GEOLOGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES. Hungary stands in marked contrast to Austria, in that by far the greater part of its surface consists of geologically recent formations. The Great Plain, watered by the Danube and the Theiss, presents an almost unbroken surface of Qua ternary and recent alluvial deposits, while the great northern and eastern mountain systems show a preponderance of Tertiary rocks on their surface. The Croatian and Slavonian highlands are of Jurassic and Triassic formation, and here also are the chief outcroppings of the coal measures. Arch:can diabases and granites occur in western Transylvania, and along the entire southern slope of the Carpathian :Mountains runs an extensive belt of volcanic rocks. The nuclear mass of the Carpathians is largely con structed of granite. _Hungary possesses a very considerable mineral wealth. There are great deposits of coal, iron, and salt; lead, copper, silver, and gold are found in various localities, the last mentioned chiefly along the rivers of Transylvania. Antimrmy, colmIt, nickel, mer
cury, and zinc also occur, and among the non metallic minerals there arc precious stones, ka olin. marble. and porphyry. The Hungarian opal is particularly worthy of mention. It is only within recent times that the wealth of coal and iron has begun to be exploited on a large scale. The deposits of salt in the county of Thirmaros, in the Eastern Carpathians, which arc worked by the State. are practically inexhaustible. (See table, under AUSTRIA-Ht'NGARY.) There are hun dreds of mineral springs scattered throughout Hungary. Among the most celebrated are those at Tfrtra-Fiired (Schmeks), in the Northern Carpathians. Mehadia (Baths of Hercules), near Orsova, and the Iron Gate of the Danube, and Hired. on Lake Balaton. and Harkany, near Ffinfkirehen (1'(cs).