DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.748#0222
INVESTIGATIONS AT AS SOS, 1881. 179
of the Troad, the formations are quite recent It seems probable
from facts which will be mentioned hereafter that the oldest rocks
found at Assos were formed towards the close of the middle tertiary
period. The hill of Assos was then a volcano. From its crater
issued the first trachyte upon the irregular scoriaceous surface, on
which succeeding showers of cinders and ashes were deposited. It
seems probable from the general appearance of the conglomerate
and the absence of stratification, that the volcano was sub-aerial,
rising at least to a height of two hundred metres above the sea
level.
The eruption of the first trachyte and conglomerate was followed
after a comparatively short interval by another eruption, which
brought to the surface the second trachyte and completely closed
the crater. There appears to have been no great eruption of gases
connected with the extrusion of the second trachyte ; since this was
brought to the surface the volcano at Assos has been inactive,
although later eruptions have occurred in the neighborhood.
During the latter part of the middle tertiary period the extinct
volcano was almost, if not altogether, submerged. At the close
of the period an upheaval took place by which the southern part of
the Troad was raised perhaps to its present elevation.
Atmospheric agents have since been active in tearing down the
formations, and the topographical features resulting from the ero-
sion are those previously determined by the peculiar structure of the
rocks. By a long process the deep valley, the plain of the river, the
high cliffs, the terraces and the steep slopes of the hill were formed,
until finally the present surface was developed and the foundat:ons
of Assos were laid.
of the Troad, the formations are quite recent It seems probable
from facts which will be mentioned hereafter that the oldest rocks
found at Assos were formed towards the close of the middle tertiary
period. The hill of Assos was then a volcano. From its crater
issued the first trachyte upon the irregular scoriaceous surface, on
which succeeding showers of cinders and ashes were deposited. It
seems probable from the general appearance of the conglomerate
and the absence of stratification, that the volcano was sub-aerial,
rising at least to a height of two hundred metres above the sea
level.
The eruption of the first trachyte and conglomerate was followed
after a comparatively short interval by another eruption, which
brought to the surface the second trachyte and completely closed
the crater. There appears to have been no great eruption of gases
connected with the extrusion of the second trachyte ; since this was
brought to the surface the volcano at Assos has been inactive,
although later eruptions have occurred in the neighborhood.
During the latter part of the middle tertiary period the extinct
volcano was almost, if not altogether, submerged. At the close
of the period an upheaval took place by which the southern part of
the Troad was raised perhaps to its present elevation.
Atmospheric agents have since been active in tearing down the
formations, and the topographical features resulting from the ero-
sion are those previously determined by the peculiar structure of the
rocks. By a long process the deep valley, the plain of the river, the
high cliffs, the terraces and the steep slopes of the hill were formed,
until finally the present surface was developed and the foundat:ons
of Assos were laid.