Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1834 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XVIII. Marbles. The marbles of Spain are in greater variety and beauty than those of any country in Europe, and most valuable kinds of them are in situations of easy access, and communication with the sea; but they have long been entirely neglected, the greater part being unknown even to the more intelligent of the natives. The whole secondary range, which extends through Catalonia and Aragon to Gibraltar, affords in every part excellent marbles of about the same qualities and colours as are found in most of the secondary countries, but as they are not remarkable, we will pass on to the more valuable species, some of which are unique. Unlike other regions, where these productions of nature are found in scanty portions, they are dealt out in Spain in vast quantities, forming entire cerros, or mountains. In Catalonia are many kinds, but few of extraordinary beauty. The nummulite limestone, which occurs in different To such readers as are not geologists, it may be necessary to observe that the marbles are given in their economical view and are separated for the sake of clearnes from the geology, with which they are connected naturally, in order to shew the resources of Spain in this interesting branch. The same observation applies equally, to the mines. situations along the coast of that province, admits of polish, and the minute organic forms give an interesting variety to it. The marble, or jaspe de Tortosa, as it is commonly called, appears to be an agglomerate of marle, with shells, seemingly oysters, of the most delicate colours, red, white and yellow. The finer qualities are of exquisite beauty, and may be seen in every part of Spain, in churches or in houses, and at one time it was extensively exported. Quantities of...
