2. On the Carboniferous Volcanic Rocks of the Basin of the Forth

Extract

After referring to a previous communication to the Society, in which the author had given an outline of the chronology of the igneous rocks of Scotland, he proceeded in the present paper to describe in detail the character of the volcanic phenomena in one district—that of the carboniferous system of the Forth basin. The igneous rocks of this district consist partly of doleritic and felspathic lava-form masses, and partly of various kinds of ash or traptuff. These materials present a considerable diversity in their modes of arrangement. But the author had found that all the volcanic hills of the district might be reduced to three types of structure:—1. A simple cone of ash, round and over which the ordinary sedimentary accumulation of the carboniferous period had been deposited. 2. A cone of ash with the crater filled up by a neck or plug of basalt. 3. Sheets of different lavas with intercalated ash or sedimentary matter.