Besides, the last operations of water have a tendency to disturb and confound together all pre-existing Alluviums.
"The Student's Elements of Geology"
Sir Charles Lyell
In the course of ages, a new system of valleys was excavated, so that the rivers ran at lower levels than those at which the first Alluviums and sheets of lava were formed.
"The Student's Elements of Geology"
Sir Charles Lyell
The early geologists gave to all the crystalline and non-fossiliferous rocks the name of Primitive or Primary, under the idea that they were formed anterior to the appearance of life upon the earth, while the aqueous or fossiliferous strata were termed Secondary, and Alluviums or other superficial deposits, Tertiary.
"The Student's Elements of Geology"
Sir Charles Lyell