convex faces. They had the appearance o f lengthened cubes. These
crystals varied in size from half an inch to two inches. Where the
gneiss approached the iron mass of Taberg, hornblende appeared mixed
with it. The inclination and dip of this gneiss is the same with that
o f the iron ore of Taberg. The dip is west, and between 70° and 80°.
“ These observations, together with the remarks made upon Taberg
itself, seem to remove the doubts that have heen hitherto entertained
respecting the connection which exists between Taberg and the neighbouring
rocks. The mass o f Taberg consists o f greenstone mixed with
much magnetic ironstone imbedded in gneiss rocks o f immense extent.
The destructive action o f the atmosphere and water on the gneiss by
wearing it away, has converted this bed into an insidated mass, laid
upon the primitive rocks.
“ That the gneiss once stood as high as the top of Taberg, and probably
higher, I think evident, from finding greater and smaller blocks
of gneiss upon the summit of Taberg, lying on the grass. The prodigious
quantity of sand, reaching from the side o f the mountain as far
as Sligamo and Borriarp, and filling the valley of Ionkoping, may be
mentioned as a further proof o f the ancient height o f the gneiss,
which formerly enclosed the greenstone and iron of Taberg within it.”
Such is the account of Taberg given by Mr. Haussman, and such
the conclusion which he draws from his examination. I must confess
that he appears to me rather to have cut the gordian knot than to have
untied it. The great difficulty in determining the geognostic situation
of Taberg results from the hed o f fine loose sand which appears to
constitute its bottom. Now of this bed he takes no notice whatever.
I examined it with great care. It was full 30 feet thick, and, as far as
I could determine, from the minutest inspection, it fairly passes under
the iron ore. We are perfectly certain, that it was formerly covered
with iron ore to a certain extent; for a part o f the south-east side of
the mountain has been removed to supply the iron furnaces, and the
sand has been found below i t .. Now how is it possible to reconcile
Haussman’s conclusion with the matter of fact ? Will it be believed that
loose sand constitutes a bed among primitive rocks ? I f the account
o f Ascanius be true, that petrifactions have been found in this sand,
the opinion is still more untenable- On the other hand, i f we conceive
the summit o f Taberg to consist o f floetz greenstone, impregnated
with magnetic ironstone, there will be nothing extraordinary in
its resting upon sand, as the same thing has been observed in other
places. This, therefore, seems to me the only conclusion which can
be adopted. I t coincides with the opinion o f Napioni, and with the
inferences which Werner drew from Napioni’s description; and agrees
perfectly with the preceding descriptions o f Ascanius, Tilas, and
Bergman. Hisinger, indeed, is o f another opinion; but he supports
his conclusions by no proofs whatever.