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to those who feel disposed to explore for themselves, they may be
useful, in directing them more readily to the objects of their
research.
In entering upon a geological description of this district, the
granite, occupy the lowest place in the known series of rocks,
forms a convenient starting place, from whence it seems most
natural, though contrary to the practice of modern geologists, to
proceed in ascending order.
What has been the condition of granite before the deposition of
the superincumbent rocks, may be left to conjecture; that
portions of it have been subsequently protruded through them, is
now generally admitted. It does not, however, in this district,
reach the summmit of any of the principal mountains; it is
exposed to view in some of their ravines, and in places where it
forms hills or ridges, they are of moderate elevation.
A rock of granite, composed of quartz, white felspar, and black
mica, may be seen denudated in the bed of the river Caldew, on
the north-east side of Skiddaw; and in a branch of the river
Greta, between Skiddaw and Saddleback, called Syning Gill, about
1400 feet above the level of the sea. It is traversed in various
directions by veins of quartz; in some of which, molybdena,
apatite, tungsten, wolfram, and other minerals have been found.
A variety of granite with reddish felspar, and which, from a
deficiency of mica, has sometimes been called sienite, forms two
inferior mountain ridges, called Irton Fell and Muncaster Fell:
it extends to some distance on both sides of the river Esk, and
may be seen shooting up in places, almost as far as Bootle, and
also at Wasdale Head. At Netherwasdale it becomes a finer
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