Silurian. Presentation on the topic Silurian period Paleozoic Silurian period
SILURIAN SYSTEM (PERIOD), Silurian from Lat. Silures - Silures, the name of the ancient Celtic tribe that inhabited Wales * a. Silurian system (period); n. Silur; f. silurien, systeme (periode) silurien, Gothlandien; And. sistema (period) silurica, sistema (period) siluriana, is the third system from the bottom of the Paleozoic erathema, corresponding to the third period of the era of the geological history of the Earth. In the stratigraphic scale it follows the Ordovician and precedes the Devonian system. The duration of the period using radiometric methods is determined to be 30 million years (from 435 + 10 to 400 + 10 million years from modern times). It was identified in 1835 by the English geologist R. Murchison, but was initially combined with the Ordovician system into Gotlandian. In 1960, at the 21st session of the International Geological Congress, it received independent status.
In Russia (European part, Siberia and Central Russia) the Silurian system has been used since the mid-19th century. was studied by Russian geologists F. B. Schmidt, A. Kaiserling, E. Eichwald, I. V. Mushketov and N. I. Lebedev, after the October Revolution of 1917 - V. N. Weber, A. N. Ryabinin, D. V. Nalivkin, B.B. Chernyshev, B.S. Sokolov, O.I. Nikiforova, A.M. Obut, D.L. Kalyo and others. The most important research abroad was carried out by Western European and American geologists C. Lapoors, Y. Barrand , J. Hall, C. Schuchert, A. Cooper, O. M. Bulman, A. Martinsson and A. Buko.
Divisions. The general stratigraphic scale of the Silurian system includes the Llandoverian, Wenlockian, Ludlovian and Przydolian stages; all but the last are divided into 2 and 3 (Llandovery) substages. The division of the Silurian system into lower and upper sections with a boundary at the base of the Ludlovian stage is accepted. The base of the Silurian system is defined at the base of the Parakidograptus acuminatus graptolite zone with a stratotype in Southern Scotland; the boundaries of all divisions of the scale also coincide with the graptolite zones. The latter are the most fractional units of planetary correlation of sediments of the Silurian system (Table).
general characteristics. Sediments of the Silurian system are known on all continents, with the exception of Antarctica, most of whose territory is hidden under ice. They are represented by 2 main facies types: shallow shelf, predominantly carbonate, strata with benthic fauna and organogenic structures and deep-sea basin sediments of terrigenous composition with planktonic fauna (graptolites, conodonts, etc.). The former are distributed on the East European and Siberian platforms, in Central and Southern China, on the North American Midcontinent and in North Africa; the latter are characteristic of the marginal zones of the listed platforms and are widespread within many folded systems: the Grampian, Paleotethys, Ural-Tien Shan, Cordilleran, Appalachian, etc. Classic Silurian sections have been studied in Great Britain, Sweden, Norway, the Prague Basin, and in the Polish Lowland , in the European part of the CCCP (Baltic states, Podolia), in the Urals, in the Southern Tien Shan, in southeastern Australia, in the Appalachians and Morocco.
The largest Silurian continent was Gondwana, located in the Southern Hemisphere. Smaller land masses are also known: Laurentia (North America, Greenland), Baltosarmatia, Angarida, etc. The continents were distinguished by a weakly dissected flat topography; large mountain ranges and chains were apparently absent. The Silurian period is characterized by a wide distribution of epicontinental seas, which during periods of maximum transgressions reached more than 2000 km inland (Gondwana).
The beginning of the Silurian period was preceded by a major global event - glaciation, traces of which (tillites) are recognized in South America and North Africa (Bolivia, Mauritania). It is associated with maximum regression and breaks in some platform sections at the Ordovician-Silurian boundary. The latter begins with a powerful Llandoverian transgression, which is maximally manifested in Gondwana, on the North American and Siberian platforms. As a result, strata of evaporites, carbonates, incl. and reef rocks; Carbonate-clastic, as well as pelagic clayey and siliceous sediments accumulated on the outer shelf and in the open basin. From the end of the Early Wenlockian, a regressive sedimentation cycle begins, which continues until the middle of the Early Devonian. In some shelf sections, short-term transgressive periods are recorded at the beginning of the Ludlovian and in the Przhidolian time (the margins of the East European Platform). Geosynclinal zones are characterized by differentiated tectonic movements and variegated sediments. At the geosynclinal stage of development, fine-grained terrigenous sediments accumulated in variscides (Urals, Central Europe, North Africa, Andes). The internal parts (eugeosynclines) were characterized by underwater volcanic eruptions: lavas, volcanic breccias and tuffs of ophiolite and andesite formation. Sedimentary-volcanogenic strata, rich in siliceous matter, are characteristic of many fold belts (Ural-Tien Shan, Paleotethys). During the orogenic stage, coarse sediments of the molasse type were deposited in the Caledonides (Kazakhstan, Appalachia). At the end of the Silurian period, the Caledonian cycle (Grampian geosyncline) ends and, as a result of regression, the vast epicontinental seas ( and ) become shallow. Isolation of some pools leads to the formation of red sediments, salts, gypsum ( and ). The few lithological indicators of paleoclimate indicate the predominance of humid conditions in the Llandoverian and a gradual warming and aridization of the climate from the beginning of the Wenlockian and in the late Silurian. Reconstruction of paleolatitudes based on paleomagnetic, sedimentological and biogeographic data indicates the possibility of the existence of 3 climatic zones: equatorial (0°-10° northern and southern latitudes) with clastic, reef and carbonate sedimentation, tropical (10°-30° northern and southern latitudes) with evaporites, carbonates and clayey silts and temperate (30°-60° northern and southern latitudes) with a predominance of clastic sediments. Judging by the position of the paleoequator, most of the known exposures of the Silurian system were located within the tropical and low latitudes of the temperate zone.
Organic world. By the beginning of the Silurian, all the main classes of invertebrate organisms had formed and the first vertebrates appeared. Shallow epicontinental seas and shelf zones of geosynclinal basins are characterized by shell-coral fauna. Among the inhabitants of the bottom, brachiopods and mollusks (gastropods, bivalves, first tentaculites) are especially numerous. Ostracodes, trilobites and crustaceans (eurypterids) led an active lifestyle or inhabited the soft bottom in lagoonal zones and on the open shelf. The main biomass of shallow-water and sandy zones consisted of corals and hydroid polyps (tabulata, rugosa, stromatoporata), sea lilies, and algae. A variety of jawless animals are known (lissamphoras, thelodonts, etc.). At the end of the Silurian, the first true fish appeared - acanthodes. In the Late Silurian, the first higher plants (psilophytes) developed in the coastal flood plains. The inhabitants of the pelagic zone were graptolites, nautiloids and conodonts. A characteristic feature of the fauna is its cosmopolitan distribution. The exception is the endemic fauna of brachiopods Clarkeia (Malvinocaffron province) and Tuvaella (southern Asian part of the CCCP,
The Silurian lasted only about 25 million years, but this period of geological history witnessed at least three major events in prehistoric life: the appearance of the first land plants, the subsequent colonization of land by land animals, and the evolution of jawed fishes. Silurian was the third period (542-252 million years ago). It was preceded by and , and then it was replaced by , and .
Climate and geography
In the first half of the Silurian, most of the Earth's continents were covered with glaciers, and global temperatures by the end of the period increased and amounted to about 25 ° C. The giant supercontinent Gondwana (which was destined to split hundreds of millions of years later into Antarctica, Australia, Africa and South America) gradually moved to the far southern hemisphere, while the smaller continent of Laurentia (future North America) occupied the equator.
Sea life
Invertebrates
The Silurian period followed the first major global extinction of living organisms, at the end of the Ordovician, during which about 75% of species became extinct.
Within a few million years, most life forms had largely recovered, especially cephalopods and tiny organisms known as graptolites. One of the major achievements of the Silurian period was the spread of reef fish, which flourished at the margins of Earth's evolving continents and featured a wide variety of corals, crinoids, and other tiny animals.
Giant sea scorpions such as Eurypterus(see photo above) up to 25 cm long, also lived during the Silurian and were the largest arthropods of their time.
Vertebrates
The Silurian period saw the evolution of jawless fish (such as Birkenia), which greatly improved upon their Ordovician predecessors (such as Arandaspis). The evolution of jaws and their accompanying teeth allowed prehistoric fish of the Silurian period to pursue a wider variety of prey, as well as defend themselves from predators, and was a major driver of subsequent evolution.
Vegetable world
Silurian is the first period when scientists had convincing evidence of the life of land plants. These were tiny, fossilized spores from genera such as Cooksonia and Baragwanathia. These early plants were no more than 5 centimeters in height and, therefore, had only rudimentary (underdeveloped) internal organs for water exchange. Some botanists suggest that Silurian plants actually evolved from freshwater algae (which grew on the surfaces of small puddles and lakes).
Land animals
As a rule, wherever land plants grew, some animal species can be found. Paleontologists have discovered direct fossil evidence of early and Silurian scorpions, as well as other, comparatively primitive terrestrial arthropod species. However, large land animals had not yet appeared, as vertebrates gradually began to colonize the land.
The Paleozoic era is divided into six periods of unequal duration, alternating with short-term stages of isostatic uplifts or marine regressions, during which sedimentation did not occur within the continents.
Silur(Silurian period, Silurian system) - geological period, the third period of the Paleozoic, after the Ordovician, before the Devonian. It began 443 million years ago and lasted 26 million years.
Division of the Silurian system
The Silurian system is divided into 2 departments, 4 subdivisions and 8 tiers:
The Silurian period is named after the ancient Celtic tribe of the Silures.
Geography and climate
If you look at our earth from the poles, it becomes clear that 420 million years ago, in the Silurian period (Silurian), almost all the continents lay in the Southern Hemisphere. The giant continent of Gondwana, which included modern South America, Africa, Australia and India, was located at the South Pole. Avalonia, a continental fragment that represented most of the eastern coast of America, approached Laurentia, from which modern North America was later formed, and along the way closed the ocean to Iapetus, sir. The Rhea Ocean appeared south of Avalonia. Greenland and Alaska, located near the North Pole today, were located near the equator in the Silurian period. The climate throughout the Silurian period was probably warm, humid, and only at the end of the Silurian in the north did it become dry and hot.
Sedimentation
A characteristic feature of the Silurian period is the gradual descent of land under water. The sea eroded many previously formed mountain ranges and flooded vast areas. The slow subsidence of land and the lowering of the ocean floor led to the accumulation of sedimentary rocks - marls, sandstones, dolomites, graptolite shales, brachiopods and corral limestones.
Living world
The living world of the Silurian period is represented mainly by the same types of invertebrates that lived in the Ordovician.
Quite common were:
trilobites (over 80 species),
nautiloids,
mollusks (over 760 species),
brachiopods (over 290 species) and crinoids, the cups of which had rhombic pores characteristic of cystoids.
The Rugosas are very active in reef building.
The number of graptolites is decreasing.
In the Silurian period, along with trilobites, a peculiar group of animals appeared, the body of which was covered with a dense shell with numerous spines and consisted of segments (5 head, 7 pectoral and 6 abdominal) and an oval caudal fin or terminal spine. These animals are called cancer scorpions. Agile, well-armed, they were the true rulers of the Silurian seas.
The most characteristic representative of the crustacean scorpions, Eurypterus, had spines on its legs. In Pterygotus, the first pair of legs transformed into long claws. At the end of its body it had spines with which it killed its prey.
In the Late Silurian, the first animals that breathed with lungs appeared. Close relatives of modern scorpions, they, however, had much in common with cancer scorpions, that is, they were a transitional group from cancer scorpions to modern scorpions.
Many thin-shelled forms lived in brackish-water bays. The gastropods of the Silurian were distinguished by very interesting features. The vast majority had the shell turned to the right. In addition, some of them had a spherical shell with a cut in the middle, which gradually overgrew or turned into a series of holes.
Cephalopods spread significantly in the seas of the Silurian period. Representatives of a small genus - Volbortella - with a horny shell, living in the Cambrian and Ordovician periods, gave rise to numerous descendants (large and small) with rounded and smooth limestone shells. This indicates their great mobility.
Unlike gastropods, whose body almost completely filled the shell, cephalopods lived in a chamber separated from other chambers by a partition. In the partitions between the non-residential chambers there were round holes through which fabric passed in the form of a strand, the so-called siphon.
By the onset of sexual maturity, the body of the mollusk completely filled the living chamber. Having laid eggs, the mollusk shrank, and the living chamber became too large for the mollusk; then a partition appeared, reducing the volume of the living chamber. The mollusk grew again, the living chamber increased, and over time a new partition appeared. The most famous representatives of cephalopods are orthoceras. Their soft body resembled modern octopuses, but unlike octopuses, orthoceras had a long, straight shell that strongly resembled a straight horn. Hence their name “orthoceras”, which means “straight horn”. Their length reached 1 meter. Orthoceras swam with their shell forward, and in a calm state they hung with the help of air chambers and grasping tentacles, spreading them like parachutes. Orthoceras are the ancestors of all cephalopods that had septa. Their descendant, the nautilus, still lives today. In the Middle Silurian, the first representatives of true corals appeared. They lived as individuals. Their calyx, up to 20 cm high, had a strong outer wall. Some corals had a clear four-rayed structure, while others had a bilaterally symmetrical structure, which underlies the structure of all corals and is observed even in the embryonic forms of modern corals. From four orders of Ordovician swimming ostracods, 23 Silurian genera evolved, ranging in size from 22 to 80 mm. Among the echinoderms in the Silurian, true blastoids, brittle stars, starfish, and true sea urchins appear. Of the coral representatives, the most common were tabulates - worm-like animals with limestone tubes. They lived in colonies. The tubes were divided into chambers by partitions. Sometimes, in addition to the partitions, they also had long rows of short spines or longitudinal ribs. Silurian fish did not yet have an internal bony skeleton. Their body and oral cavity were completely covered with small skin teeth. Among the fish there were bony-scutellates, non-scutellates and heteroscutellates. In the Late Silurian, the first jawed fish, acanthodes, appeared. They had two features not found in earlier vertebrate species: they had a jaw, and they had a fairly strong spine, which helped them in swimming, since their dorsal fin was more fixed than that of sharks. Acanthidae are divided into three orders: climatiaceae, isnacanthidae and acanthidae. Climathiformes had many small protective bones on the spine, Ishnacanthidae had teeth on the jaw, while Acanthidae had no teeth, but they did have long gill ridges. Acanthodes existed from the Late Silurian (430 million years ago) to the Early Permian (250 million years ago), mainly in fresh water bodies. Food - presumably plankton.
Vegetable world
During the Silurian period, life penetrates onto land.
The first land plants, the remains of which were found in Silurian deposits, were called psilophytes, which means leafless, naked plants. They were no more than half a meter high. In appearance, the plants resembled modern sphagnum mosses, but had a simpler organization. In their structure, psilophytes are similar to brown algae, from which they apparently originated. Psilophytes grew in moist places or in shallow bodies of water. Branching in psilophytes was dichotomous, that is, each branch was divided into two. Their body was not yet clearly divided into root and stem parts. Instead of roots, they had shoots - rhizoids, with which they attached themselves to the soil. The role of leaves was played by scales. At the ends of psilophyte branches there were reproductive organs - sporangia, in which spores developed.
Among the plants of the Silurian water basins, algae predominated: green, blue-green, red, siphon. Brown, almost no different in structure from modern algae. This similarity has prompted some researchers to believe that in certain parts of the modern oceans, the temperature, salinity and other features of the water have remained the same as they were at that distant time.
Rocks
At the end of the Silurian, mountain-building processes took place, thanks to which the Scandinavian and Cambrian mountains, as well as the mountains of Southern Scotland and Eastern Greenland, were formed. In place of Siberia, the large continent of Angaris was formed, and the Cordillera was partially formed.
The main minerals of the Silurian period: iron ores, gold, copper, oil shale, phosphorites and barite.
The relative positions of the continents and seas remained approximately the same as in the Ordovician. The largest landmass - the Gondwana continent - covered most of the modern territory of Africa (sub-Saharan Africa), Arabia, Hindustan, Antarctica and Brazil. The continents were distinguished by flat, weakly dissected terrain; mountain ranges and ranges were apparently absent.
The end of the Silurian is the completion of mountain building.
Factual climate data is sparse. The wide distribution of rich shell faunas and the abundance of reefs in the seas suggest that they were formed under conditions of a warm, mild climate.
Organic world
By the beginning of the period, all the main classes of invertebrate organisms had formed and the first primitive vertebrates appeared. In the Silurian period, two groups of vertebrates appeared: jawless and fish. Among jawless animals there are bone-shelled and unshelled ones, and among fishes there are acanthodes.
Division of the Silurian system
The Silurian system is divided into 2 departments, 4 subdivisions and 8 tiers:
During the Silurian period, plants finally made it onto land. To do this, they needed to develop a waterproof outer cover - a cuticle, permeated with tiny pores, or stomata. Through them, gas exchange took place during photosynthesis. To transport water from roots to shoots, plants developed a system of tubes, or vessels, and the stem subsequently began to lengthen. It began to produce wood tissue, which served as additional support for it. | Geological research was carried out on the lands of its habitat, which contributed to its identification. | Period (system) | Epoch (department) |
---|---|---|---|
Subdivision | Century (tier) | Silurian | |
Upper Silurian | Przydolsky | ||
Ludlovsky | |||
Ludford | Gorstsky | Lower Silurian | |
Wenlock | |||
Gomerian | Shanewood | ||
Llandoverian | |||
Telichsky |
Aeronsky
Ruddansky
Fauna of Silurian
In the Late Silurian, cartilaginous, ray-finned fish from the order Palaeonisciformes appeared.
Inhabitants of the seas of the Silurian period Flora of the Silurian At the end of the Silurian, another group of plants appeared on land - vascular plants (
Tracheophyta
Gondwana moved towards the South Pole. The Iapetus Ocean was shrinking in size, and the landmasses forming North America and Greenland were moving closer together. They eventually collided, forming the giant supercontinent Laurasia. It was a period of violent volcanic activity and intense mountain building. It began with the Ice Age. As the ice melted, sea levels rose and the climate became milder.
Geography and climate
The Silurian period is characterized by a gradual development of climate aridity.
Sedimentation
In the Silurian, the East Siberian Platform was covered by a shallow (depth 10-20 m) sea, the level of which was very constant, in other words, at that time both the sea level and the East Siberian Platform were stable and did not fluctuate.
Minerals
Copper pyrite ores are found in Silurian deposits (Ural and Norway). Deposits of manganese and phosphorites are associated with the siliceous strata of the Southern Urals and Central Asia. In the USA (the states of New York and Alabama), iron ore deposits have been discovered and are under development, as well as gypsum deposits (the central part of New York state). The main minerals of the Silurian period: iron ores, gold, copper, oil shale, phosphorites and barite.
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Notes
Literature
- Iordansky N. N. Development of life on earth. - M.: Education, 1981.
- Koronovsky N.V., Khain V.E., Yasamanov N.A. Historical geology: Textbook. - M.: Academy, 2006.
- Ushakov S.A., Yasamanov N.A. Continental drift and climates of the Earth. - M.: Mysl, 1984.
- Yasamanov N.A. Ancient climates of the Earth. - L.: Gidrometeoizdat, 1985.
- Yasamanov N.A. Popular paleogeography. - M.: Mysl, 1985.
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Excerpt characterizing the Silurian period
The health and character of Prince Nikolai Andreich Bolkonsky, in this last year after his son’s departure, became very weak. He became even more irritable than before, and all the outbursts of his causeless anger mostly fell on Princess Marya. It was as if he was diligently looking for all her sore spots in order to morally torture her as cruelly as possible. Princess Marya had two passions and therefore two joys: her nephew Nikolushka and religion, and both were favorite topics for the prince’s attacks and ridicule. Whatever they talked about, he turned the conversation to the superstitions of old girls or the pampering and spoiling of children. - “You want to make him (Nikolenka) an old girl like yourself; in vain: Prince Andrey needs a son, not a girl,” he said. Or, turning to Mademoiselle Bourime, he asked her in front of Princess Marya how she liked our priests and images, and joked...
He constantly and painfully insulted Princess Marya, but the daughter did not even make an effort to forgive him. How could he be guilty before her, and how could her father, who, she still knew, loved her, be unjust? And what is justice? The princess never thought about this proud word: “justice.” All the complex laws of humanity were concentrated for her in one simple and clear law - the law of love and self-sacrifice, taught to us by the One who lovingly suffered for humanity, when he himself is God. What did she care about the justice or injustice of other people? She had to suffer and love herself, and that’s what she did.
In winter, Prince Andrei came to Bald Mountains, he was cheerful, meek and gentle, as Princess Marya had not seen him for a long time. She had a presentiment that something had happened to him, but he did not say anything to Princess Marya about his love. Before leaving, Prince Andrei talked for a long time about something with his father, and Princess Marya noticed that before leaving, both were dissatisfied with each other.
Soon after the departure of Prince Andrei, Princess Marya wrote from Bald Mountains to St. Petersburg to her friend Julie Karagina, whom Princess Marya dreamed of, as girls always dream, of marrying her brother, and who at that time was in mourning on the occasion of the death of her brother, killed in Turkey.
“Sorrow, apparently, is our common destiny, dear and gentle friend Julieie.”
“Your loss is so terrible that I cannot otherwise explain it to myself, as a special mercy of God, who wants to experience - by loving you - you and your excellent mother. Ah, my friend, religion, and only religion, can, let alone console us, but save us from despair; one religion can explain to us what a person cannot understand without its help: why, why beings who are kind, sublime, who know how to find happiness in life, who not only do not harm anyone, but are necessary for the happiness of others - are called to God, but remain to live evil, useless, harmful, or those who are a burden to themselves and others. The first death that I saw and which I will never forget - the death of my dear daughter-in-law, made such an impression on me. Just as you ask fate why your beautiful brother had to die, in the same way I asked why this angel Liza had to die, who not only did not do any harm to a person, but never had anything but good thoughts in her soul . And well, my friend, five years have passed since then, and I, with my insignificant mind, am already beginning to clearly understand why she needed to die, and how this death was only an expression of the infinite goodness of the Creator, all of whose actions , although we mostly do not understand them, they are only manifestations of His infinite love for His creation. Perhaps, I often think, she was too angelically innocent to have the strength to bear all the responsibilities of a mother. She was impeccable, like a young wife; perhaps she could not be such a mother. Now, not only did she leave us, and especially Prince Andrei, the purest regret and memory, she will probably get that place there that I do not dare hope for for myself. But, not to mention her alone, this early and terrible death had the most beneficial effect, despite all the sadness, on me and on my brother. Then, in a moment of loss, these thoughts could not come to me; Then I would have driven them away with horror, but now it is so clear and undeniable. I am writing all this to you, my friend, only to convince you of the gospel truth, which has become a life rule for me: not a single hair of my head will fall without His will. And His will is guided only by boundless love for us, and therefore everything that happens to us is all for our good. Are you asking if we will spend next winter in Moscow? Despite all my desire to see you, I don’t think and don’t want it. And you will be surprised that Buonaparte is the reason for this. And here’s why: my father’s health is noticeably weakening: he cannot tolerate contradictions and becomes irritable. This irritability, as you know, is directed primarily at political matters. He cannot bear the thought that Buonaparte is dealing as with equals, with all the sovereigns of Europe and especially with ours, the grandson of the Great Catherine! As you know, I am completely indifferent to political affairs, but from the words of my father and his conversations with Mikhail Ivanovich, I know everything that is happening in the world, and especially all the honors given to Buonaparte, who, it seems, is still only in Lysykh Mountains throughout the globe are not recognized as either a great man, much less a French emperor. And my father can't stand it. It seems to me that my father, mainly due to his view of political affairs and foreseeing the clashes that he will have, due to his manner of expressing his opinions without embarrassment with anyone, is reluctant to talk about a trip to Moscow. Whatever he gains from treatment, he will lose due to the disputes about Buonaparte, which are inevitable. In any case, this will be decided very soon. Our family life continues as before, with the exception of the presence of brother Andrei. He, as I already wrote to you, has changed a lot lately. After his grief, only this year has he completely morally come to life. He became the same as I knew him as a child: kind, gentle, with that golden heart that I know no equal to. He realized, it seems to me, that life is not over for him. But along with this moral change, he physically became very weak. He became thinner than before, more nervous. I am afraid for him and am glad that he took this trip abroad, which doctors have long prescribed for him. I hope this fixes it. You write to me that in St. Petersburg they talk about him as one of the most active, educated and intelligent young people. Sorry for the pride of kinship - I never doubted it. It is impossible to count the good that he did here to everyone, from his peasants to the nobles. Arriving in St. Petersburg, he took only what he should have. I’m surprised how rumors from St. Petersburg reach Moscow in general, and especially such incorrect ones as the one you are writing to me about - the rumor about the imaginary marriage of my brother to little Rostova. I don’t think Andrei will ever marry anyone, and especially not her. And here’s why: firstly, I know that although he rarely talks about his late wife, the sadness of this loss is too deeply rooted in his heart for him to ever decide to give her a successor and stepmother to our little angel. Secondly, because, as far as I know, this girl is not the type of woman that Prince Andrei might like. I don’t think that Prince Andrei would choose her as his wife, and I’ll say frankly: I don’t want this. But I started chatting, I’m finishing my second piece of paper. Farewell, my dear friend; May God keep you under His holy and mighty protection. My dear friend, Mademoiselle Bourienne, kisses you.