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III.—Notes on Some Rocks from Ararat

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 May 2009

Extract

During a journey through Russian Armenia in 1893 Mr. H. F. B. Lynch ascended Ararat and collected a number of small specimens from that mountain and other parts of the country. These, after his return, he placed in my hands, requesting me to examine them. At that time he intended to include my report in a book then in preparation, which was completed after a second journey (through the Turkish provinces) in 1898. On this occasion he was accompanied by Mr. Felix Oswald, B.Sc., who studied the geology of the country and collected numerous specimens. Mr. Lynch accordingly decided to omit from his work all geological details, and leave these to be dealt with separately by Mr. Oswald. But some time must still elapse, owing to the pressure of official duties, before he will have completed the work, and as they did not, on the second journey, go near Ararat, I have decided, since the mountain has so much historic interest, to publish my notes, though a little has already appeared on this subject. Herr H. Abich, to whose unwearied labours we are so greatly indebted for information about the geology of Asia Minor, ascended Ararat on July 29, 1845, and Dr. F. Becke has described the microscopic structure of three specimens which he brought down. One is from the summit, another from a parasitic cone, Takjaltu, on the south-east slope, and a third from the same slope of Little Ararat. Mr. Lynch's collection, as will be seen, is a much larger one, so that it gives a more complete idea of the materials of the mountain.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1905

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References

page 52 note 1 “Armenia: Travels and Studies.” 2 vols. Longmans, 1901. The ascent of Ararat is described in chs. xi–xiii (vol. i).

page 53 note 1 For early ascents of Ararat, see Alpine Journal, vol. viii, p. 213.

page 53 note 2 Abich, H.: “Geologische Forschungen in den kaukasischen Ländern,” III, 102. A general description of the chief varieties is given by Dr. Parrot, who made the first ascent in 1829 (“Journey to Ararat,” p. 198, n.d.).Google Scholar

page 53 note 3 This is the height given by Mr. Lynch; other authorities make it 17, 100 feet. The snow-line in Summer is about 13,500 feet.

page 53 note 4 I prefer to leave this indefinite name in all these rock-specimens. Many of the crystals are not fitted for measurement by reason of enclosures, etc. Others give indefinite results, but in most of the specimens I have identified labradorite, and more than one species is present, the microliths agreeing better with oligoclase. I have thought it needless to note the variations in size. The largest (in B, b, 1) is about .08 inch long, but they commonly range from about .06 inch downwards, the pyroxenes running a little smaller.

page 54 note 1 The highest rock visible at the time of Mr. Lynch's visit.

page 54 note 2 Determined by Walker's balance.

page 55 note 1 A condensed translation of the original description.

page 55 note 2 Said to be typical of the dominant rock of the peak.

page 57 note 1 See Lynch, “Armenia,” vol. i, p. 414 et seq., and vol. ii, p. 384.