.ALTAI, or A LTAY MOUNTAINS, are an extensive chain of mountains in the north of Asia, extending about 5000 miles, from the 70th to the 140th degree of east longitude. The Altai mountains are divided into the Greater and Lesser Altai ; the former proceeding to the north-north-east by various windings, and the latter running between Soongovia and the government of Kolhyvan. The various ridges and individual moun tains which compose this immense chain, have not hi therto received uniform and appropriate appellations ; nor are geographers agreed with respect to the differ ent branches which ought to be included under the Al taian range. The individual mountains, some of which vie with those of the Alps in magnitude and sublimity, will be described under their proper heads. (v) It would appear, from the observations of Renovantz, Herman, Laxman, Pallas, Patrin, and others, that the geognostie relations of this vast range of mountam groupes, correspond with those of other Alpine coun tries. The centre and highest parts of the groupes are, in general, composed of the first or oldest granite for mation, on which rest, with lower and lower levels cor responding to the age of the formation, gneiss, mica slate, and clay slate. Along with these rocks, beds of trap, serpentine, and lime-stone, are observed ; and the whole series are frequently covered with the second porphyry, (the porphyry contains jasper,) second ser pentine, and sienite formations.
We have not met with any account of the occurrence of transition rocks, although there is not a doubt, that careful examination will discover them in this great range.
Mineralogists mention chalcedony, carnelian, &c. as occurring in different parts of the range ; it is probable that they belong either to the transition, or licetz trap. The lower parts of the range arc in many places com posed of flcetz rocks, as sand-stone conglomerate, sand stone, lime-stone, gypsum, marl, trap, &c. but the for mations have not been ascertained. The lowest parts, as the valleys and plains, are covered with alluvial rocks of different kinds. Metalliferous repositories,
containing gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, and iron, occur in different places, and in some in great abun dance.
Several of the most extensive and important mines in Siberia are situated in the Altaian range ; thus the sil ver mines of Kolhyvan, the richest of the kind in the Russian empire, are in this range. These mines em ployed, in 1786, about 54,000 workmen. They afforded, from the year 1745 to 1787, 24,460 poods of tine silver, and about 830 poods of fine gold, which together amounts in value to upwards of thirty millions of rubles. The expenses for this whole time, even including the charges of separation at St Petersburgh, come not to above se ven minions of rubles; consequently here is a pure gain of 23 millions of rubles, which is very much in creased, if we estimate the copper coin, in which this expense is paid, at its real value ; and consider, that even this is got and coined at the mines themselves. The copper mines afford annually about 15,000 poods of pure copper. The iron mines also arc very extensive, and afford a great quantity of this valuable metal ; the manufacture and exportation of which, forms one of the greatest branches of the wealth of Russia.
Vid. Tooke's Russian Empire, vol. i. p. 118. vol. iii. § 10. Pinkerton, vol. ii. p. 12, 70, 149. Pallas. Pravels, H. M. Renvoantz M1neraIogisch geographische nachri chten von den Altaischen gebirgen Russisch Kayserlichen antheils. E. Revel, 1788. 4to, B. P. Hermann's Verzeich niss der vorriiglichsten steinarten, welche durch die 1786 ins ilitaische gebirge ausgeschickte schutp.rpedition ent deckt worden. in his Beytriige zur physik, Ste. der Rus sischen !finder, S. Band, p. 31-54. Hermann iiber die porphyrgebirs-e am westlichen ausgehenden des dltaischen erzgebirges. Crell's. Chem. Annalen, 1789, 1. Band, p. 488-496. P. S. Pallas Bericht von Clem neuen gruben bau am flusse Buchtuvma, ausserhalb den Kolywanish•n grdnzlinie. Neu. .Vord. Beytrdg. 5. Band, p. 266-270. Brunnich's Illineralogie. Hermann's Statist. schilder. Bergmlinnisches Journal. (r)