. The earth and its inhabitants ... m thesecondary period, and elsewhere represented by limestones, marls and sand-stones. Volcanic rocks, such as trachytes and modern lavas, have also croppedout in many parts of the primitive formations. The longitudinal valley comprised between the two mountain ranges is coveredwith lacustrine strata deposited in tertiary times, and in their composition resem-bling the formations of the Atacama desert and those traversed by the Desagua-dero of Lake Titicaca. They consist of sandstones and clays, covered with alayer of rocks and gravels rolled down from the A
. The earth and its inhabitants ... m thesecondary period, and elsewhere represented by limestones, marls and sand-stones. Volcanic rocks, such as trachytes and modern lavas, have also croppedout in many parts of the primitive formations. The longitudinal valley comprised between the two mountain ranges is coveredwith lacustrine strata deposited in tertiary times, and in their composition resem-bling the formations of the Atacama desert and those traversed by the Desagua-dero of Lake Titicaca. They consist of sandstones and clays, covered with alayer of rocks and gravels rolled down from the Andes by the torrents and ava-lanches. Here fossils are rare, although some traces of vegetation are met, whilethe remains of the Andean mastodon occur in the alluvia filling the cavities of thesurface gravels. The central knot, where converge the Atacama, Bolivian and Argentinebranches, is dominated by the so-called volcano of Copiapo, 19,700 feet high. Fig. 154.—Paeallel Cobdilleear of the Chilian Ani> 1 : 16, Concepcion >.# 1 i Uj ;o,ooi) 16,50013,0009,850-j 6,550 3,300 310 Miles. The name is so far justified that vast deposits of sulphur are found in the vicinityof the mountain. South of Copiapo the Argento-Chilian cordillera expands toa broad plateau, where the range presents but a slight relative altitude, and iscrossed by low passes ; which, however, are difiicult to surmount owing to the longspaces swept by biting winds and fierce storms. One of the mosc frequented ofthese passes, connecting the Argentine mining regions of Famatina with those ofCopiapo in Chili, is the Portezuelo de Come Caballos, Horse-Eaters Pass, 14,530feet hiffh Other tracks cross the Andes farther south at the Pulido and Pircas o • Negras passes. In these regions the mass of the cordillera consists of yellowish earthy heightsrolling away without apparent order, and marked with a few patches of bleak pampas of the cordillera are very dangerous to cross in the winte
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectgeography, bookyear18
