82 BASALT FAMILY. rock in the Orkney Islands; and I do not know that it has been observed in the Zetland Islands. In Ireland, it occurs abundantly in the northern counties ; but it is.not a frequent rock in England. It abounds in the island of Iceland ; and is a member of the series of trap rocks of which the Feroe Islands are composed. It occurs rarely in Norway, and there only in beds, along with transition rocks; and it is scarcely more abundant in Sweden. It ' •> is a frequent rock in several parts in Germany, as the Sie- bengebirge, the Rhongebirge, the vicinity of Frankfort on the Mayne, the Bohemian Mittelgebirge, the Erzge birge, &c. In France, it occurs frequently in the inte resting country of Auvergne ; and the Euganean moun tains, and other districts in Italy, afford very interesting displays of this rock. It abounds in several districts in Spain ; and forms considerable hills in Portugal, particu larly around Lisbon. Asia.—At Hadie Andjor in Yemen ; on the banks of the Amour in Dauria; and in Kamschatka. Africa.—Islands of Teneriffe and St Helena. Polynesia.—Otaheite, Easter Island, Kergeulen’s Island, and the Sandwich Islands. America.—Abundantly in Mexico; also in different parts in the United States. Uses. As it is very compact, and unites readily with mortar, it is considered as a good building-stone; and it is ob served, that if pulverised basalt be added to the mortar, its binding quality is thereby increased. It is sometimes hollowed into water-troughs: it is used as a paving-stone; and it is sometimes cut by jewellers, and used as a touch stone. The most fusible varieties are occasionally used as a flux with calcareous ironstones ; and they are some time*
