by change of circumstances:
1. The 'extinct Llama' is the animal that Richard Owen would name Macrauchenia (long-necked) in December 1837 (Correspondence 2:66). Darwin collected the fossil specimens in January 1834 at the port of San Julian, having 'no idea at the time, to what kind of animal these remains belonged'. JR:208. Owen's earliest known comment on the specimens occurs in a letter to Charles Lyell dated 23 January 1837. For the citation from Owen see L. G. Wilson 1972:437; also see JR:208. Sometime after his initial assessment of the fossil as a 'Gigantic Llama' Owen restudied the fossil and came to a more complex conclusion, regarding its affinities, one emphasizing its non-camelid over its camelid (i.e. llama-like) features. See notes A9-1 and B231-1, and Fossil Mammalia: 10–11, 35–56, and plates VI–XV; for current views see Simpson 1980.
[page 130]
The same kind of relation that common ostrich bears to (Petisse. & diff kinds of Fourmillier): extinct Guanaco to recent: in former case position, in latter time. (or changes consequent on lapse) being the relation.—As in first cases distinct species inosculate, so must we believe ancient ones: ∴ not gradual change or degeneration. from circumstances: if one species does change into another it must be per saltum—or species may perish. = This inosculation representation of species important, each its own limit & represented.—Chiloe creeper: Furnarius. Caracara Calandria: inosculation alone shows not gradation;—
1. The 'Petisse' is the lesser rhea, or Darwin's rhea. (See note 127-3.) Darwin customarily referred to the two rheas in his field notes as 'Avestruz' and 'Avestruz Petise' from the Spanish avestruz (ostrich) and avestruz petiso (small ostrich). See also B153.
2. Fourmilier, ('antbird') so named for its falsely reported habit of living chiefly on ants (fourmis). Since Darwin does not seem to have used the term Fourmilier elsewhere in his notes, it is doubtful that it was the antbird, or at least primarily the antbirds, which he had in mind when he made this entry. More likely he was thinking of those birds which he described in his Ornithological Notes as Myothera, a term which was given as the equivalent of Fourmilier in the systematic work he had with him aboard ship (Bory de Saint-Vincent 1822–31, 7:22–25). On Darwin's return to England the birds he had collected from this group were classified by John Gould Birds:70–74. For Darwin's discussion of the group, including Gould's classifications, see JR:329–30 and 351–53. For Darwin's listing of these specimens by number, all under the rubric Myothera, see Barlow 1963:250–60; and for the location and current names of some of Darwin's specimens see Herbert 1980:115.
3. 'Extinct Guanaco' is identical in meaning to 'extinct Llama'. See RN129–1.
4. The Chiloé creeper is Aphrastura spinicauda, the Thorn-tailed Rayadito. The Chiloé race is the distinctive sub-species A. spinicauda fulva, being buff-coloured instead of mainly white below. For further information on Darwin's specimens see Barlow 1963:250; JR:301 and Birds:81.
5. Furnarius, the ovenbird, the genus which gives its name to the family Furnariidae. Found from southern Mexico to Patagonia the family shows the greatest measure of diversity in the southern part of its range. Darwin collected a number of species belonging to the family. For further information see Barlow 1963:214, 217–18; JR:112–113, 353, and 477; Birds:64–65; and Herbert 1980:116.
6. Caracaras are large carrion-feeding birds belonging to the family Falconidae. They are very common in parts of South America, and Darwin collected a number of specimens. In his 'Ornithological Notes' Darwin also referred to the Galapagos hawk as a caracara (p. 238), though John Gould later corrected him. For more on these birds see Barlow 1963:233–39; JR:63–69, 256, 461; Gould 1837a:9–11; Birds:9–31 and S. Herbert 1980:116.
7. Calandria, the Chalk-browed Mockingbird which Darwin collected at Maldonado (specimen 1213). In this entry Darwin probably also had in mind other mockingbirds he collected in South America and the Galápagos Islands. For further discussion of the mockingbirds see Birds:60–64; Barlow 1963; JR:62–63,461; Gould 1837f:27; and Herbert 1980:116-17.
[page 131]
An argument for the Crust of globe being thin, may be drawn. from. Cordillera. rocks.—When beneath water.—together with hypothetical case of Brazil.—
[page 132]
Propagation. whether ordinary. hermaphrodite. or by cutting an animal in two. (gemmiparous. by nature or accident). we see an individual divided either at one moment or through lapse of ages.—Therefore we are not so much surprised at seeing Zoophite producing distinct animals. still partly united. & eggs which become quite separate.—Considering all individuals of all species. as each one individual divided by different methods, associated life only adds one other method where the division is not perfect. —
[page 133]
Dogs. Cats. Horses. Cattle. Goat. Asses. have all run wild & bred. no doubt with perfect success.—showing non Creation does not bear upon solely adaptation of animals.—extinction in same manner may not depend.—There is no more wonder in extinction of species than of individual.—
[page 134e]
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Mr Birchell says Elephant lives on very wretched cou[n]tries thinly covered by vegetation. Rhinoceros quite in deserts.—Much struck with number of animal at Cape of Good Hope
Says at Santos M Birchels at foot of range some miles from shore, rock of oysters quite above reach of tides.—thinks them same as recent species.—
1. William J. Burchell: personal communication as indicated in JR:101. Burchell 1822–24, 2:207 is quoted on the subject of the large size of South African animals compared to animals from other continents in JR: 101.
2. William J. Burchell: personal communication, See GSA:3. 'Mr. Burchell informs me, that he collected at Santos (lat. 24° S.) oyster-shells, apparently recent, some miles from the shore, and quite above the tidal action.'
[page 135e]
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May I not generalize the fact glaciers most abundant in interior channels, there no outer coast.—important effect.—? Capt. FitzRoy.—
Limited Volcanic action & limited earthquakes & great but local elevations of the land in Europe—
1. Robert FitzRoy: personal communication. See also JR:266–67, 'I have heard Captain FitzRoy remark, that on entering any of these channels [at Tierra del Fuego] from the outer coast, it is always necessary to look out directly for anchorage; for further inland the depth soon becomes extremely great.'
[page 136e]
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Urge difference of plutonic rocks & Volcanic metalliferous—
Urge enormous quantity of matter from crevice of Andes—therefore flowed towards it. a mass on each side 3000 ft thick & 150 broad. neglecting Cordillera itself now remaining—
[page 137e]
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Lyell p 419 p 428 states that Von Buch has urged that Java volcanos differ from all others in quantity of Sulph. acid emitted: mem: Grand gypseous formation of Cordillera
In describing structure of Cordillera it must be said, that lines of elevation have connected lines points of eruption give instance of Etna Stromboli & Vesuvius
1. Charles Lyell: personal communication. The reference is to von Buch 1836:428, 'Ces émanations sulfureuses paraissent donner aux volcans de Java un caractère tout particulier qui n'appartient certainement pas avec le même degré d'intensité et de fréquence à la plupart des autres volcans de la surface du globe.' See GSA:239 for Darwin's use of the citation.
[page 138]
Investigate with greater care. vegetation & climate of Tristan D. Acuneha. Kerguelen Land. Prince Edwards Isl. Marion & Crozet. L. Auckland. Macqueries.—Sandwich Is—
Specimens of rocks were brought home in Capt: Forster expedition from Deception Isl ⸮ Andite?— South Shetland Cape Possession. Syenite
1. See Kendal 1832:64, 'Possession Cape is situated in 63° 46' S., and 61° 45' W. We procured specimens of its rock. . . .' Also p. 63 where the land is described as being composed 'of a collection of needle-like pinnacles of sienite.' Henry Foster commanded the Chanticleer from 1828–1831, Darwin's misspelling of his name deriving from an identical misspelling in the title of the article cited.
[page 139]
Degrading of inland bays, like St. Julian & Port Desire applicable to Craters of Elevation. —The longer diameter of Deception Is is six Geographical miles and width 2 & ½ miles
S. Shetland. Lat. 62° 55'. only one lichen. only production. a body which had long been buried, see from rotten state of coffin buried in a mound long consigned to the earth. yet body had scarcely undergone any decomposition: countenance so well preserved. that it was thought not to have belonged to an Englishman.—On 8th of March cove began to freeze. correspond to September
1. Darwin's estimate of the dimensions of Deception Island is taken from the map facing p. 64 of Kendal 1832.
2. See Kendal 1832:65, 'There was nothing in the shape of vegetation except a small kind of lichen, whose efforts are almost ineffectual to maintain its existence amongst the scanty soil afforded by the penguins' dung.' P. 66, 'Having observed a mound on the hill immediately above this cove, and thinking that something of interest might be deposited there, I opened it; and found a rude coffin, the rotten state of which bespoke its having been long consigned to the earth, but the body had undergone scarcely any decomposition. The legs were doubled up, and it was dressed in the jacket and cap of a sailor, but neither they nor the countenance were similar to those of an Englishman.' Also p. 66, 'We took the hint of the freezing over of the cove, and effected our retreat. . . . We quitted it on the 8th of March. . . .' See JR:613.
[page 140e]
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⸮Did I make any observations on springs at S. Cruz.???—
Form of land shows subsidence in T. del Fuego, and connection of quadrupeds.—although recent elevation, there may have been great subsidence previously. Mem. pebbles of Porphyry.—Falklands.—off East Coast.—Capt. Cook found soundings. (end of 2 voyage outside coast of T. del Fuego. off. Christmas sound.—
(Think some 60 fathoms, none thicker than thumb
Sea weed said at Kerguelen Is. to grow on shoals like Fucus giganteus! 24 fathoms deep 24/.
1. Cook 1777, 2. There is, facing p. 177, a full page map of Christmas Sound with numerous soundings included. On p. 200 Cook commented of the entire south-western coast of Tierra del Fuego, 'For to judge of the whole by the parts we have sounded, it is more than probable that there are soundings all along the coast, and for several leagues out to sea. Upon the whole, this is, by no means, the dangerous coast it has been represented.'
[page 141e]
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under 50. Kerguelen Land, = the way it stands gales = very strong. Stones as bigger than a man's head.—
Kerguelen 40 by 20 leagues. dimensions:
Bynoe informs me that in Obstruction Sound, in the narrow parts which break through the N & South lines the tides form eddies with its extreme force. Yet, no outlet at head. Important in forming transverse valleys
Ice
1. Cook 1784, 1:78–79 records that at Kerguelen Land, 'A prodigious quantity of seaweed grows all over it, which seemed to be the same sort of weed that Mr. Banks distinguished by the name of fucus giganteus. Some of this weed is of a most enormous length, though the stem is not much thicker than a man's thumb. I have mentioned, that on some of the shoals upon which it grows, we did not strike ground with a line of twenty-four fathoms. The depth of water, therefore, must have been greater. And as this weed does not grow in a perpendicular direction, but makes a very acute angle with the bottom, and much of it afterwards spreads many fathoms on the surface of the sea, I am well warranted to say, that some of it grows to the length of sixty fathoms and upward.' See JR:303–304. Darwin's notebook entry the expression '24' would seem to be a variant of '24'. See note RN16–1,
2. Benjamin Bynoe: personal communication.
[page 142e]
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Sir W. Parish says they have Earthquakes in Cordoba. one of which dried up all a lake in neigbourhood of town
Mr Murchison insisted strongly. that taking up a piece of Falkland Sandstone. he could not distinguish from stone Caradoc from lower of third Silurian division—Together with same general character of fossils deception complete.=
Silliman Journal. year 1835 excellent account of N. American geology. Conybeare
1. Woodbine Parish: personal communication. Later published in Parish 1838:242, ‛It is related that for many years after its foundation, the inhabitants [of Córdoba] were subjected to much inconvenience from the occasional overflowings of a lake in the neigbouring hills, until an earthquake swallowed up its waters, and drained it apparently forever.'
2. Roderick Impey Murchison: personal communication. See Murchison 1839a, chap. 18:216–22 on 'Lower Silurian Rocks.—3rd Formation of "Caradoc Sandstone".' Also p. 583, 'the same forms of crustaceans, mollusks and corals, are said to be found in rocks of the same age, not only in England, Norway, Russia, and various parts of Europe, but also in Southern Africa, and even at the Falkland Islands, the very antipodes of Britain. This fact accords, indeed, with what has been ascertained concerning the wide range of animal remains in deposits equivalent to our oolite and lias; for in the Himalaya Mountains, at Fernando Po, in the region north of the Cape of Good Hope, and in the Run of Cutch and other parts of Hindostan, fossils have been discovered, which, as far as the English naturalists who have seen them can determine, are undistinguishable from certain oolite and lias fossils of Europe.' To this remark Murchison added in a footnote: 'The fossils from the Falkland Islands were discovered by Mr. C. Darwin, and they appear to me to belong to the Lower Silurian Rocks.' See also JR:253.
3. In a report to the British Association (Conybeare 1833:396) William Daniel Conybeare expressed a high opinion of Silliman's Journal as a source for North American geology. This journal, formally entitled the American Journal of Science and the Arts, contained the following articles on North American geology for 1835: (vol. 27) Ducatel and J. H. Alexander, pp. 1–38; Chapin, pp. 104–12; Rogers, pp. 326–35; 'Notice of the Transactions of the Geological Society of Pennsylvania, Part I', pp. 347–55; Shepard, pp. 363–70; (vol. 28) Ball, pp. 1–16; Conrad, pp. 104–11, 280–82; Gebhard, pp. 172–77; S. G. Morton, pp. 276–78; and Totten, pp. 347–53.
[page 143e]
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Lava in Cordillera & on Eastern plains by Antuco. Athenæum April 1836 (p 302)
Coleccion de obras. 2 Vols fol: Buenos Ayres 1836: W. Parish?? by Pedro de Angelis.
This work is reviewed in present Edinburgh March 1835,
Sir W. Parish says. that beds of shells are found on whole coast from P. Indio to Quilmes. & at least seven miles inland.
1. From review of Angelis 1836–37 in Athenæum 1837:302, 'In many places the large stones which covered the ground were to be cleared away; but the chief obstacles were the cracked streams of lava to be crossed in the Andes, and the numerous banks of rough scoriæ or ashes occurring in the plains as well as the mountains.' Darwin misdated his reference to this review by a year.
2. Angelis 1836–37, 6 vols. Darwin's reference was to the first two volumes which were published in 1836.
3. Angelis 1836–37. Woodbine Parish would have been a likely owner, and thus a possible lender, of Angelis's work.
4. [Cooley] Review of Angelis 1836–37 in Edinburgh Review 65, 1837:87–109. The 'March 1835' notation in this entry is puzzling since the date is rather far removed from either the date of publication of Angelis's work or the date of the 'present Edinburgh'.
5. Woodbine Parish: personal communication. The distance between Quilmes and Punta Indio is approximately 70 miles (112.63 km). The two points are found along the coastline south of Buenos Aires. See also Parish 1838:168 and GSA:2–3.
[page 144e]
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The Cordoba earthquake a very remarkable phenomenon. showing line of disturbance inside Cordillera: It is not therefore so wonderful that volcanic rocks at M. Video [Volcano in Pampas]
Pasto Earthquake. Happened on January 20th. 1834
Mr Sowerby. younger. says that Falkland fossils decidedly belong to old Silurian system.
Apply degradation of landlocked harbors to Craters of elevation. —
1. James de Carle Sowerby: personal communication. See JR:253, 'Mr. Murchison, who has had the kindness to look at my specimens [of fossil shells from the Falkland Islands], says that they have a close general resemblance to those belonging to the lower division of his Silurian system; and Mr. James Sowerby is of [the] opinion that some of the species are identical.' See also Morris and Sharpe 1846.
[page 145e]
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Lyell suggested to me that no metals in Polynesian Islds —. Volcanic plenty in S. America !! Metamorphic
1. Personal communication.
[page 146]
Volcanos only burst out where strata in act of dislocation (NB. dislocation connected with fluidity of rock ∴ in earliest stage when covered up beneath ocean).—The first dislocations & eruptions can only happen during first movements, and therefore beneath ocean, for subsequently there is a coating of solidifying igneous rocks which would be too thick to be penetrated by the repeted trifeling injections.—Old vents would keep open long after emersion, but improbably so long, that to be surrounded by continent.— change of volcanic focus.—
[page 147]
it is certain, if strata can be
Problem dislocate strata without ejection of the fluid propelling mass.
If one inch can be raised then all can, for fresh layers of igneous rock replace strata: & it is nothing odd to find them injected by veins & masses
[page 147b]
[sketch]
(A.B.C, now grown solid.)
[page 148]
Red Sea near Kosir, land appears elevated. Geograph. Journal p 202 Vol IV
When recollecting Gulf of California. Beagle Channel.—One need never be afraid of speculating on the sea
1. J. Bird 1834:192–206. The passage from which Darwin inferred that the land in question had been elevated is the following (p. 202), 'The town of old Kosir is situated on the north side of an inlet of the sea, which formerly extended westward into the land about a mile, but is now crossed by a bar of sand, that prevents the ingress of the water into the former channel. . . .' The sea appears to have gradually retired from the land, and left a considerable beach between its present limits and the base of the mountains westward.'
[page 149]
The 24 ft. elevation at Conception. from impossibility of such change having taken place unrecorded must be insensible.
Quantity of matter from Cordillera. Horizontal movement of fluid matter not (for instance) expansion of solid matter by Heat
[page 150]
Consider profoundly the sandstone of the Portillo line.—connected with gneiss.—(Mica Slate)
(B)[sketch](A)
((3) like Bell of Quillota.) (A) in this strata may be older than (B).— Most important view Urge curious fact felspar melted gneiss/// QUARTZ!!! Analogous to Von Buch. Basalt where Basalt. trachyte where trachyte.
1. Citing Leopold von Buch, among others, Darwin wrote (VI:121), 'The separation of the ingredients of a mass of lava would, perhaps, sometimes take place within the body of a volcanic mountain, if lofty and of great dimensions, instead of within the underground focus; in which case, trachytic streams might be poured forth, almost contemporaneously, or at short recurrent intervals, from its summit, and basaltic streams from its base: this seems to have taken place at Teneriffe.' To this last point Darwin added a footnote: 'Consult von Buch's well-known and admirable Description Physique of this island [Teneriffe], which might serve as a model of descriptive geology.' See Buch 1836:153–228.
[page 151]
There must have been as much conglomerate on West of Peuquenes as on East.
Where gone to.?—
There must have been some conglomerate East of Portillo
Where gone to? Intermediate space protected.—
Oh the vast power of the ocean!
[page 152]
Make a grand analogy between Wealden & Bolivia
Transportal of conglomerate between two ranges mysterious!—
Mem. subsidence Uspallata of which no trace except by trees
[page 153]
The structure of ice in columns. show that granite when weathering into balls. must exhibit orbicular structure.—When we recollect connection of columnar & orbicular in basalt.—
When we see Avestruz two species. certainly different. not insensible change.— Yet one is urged to look to common parent? why should two of the most closely allied species occur in same country? In botany instances diametrically opposite have been instanced: it is
1. The 'Avestruz' was the local name for the rhea. See notes RN 127–3 and RN 130–1.
[page 154]
Let it not be overlooked that except by trees, I could not see trace of Subsidence at Uspallata.—
⸮If crust very thick would there be undulation? would it not be mere vibration? but walls & feeling shows undulation ∴ crust thin.—Concepcion earthquake
[page 155]
Draw close Analogy Lake of Cordill: of Copiápò & Desaguadero.—three ridges in Copiapo, as well as in latter.—
According to Mr Brown, a person (whom I met at S.W.P.) the Cordillera extend to near Salta. & not far from Tucama[n]. & at Chuquisaca. half across the continent.—He states plains of Mendoza smooth. Sir W.P. states that in Helm's travels accounts of travelled boulders. from the Cordovise range. Signor Rozales tells me at seven oclock Novem 5th Concepcion most violently shaken, by earthquake. but no serious injury.—
1. 'Mr Brown' was obviously a guest with Darwin at the house of Sir Woodbine Parish (S.W.P.). He may have been William Brown (1777–1857), an admiral in the navy of Buenos Aires, a native of Ireland, and the only Brown mentioned in Shuttleworth 1910. See also Mulhall 1878:166 for information which places Brown in Ireland in 1836 and therefore plausibly in London in 1837.
2. Woodbine Parish referring to Helms 1807: personal communication. Parish considered Tucuman to lie in the upper parts of the Sierra de Cordoba, a low range of pampean mountains (Parish 1838:254). On the subject of the travelled boulders, see Helms 1807:45, 'It in a particular manner excited my astonishment here, to find the highest snowcapt mountains within nine miles from Potosi, covered with a pretty thick stratum of granitic masses of granite stones, rounded by the action of water. How could these be deposited here, as there is a continual descent to Tucuman, where the granitic ridge ends, and from Tucuman to Potosi it consists of simple argillaceous shistus? Have they been rolled hither by a general deluge, or some later partial revolution of nature?' Darwin quoted from this passage in the JR (p. 290), and added, 'He [Helms] supposes they [the boulders] must have come from Tucuman, which is several hundred miles distant: yet at p. 55 he says, at Iocalla (a few leagues only from Potosi), "a mass of granite many miles in length, rises in huge weatherbeaten rocks:" the whole account is to me quite unintelligible.'
3. 'Signor Rozales' would also seem to have been a guest with Darwin at the house of Sir Woodbine Parish, Possibly he was Francisco Javier Rosales (d. 1875), Chilean charge d'affaires to Paris from 1836–1853. Another member of the family probably in Europe at the time was Vicente Perez Rosales (1807–1886).
[page 156]
Analysis of Atacama. Iron in Edinburgh. Phisoph. Transactions. = Mem: Olivine. Volcanic product.=
Did Peruvian Indians use arrows or Araucanians?— If wood now preserved over world Dicotyledones far preponderant, if so coniferous must formerly have been most abundant tree—
Metamorphic action: most coming so near surface most important
1. Edward Turner as quoted in Allan 1831:226, 'Externally it [the specimen] has all the characters of meteoric iron. The metal in the specimen is tough, of a whiter colour than common iron, and is covered on most parts with a thin film of the oxide of iron. The interstices contain olivine.' The proportions of iron, nickel and cobalt in the specimen are given on p. 228. See also Parish 1838:257–63.
[page 157e]
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There is map of Cordillera by Humboldt in Geolog. Society
Sir Woodbine Parish informs me that town near Tucuman and Salta. towards the Vermejo was utterly overthrown by earthquake with great destruction of human life.— Temple mentions some earthquake at Cordova. — There the Cordova earthquake
1. In a catalogue of its library, the Geological Society listed an 1831 contour map of the Cordillera of the Andes done by Humboldt. (Geological Society of London 1846:128) This would appear to be the same map as Plate 5 in Humboldt 1814–34.
2. Personal communication: the information was not repeated in Parish 1838.
[page 158e]
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in which lake was absorbed.— Earthquakes felt. different case from shore of Pacific.—Isabelle's volcano, many amygdaloids.— Boussingualt (Lyell) cracks mountains falling in.— Earthquakes at Quito. tranquillity at Mendoza exception.—formerly perhaps otherwise Mendoza never overthrown,—no mountains
1. Temple 1830, 1:116, '[January] 19th [1826], when about to rise with the sun, as was our custom, we suddenly felt ourselves shaken in our beds . . .' Temple's description of his route (p. 109) places him in the province of Santiago del Estero, just over the border of the province of Cordoba, at the time when the earthquake occurred. For the account of an earthquake in Cordoba causing the disappearance of a lake see note RN142–1.
2. Isabelle 1835:454–55, 'Au nord-est du passo, à distance de quatre à cinq lieues, est une montagne boisée, appelée Serra do Butucarahy . . . Je suis porté à croire que cette montagne est volcanique, parce que les moradores du lieu m'ont assuré avoir entendu des détonations très fortes dans son intérieur; ils prétendent encore qu'il y a un lac à la cime, dont les eaux, en filtrant ou en débordant produisent des éboulemens qui mettent à nu la roche qu'elle semble avoir pour noyau; aussi la partie supérieure est-elle devenue inaccessible à cause de sa dénudation. Après les grandes pluies d'orage, et pendant les gelées, l'eau se trouvant dans les fissures du rocher en détache des fragmens qui tombent avec fracas; sa grande hauteur ou plutôt son isolement attire le tonnerre, ce qui fait qu cette montagne est souvent foudroyée.' The hill described is probably Coxilha which lies to the northeast of the Rio Botucaraí [30° 0' S., 52° 46' W.] in Brazil. It is not an active volcano, nor, are there any in the area.
3. Lyell 1835b, 2:96, 'M. Boussingault declares his belief, that if a full register had been kept of all the convulsions experienced here and in other populous districts of the Andes, it would be found that the trembling of the earth had been incessant. The frequency of the movement, he thinks, is not due to volcanic explosions, but to the continual falling in of masses of rock which have been fractured and upheaved in a solid form at a comparatively recent epoch.' See also Boussingault 1834–35:54–56).
[page 159]
Mackenzie has talked of lava flowing up Hill; ⸮what does he mean?) Consult Dr Holland about bubbles.—
No Volcanic action on coast line of Old Greenland, close to W of Jan Meyen Isl.—Mr Barrow thinks N & S. line connects western isles of Scotland & Iceland.—Bosh nor on Norway, or Spitzbergen.— Spitzbergen animals (?). ≠
1. Barrow, Jr. 1835:224. 'This supposition [of lava blistering, see note 100] would appear to afford a better solution of the difficult problem of accounting for those blocks of lava that are perched on high ridges, than that given by Sir George Mackenzie, who imagines this lava to have flowed from the lower ground, and calls it the "ascending lava". He says—"It is caused by the formation of a crust on the coating of the surface, and a case or tube being thus produced, the lava runs in the same manner as water in a pipe.".' The quotation is from Mackenzie 1811:108
2. Henry Holland. See Barrow, Jr. 1835:223, 'Dr. Holland, in his account of the Mineralogy of Iceland, seems to countenance the opinion of these masses having been thrown up on the very spot they occupy, observing there was one formation of lava which had every appearance of not having flowed. Speaking of these masses of lava, he says:—"It was heaved up into large bubbles or blisters, some of which were round, and from a few feet to forty or fifty in diameter; others were long, some straight, and some waved. A great many of these bubbles had burst open, and displayed caverns of considerable depth:".' However, this description, which Barrow attributed to Holland, is rather to be found in Mackenzie 1811:396, chapter entitled 'Mineralogy'. See also VI:95–96, and 103.
3. Barrow, Jr. 1835:276–77, 'Here, then, we have the plain and undeniable evidence of subterranean or sub-marine fire, exerting its influence under the sea, almost in a direct line, to the extent of 16½ degrees of latitude, or more than 1100 statute miles. If we are to suppose that one and the same efficient cause has been exerted in heaving up this extended line of igneous formations, from Fairhead to Jan Meyen, we may form some vague notion how deep-seated the fiery focus must be to impart its force, perhaps through numerous apertures, in a line of so great an extent, and nearly in the same direction. It may probably be considered the more remarkable, that no indication whatever is found of volcanic fire on the coast-line of Old Greenland, close to the westward of the last-mentioned island, and also to Iceland, nor on that of Norway on the opposite side, nor on that of Spitzbergen; on these places all is granite, porphyry, gneiss, mica-slate, clay-slate, lime, marble, and sandstone.'
[page 160]
The Hollowness of sep Chiloe concretions somewhat analogous to septa.— would particle attracted towards space tend to form ring.
[sketch]
motion from within and without
H. Kingdom N. Spa. Vol III p. 113
"Nature exhibited to the Mexicans enormous masses of Iron and Nickel, & these masses which are scattered over the surface of the ground are fibrous. malleable & of so great tenacity, that it is with difficulty that a few fragments can be separated from them with steel instruments."
[page 161]
In R. Brown (Collect: of F. W. ) where the stalactiform masses have layers been accumulated, round knobs, or pushed where soft, or redissolved soft.—/ is there any flexure fr in the fragmentary jasper.—do undulations (as Hutton says) always come from without.—
"True native iron that to which we cannot attribute a meteoric origin & which is constantly found mixed with lead & copper is infinitely rare in all parts of the globe". p. 113
1. Robert Brown who supervised the botanical collections of the British Museum, assembled a valuable collection of fossil woods ('F.W.') which he bequeathed to the Museum.
2. Darwin was referring here to the opinion of James Hutton respecting the formation of fossil wood. In Hutton's view 'undulations' in silicified fossil wood would be traced to the action of exterior heat and pressure. See Playfair 1802:24–25.
3. Humboldt 1811, 3:113.
[page 162]
How utterly incomprehensible that if meteoric stones simply pitched from moon, that the metals should be those which have magnetic properties.
Study well products of Solfataras[.] some general laws. association of lead & silver. Sulp. of Barytes: Fluoric. Barytes:—
[page 163e]
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Humboldt. New Spain. Vol III. p. 130
Metals in Mexico rarely in secondary alway in primitive & transition; the latter rarely appear in central Cordillera. particularly between 18° & 22° N. = formations of amph: porphyry. greenstone[,] amygdaloid. basalt & other trap cover it to great thickness. = Coast of Acapulco granitic rock.—in parts of table granits & gneiss with gold veins visible:—"Porphyries of Mexico may be considered for most parts as rock eminently rich in mines of gold & silver." p. 131
1. Humboldt 1811, 3:129–30, 'The Mexican veins are to be found for the most part in primitive and transition rocks . . . and rarely in the rocks of secondary formation ... In the old continent granite, gneiss and micaceous slate (glimmer-schiefer) constitute the crest of high chains of mountains. But these rocks seldom appear outwardly on the ridge of the Cordilleras of America, particularly in the central part contained between the 18° and 22° of north latitude. Beds of amphibolic porphyry, greenstone, amygdaloid, basalt and other trap formations of an enormous thickness cover the granite and conceal it from the geologist. The coast of Acapulco is formed of granite rock. ... Farther to the east in the province of Oaxaca the granite and gneiss are visible in table lands of considerable extent traversed by veins of gold.'
2. Humboldt 1811, 3:131.
[page 164e]
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The above porphyries characterized by no quartz & amphibole frequently only vitreous felspar: = gold veins in a phonolitic porphyry. = several parts of N. Spain great analogy to Hungary. = Veins of Zimapan offer zeolite. stilbite. grammalite. pyenite. native sulphur.. fluor spar, bayte. asbestos garnets.—carb & chrom. of lead. orpiment. chrysop[r]ase. opal:—
Veins in Limestone & Grauwacke: Silver appears far more abundant in the upper limestone, which H. calls by several secondary names
1. Humboldt 1811, 3:131–32, 'They [the Mexican porphyries] are all characterized by the constant presence of amphibole and the absence of quartz . . . We frequently discover only vitreous felspar in the porphyries of Spanish America. The rock which is intersected by the rich gold vein of Villalpando near Guanaxuato is a porphyry of which the basis is somewhat a kin to klingstein (phonolite), and in which amphibole is extremely rare. Several of these parts of New Spain bear a great analogy to the problematical rocks of Hungary . . . These veins of Zimapan offer to oryctognostic collections a great variety of interesting minerals such as the fibrous zeolith, the stilbite, the grammalite, the pyenite, native sulphur, spar fluor, baryte suberiform asbestos, green grenats, carbonate and chromate of lead, orpiment, chrysoprase, and a new species of opal . . .'
2. Humboldt 1811, 3:133–34, 'The alpine lime-stone and the jura lime-stone (jurakalkstein) contain the celebrated silver mines of Tasco and Teuilotepec in the intendancy of Mexico; and it is in these calcareous rocks that the numerous veins which in this country have been very early wrought, display the greatest wealth. . . . The result of this general view of the metalliferous depositories (erzführende lagerstätte) is that the cordilleras of Mexico contain veins in a great variety of rocks, and that those rocks which at present furnish almost the whole silver annually exported from Vera Cruz, are the primitive slate, the grauwakke, and the alpine lime-stone, intersected by the principal veins of Guanaxuato, Zacatecas and Catorce.'
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Study Hoffmans account of steam acting on trachytes. also Azores. We here have case of such vapours washing a rock Veins concretionary; concretions dt determined by fissures as in septaria. (& Chiloe case, at least corelation)—Galapagos vein. vein of secretion.—metallic veins follow mountain chain. there after NW W.—
same chemical laws as in concretions perhaps makes intersections richest— Humboldt has urged phenomena in veins, chemical affinities like in composed rock. granites syenite strangling &c of veins can only be accounted for by concretionary action, conjoined with other (state simplest case. concretions of clay iron stone; iron pyrite in a fossil Insist strongly on the grand fact of Volcanic & non Volcanic. Then Solfataras. Mem: Micaceous iron ore.
N.B. To show how metals may be transported by complicated chemical law & steam of salts, quite curious case of oxided Iron by Mitterschlich. Vol. II. Journal of Nat. & Geograph Siciences?—
1. Hoffmann 1838, the section 'Dämpfe verändern die vulkanischen Gesteine':480–81.
2. Humboldt 1811, 3:128, 'How can he [the naturalist] draw general results from the observation of a multitude of small phenomena [regarding metalliferous deposits], modified by causes of a purely local nature, and appearing to be the effects of an action of chemical affinities, circumscribed to a very narrow space?'
3. Mitscherlich 1830:302, 'As to the oxide of iron, its history will be best understood by an experiment or two. If a mixture of salt, oxide of iron, and silica, be heated to redness in a tube, and water in vapour be passed over it, much muriatic acid is formed, but very little chloride of iron, and crystallized oxide of iron will be found in the mass: but if muriatic acid be brought in contact with ignited oxide of iron, water and chloride of iron are formed, and sublime; if the chloride of iron come in contact with more water, muriatic acid is first developed, then chloride of iron, and a residue of crystallized oxide or iron remains. The formation of chloride of iron by the action of muriatic acid upon oxide of iron appears, therefore, to depend upon the proportion of water present, M. Mitscherlich applies these experiments and principles in explanation of the manner in which volcanic crystallized oxide of iron is formed—all the conditions necessary, according to the above view, being present in those cases, where heretofore it had been supposed the, oxide of iron, as such, had been actually sublimed.'
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H. says in Potosi the silver is contained in a primitive slate, covered by a clayey porphyry, containing grenats. In Peru. on other hand, mine of Gualgayoc or Chota & Pasco in "alpine limestone" = "The wealth of the veins in most part totally independent of the nature of the beds they intersect". = In the Guatemala part. (& Chiloe do) no veins discovered. Humboldt suggests covered up by volcanic rocks.
1. Humboldt 1811, 3:134, 'Thus it is in a primitive slate (ur-thon schiefer) on which a clayey porphyry containing grenats reposes, that the wealth of Potosi in the kingdom of Buenos-Ayres is contained. On the other hand, in Peru the mines of Gualgayoc or Chota and that of Yauricocha or Pasco which together yield annually double the quantity of all the German mines, are found in an apline lime-stone. . . . The wealth of the veins is for the most part totally independent of the nature of the beds which they intersect.' And pp. 142–43, 'The province of Quito, and the Eastern part of the kingdom of New Granada . . . the Isthmus of Panama, and the mountains of Guatimala, contain for a length of 600 leagues, vast extents of ground in which no vein has hitherto been wrought with any degree of success. It would not, however, be accurate to advance that these countries which have in a degree, been convulsed with volcanos are entirely destitute of gold and silver ore. Numerous metalliferous depositories may be concealed by the superposition of strata . . .'
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// St Helena has been slightly broken up, & has there not been vein of iron discovered?—
Klaproth analysed silver ores from Peru consisted of native silver & brown oxide of Iron in Mexico. sulphuretted silver, arsenical grey copper, and antimony, horn silver, black silver & red silver, do not name native silver because not very abundant.—∦ muriated silver. which is so rare in Europe. common there accompanied by molybdated lead & argentiferous lead; sulfated Barytes very uncommon in Mexico. Fluor spar only in certain mines.
1. Humboldt 1811, 3:152–53, 'In Peru, the greatest part of the silver extracted from the bowels of the earth is furnished by the pacos, a sort of ores of an earthy appearance, which M. [Martin Heinrich] Klaproth was so good as to analyse at my request, and which consist of a mixture of almost imperceptible parcels of native silver, with the brown oxyde of iron. In Mexico on the other hand, the greatest quantity of silver annually brought into circulation, is derived from those ores which the Saxon miner calls by the name of dürre erze especially from sulfuretted silver, (or vitrous glaserz) from arsenical greycopper (fahlerz) and antimony,(grau or schwarzgiltigerz) from muriated silver, (hornerz) from prismatic black silver, (spödglaserz), and from red silver (rothgiltigez). We do not name native silver among these ores, because it is not found in sufficient abundance to admit of any very considerable part of the total produce of the mines of New Spain being attributed to it.' Also p. 154, 'The muriated silver which is so seldom found in the veins of Europe, is very abundant in the mines of Catorce, Fresnillo, and the Cerro San Pedro, near the town of San Luis Potosi. . . . In the veins of Catorce, the muriated silver is accompanied with molybated lead, (gelb-blei-erz) and phosphated lead (grünbleierz).'And p. 155, 'The true mine of white silver (weissgiltigerz) is very rare in Mexico. Its variety greyish white, very rich in lead, is to be found however in the intendaricy of Sonora, in the veins of Cosala, where it is accompanied with argentiferous galena, red-silver, brown blende, quartz and sulfated barytes This last substance . . . is very uncommon among the gangues of Mexico. . . Sparfluor has been only found hitherto in the veins of Lomo del Toro, near Zimapan, at Bolaños and Guadalcazar, near Catorce.'
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Vol. III "In general it is observed both in Mexico & Peru, that those oxidated masses of iron. which contain silver are peculiar to that part of the veins, nearest to the surface of the earth."—p. 156. Mines of Batopilas in New Biscay, "Nature, exhibits the same minerals as there, that are found in the veins of Kongsberg in Norway.—namely dendritic silver intersecting carbonate of lime— native silver in Mexico.
1. Humboldt 1811, 3:156.
2. Humboldt 1811, 3:157, 'Native Silver. . . has been found in considerable masses, sometimes weighing more than 200 killogrammes in the seams of Batopilas in New Biscay. . . . Nature exhibits the same minerals there, that are found in the vein of Kongsberg in Norway. Those of Batopilas contain filiform dendritic and silver, which intersects with the carbonated lime.'
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is always accompanied by Sulp. silver sometimes by selenite.—in New Spain, contrary to Europe. argentiferous lead not abundant. = considerable quantity of silver procured from martial pyrites; great blocks of pure silver not common in S. America: In all climates distribution of silver in veins very unequal sometimes disseminated [. . .] sometimes concentrated: wonderful quantity of pure silver in S. America.
1. Humboldt 1811, 3:157–58, 'Native silver is constantly accompanied by glaserz [sulfuretted silver] in the seams of Mexico, as well as in those of the mountains of Europe. . . From time to time small branches, or cylindrical filaments of native silver, are also discovered in the celebrated vein of Guanaxuato; but these masses have never been so considerable as those which were formerly drawn from the mine del Encino near Pachuca and Tasco, where native silver is sometimes contained in folia of selenite.'
2. Humboldt 1811, 3:158, 'A great part of the silver annually produced in Europe, is derived from the argentiferous sulfuretted lead (silberhaltiger bleiglanz) which is sometimes found in the veins which intersect primitive and transition mountains, and sometimes on particular beds (erflöze) in rocks of secondary formation. In the kingdom of New Spain, the greatest part of the veins contain very little argentiferous galena; but there are very few mines in which lead ore is a particular object of their operations.'
3. Humboldt 1811, 3:159, 'A very considerable quantity of silver is produced from the smelting of the martial pyrites (gemeine schwefelkiese) of which New Spain sometimes exhibits varieties richer than the glaserz itself . . . It is a very common prejudice in Europe, that great masses of native silver are extremely common in Mexico and Peru . . .' Also pp. 160–61, ‛It appears that at the formation of veins in every climate, the distribution of silver has been very unequal; sometimes concentrated in one point, and at other times disseminated in the gangue, and allied with other metals.' And p. 162. ‛Although the New Continent, however, has not hitherto exhibited native silver in such considerable blocks as the Old, this metal is found more abundantly in a state of perfect purity in Peru and Mexico, than in any other quarter of the globe.'
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Geology of Guanuaxuato.— Clay slate. passing into talcose & chloritic slate, with beds of syenite & sep serpentine dipping to SW at 45° to 50° — covered by conformable greenstone porphyrys & phonolites do. amphibole quartz & mica very rare.— ancient freestone & breccia is the same with that on surface of plains of Amazon, no relation—there is more modern breccia, chiefly owing to destruction of porphyries, whereas other to ancient rock.—this N° 2. superimposed on N° 1. even No. 2. might be mistaken for Porphyry
1. Humboldt 1811, 3:176, 'What is the position of the rock which crosses the veins of Guanaxuato? . . . The most ancient rock known in the district of Guanxuato, is the clay slate (thon schiefer). . . . It is of an ash-grey or greyish-black frequently intersected by an infinity of small quartz veins, which frequently pass into talk-state [sic] (talk schiefer) and into schistous chlorite.' Also, pp. 177–78, ‛On digging the great pit (trio general) of Valenciana, they discovered banks of syenite of Hornblend slate (Hornblend schiefer) and true serpentine, altering with one another, and forming subordinate beds, in the clay slate. . . . These strata [of clay slate] are very regularly directed h. 8 to 9 of the miner's compass; they are inclined from 45 to 50 degrees to the south west. . . . Two very different formations repose on the clay slate: the one of porphyry . . . and the other, of old freestone in the ravins, and the table lands of small elevation.' And pp. 179–80. ‛This porphery . . . is generally of a greenish colour. . . . The most recent [beds] . . . contain vitreous felspar, inchased in a mass, which sometimes passes into the petrosilex jadien, and sometimes into, the pholonite [sic] or klingstein of Werner. . . . All the porphyries of the district of Guanaxuato possess this in common, that amphibole is almost as rare in them as quartz and mica.'
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above ancient freestone, limestone & many 6ther secondary rocks.
Vein traverses both Clay slate, Porphyry North 52 W, & is nearly the same with that of the veta grande of Zacatecas, & veins of Tasco & Moran—of Guanaxuato to SW. with respect to latter doubts whether bed or vein (very like that of Spital of Schemnitz in Hungary.) Humboldt says fragments from roof & penetrating overlying beds tells the secret.— p. 189. "The small ravins into which the valley of Marfil is divided, appear to have a decided influence on the richness of the veta madre of [continued on page 175]
1. On freestone and breccia at Guanaxuato see Humboldt 1811. 3:180—83 including the passage on pp. 182-83, 'The most experienced mineralogist,.after examining the position of. the lozero [agglomeration] of Guanaxuato, would be tempted to take it at first view, for a porphyry with clayey base, or for a porphyritic brescia (trummer-porphyr). . . . These formations of old freestone of Guanaxuato, serve as bases to other secondary beds, which in their position, that is to say in the order of their superposition, exhibit the greatest analogy with the secondary rocks of central Europe. In the plains of Temascatio . . . there is a compact limestone ...'
2. Humboldt 1811, 3:185,. 'The vein (veta madre) [of Guanaxuato] traverses both clay slate and porphyry. In both of these rocks, very considerable wealth has been found. Its mean direction is . . . [N. 52° W.] and is nearly the same with that of the veta grande of Zacatecas, and of the veins of Tasco and Mpran, which are all western veins (spathgänge). The inclination of the vein of Guanaxuato, is 45 or 48 degrees to the south west.' Also pp. 186—87, 'The veta madre of Guanaxuato, bears a good deal of resemblance to the celebrated vein of Spital of Schemnitz, in Hungary. The European miners who have had occasion to examine both these depositories of minerals, have been in doubt whether to consider them as true veins, or as metalliferous beds (erzlager). . . . If the veta madre was really a bed, we should not find angular fragments of its roof contained its mass, as we generally observe on points where the roof is a slate charged with carbone, and the wall a talc slate. In a vein, the roof and the wall, are deemed anterior to the formation of the crevice, and to the minerals which have successfully filled it; but a bed has undoubtedly pre-existed to the strata of the rock which compose its roof [Hence] we may discover in a bed fragments of the wall, but never pieces detached from the roof.'
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Dr D. remarks, bad conductor of Heat do of Electricity
Does not iron, combined with nickel & cobalt (meteoric) resist, oxidation?— Mem Sir W. P. stone It is clear to me, there are laws of solution & (? heat!) deposition under great pressure. unknown to us. ∦ M. Chladni.—on meteoric Mexican stone. Journal des Mines 1809. No. 151. p. 79
1. Erasmus Darwin 1791 (1790), 1:16, 'The air, like all other bad conductors of electricity, is known to be a bad conductor of heat 'See also p. 10 on the subject of shooting stars and fireballs and pp. 1-5 of 'Additional Notes' following p. 214 for a discussion of meteors.
2. See Parish 1834:53-54.
3. Chladni 1809:79-80.
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Under name of Sagitta Triptera D'Orbigny has figured animal with setæ like my undescribed[.] p. 140. Fleche of Quoy et Gaimard.—D'Orbigny has described it with care to 3 species. I think I have much additional information∦
1. A. D. d'Orbigny 1835-47, 5; Pt 3:140-44 and plate 10. According to a typewritten list compiled in 1933 by Charles Davies Sherborn of the British Museum (Natural History), the section which includes pp. 140—44 was. published in 1835 and plate 10 in 1834. The three species described by d'Orbigny were Sagitta triptera, Sagitta exaptera, and Sagitta diptera. In this entry, Darwin was noting the similarity of one of his unidentified specimens to Sagitta triptera. The genus Sagitta or 'Fleche' had been established by Quoy and Gaimard 1827:232-33. Presumably Darwin's 'additional information' on the genus appeared in Darwin 1844a. See also ZEd5'
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Guanaxuato, which has yielded the most metal, where the direction of ravins, and the slope of the mountains (flaqueza del cerro) have been parallel to the direction & inclination of the vein". —
at Zacatecas the veta grande has same direction as Guanax.—the other E& W.—veins richest not in ravins or along gentle slopes, but on the most elevated summits, where mountains most torn.—( ⸮anticlinal line?).—
Mines of Catorce (Principal veins) 25° to 30° to NE. vein of Moran 84° NE. of Real del Monte 85° to S. // Tasco 40° to NW (afterwards said to be mil with some exceptions directed NW & SE)
1. Humboldt 1811, 3:189.
2. Humboldt 1811, 3:205, 'The veta grande, or principal vein [at Zacatecas], has the same direction as the veta madre of Guanaxuato; the others are generally in a direction, from east to west.' And p. 207, 'This wealth is displayed ... not in the ravins, and where the veins run along the gentle slope of the mountains, but most frequently on the most elevated summits, on points where the surface appears to have been tumultuously torn. . . .'
3. Humboldt 1811, 3:210, 'The greatest number of these veins [at Catorce] are western (spathgdnge); and their inclination is from 25° to 30° towards the north east.'P. 223, '. . . the vein of Moran . . . inclined 84° to the north east . . .' P. 226, 'The oldest, rock which appears at the surface in this district of mines [at Tasco], is the primitive slate. . . . Its direction is hor 3-4; and its inclination 40° to the north-west. . . .' Also p 227, 'The district of mines of Tasco . . . contains a great number of veins ... all directed from the north-west to the south-east, hor. 7—9.'
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Vol III Mexican Cordillera "immense variety of Porphyries which are destitute of quartz, & wh abound both in hornblend & vitreous felspar".— p. 215
Same metal in Tasco vein in Mica Slate & overlying Limestone Balls of Silver ore occur in do veins. At Huantajaia. Humboldt says, mur of Silv. Sulph. of do. galena quartz, Garb, of Lime, accompany.—Ulloa has said silver in the highest & gold in the lowest. Humboldt states that some of the richest gold mines on ridge of Cordillera near Pataz, also at Gualgayoc. where many petrified shells
1. Humboldt 1811, 3:215, 'What relation exists between these last beds [of porphyry], which several distinguished mineralogists consider as volcanic productions, and the porphyries of Pachuca, Real del Monte, and Moran, in which nature has deposited enormous masses of sulfuretted silver and argentiferous pyrites? This problem which is one of the most difficult in geology, will only be resolved when a great number of zealous and intelligent travellers, shall have gone over the Mexican Cordilleras, and carefully studied the immense variety of porphyries which are. destitute of quartz, and which abound both in hornblend and vitreous felspar.'
2. Humboldt-1811, 3:227, 'These veins [in. the mining districts of Tasco and the Real de Tehuilotepec], like those of Catorce, traverse both the limestone and the micaceous slate which serves for its base; and they exhibit the same metals in both rocks.'
3. Humboldt 1811, 3:230, 'This formation [of veins, one of. four types existing at Tasco and Tehuilotepec] which is the richest of all, displays the remarkable phenomenon, that the minerals the most abundant in silver, form spheroidal balls, from ten to twelve centimetres in diameter. . . .'
4. Humboldt 1811, 3:347-48,. 'The mines of. Huaritajaya, surrounded with beds of rock salt are particularly celebrated on account of the great masses of native silver which they contain in a decomposed gangue; and they furnish annually between 70 and 80 thousand marcs of silver. The muriate of conchoidal silver, sulphuretted silver, galena with small, grains, quartz, carbonate of lime, accompany the native silver.' Also pp. 348—49 '[Antonio de] Ulloa after travelling over a great part of the Andes, affirms that silver is peculiar to the high table lands of the Cordilleras, called Punas or Paramos, and that gold on the other hand abounds in the lowest, and consequently warmest regions; but this learned traveller appears to have forgot that in Peru the richest provinces in gold are the partidos of Pataz and Huailas, which are on the ridge of the Cordilleras. ... It [gold] has also been extracted from the right bank of the Rio de Micuipampa, between the Cerro de San Jose, and the plain called by the natives, Choropampa or plain of shells, on account of an enormous quantity of ostracites, cardium and other petrifications of sea shells contained in the formation of alpine limestone of Gualgayoc.'
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Bougainville says P 291.—
The Fuegians treat the "chefs d'œuvre de l[']industrie humaine, comme ils traitent les loix de la nature & ses phenomenes."—
Ulloa's Voyage, Shell fish purple die, marevellous statements on, Vol I, P. 168. on coast of Guayaquil, same as Galapagos.
no Hydrophobia at Quito. P 281. do do
Australia, C. of Good Hope.—Azores Iss nor at St Helena.—
Humboldt. New Spain Vol. IV. p. 58 At Acapulco earthquakes are recognized as coming from three directions, from W; NW & S.—last to Seaward
1. Bougainville 1772, 1:291, 'Ces hommes bruts [the Fuegians] traitoient les chefs-d-œuvre de l'industrie humaine, comme ils traitent les loix de la nature & ses phénomènes.' See JR:242.
2. Juan and Ulloa 1806, 1:168, 'On the coast [at Guayaquil] . . . is found that exquisite purple, so highly esteemed among the ancients; but the fish from which it was taken, having been either unknown or forgotten, many moderns have imagined the species to be extinct. This colour, however, is found in. a species of shell-fish growing on rocks washed by. the sea. They are something larger than a nut, and are replete with a juice, probably the blood, which, when expressed, is the true purple; . . .Stuffs died with this purple are also highly valued.' See also ZEd 5.
3. Juan and Ulloa 1806, 1:281, 'As the pestilence, whose ravages among the human species in Europe, and other parts, are so dreadful, is unknown both at Quito and. throughout all America, so is also the madness in dogs.'
4. Humboldt 1811, 4:58, 'It is observed at Acapulco that the shakes take three different directions, sometimes coming from the west by the isthmus [which separates Acapulco from the Bay de la Langosta de la Abra de San Nicolas]. . . sometimes from the north west as if they were from the volcano de Colima, and sometimes coming from the south. The earthquakes which are felt in the direction of the south are attributed to submarine volcanoes; for they see here that the sea becomes suddenly agitated in a most alarming manner in calm and serene weather when not a breath of wind is blowing.'
[page 178]
partaking of the character of a Araucarian tribe, with point affin of yew & intermediate
Puncture one animal with recent dead body of other. & see if same effects, as with man
Does Indian rubber & black lead unite chemically like grease & mercury
1. Of the petrified trees he found on the Uspallata range Darwin wrote (JR:406), 'Mr. Robert Brown has been kind enough to examine the wood: he says it is coniferous, and that it partakes of the character of the Araucarian tribe (to which the common South Chilian pine belongs), but with some curious points of affinity with the yew.' Also see GSA:202 for repetition of the same information. From Darwin's correspondence it is clear that Brown described the specimens of silicified wood sometime during the period from the end of March to mid-May 1837. On 28 March Darwin wrote to J. S. Henslow telling of Brown's general interests in specimens from the Beagle voyage; on 10 April Darwin wrote to the English naturalist Leonard Jenyns, 'Tell Henslow, I think my silicified wood has unflintified Mr. Brown's heart'; and on 18 May Darwin wrote to Henslow with Brown's identification of the specimens. For the letters see Correspondence 2:13—19.
[page 179]
[page 180]
NB. P. 73. General reflections on the geology of the world
P. 14 91 gradual shoaling of coasts
93 action of sea on coast.
27. Bahama Isd
1. Page numbers refer to the Red Notebook.
[page 181]
De Lucs travels
Beauforts Karamania
Capt. Ross. & Scoresby deep soundings
Gilbert Farquhar Mathison travels Brazil. Peru.
Sandwich Isd
Mawes travels down the Brazil.—
Did Melaspena publish his travels?
Bellinghausen in 1819
Kotzebue 1816
1. Deluc 1810—11.
2. Beaufort 1817.
3. John Ross 1819, appendix No. 3,'Table of Soundings obtained in Davis' Strait and Baffin's Bay',
4. Scoresby, Jr. 1820, 1:184—94, 'Temperature, Depth, and Pressure of the Greenland Sea, with a Description of an Apparatus for bringing up Water from great Depths, and an Account of Experiments made with it'.
5. Mathison 1825.
6. Mawe 1825.
7. Imprisoned upon his return in 1794 from a 5-year circumnavigation of the globe, Alessandro Malaspina did not publish a narrative of the voyage. After his death a narrative of the voyage was published (Malaspina 1885).
8. Bellinsgauzen 1831. For an English translation see Debenham 1945.
9. Kotzebue 1821.
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