This is a hand-colored lithograph depicting a cross-section of geological strata. The diagram is a side view of layered earth, showing different geological periods. The layers are arranged in a curved, descending order, starting with 'ALLUVIUM' at the top, followed by 'DILUVIUM', 'TERTIARY', 'SECONDARY', 'PRIMARY', and finally 'UNSTRATIFIED' at the very bottom. Each layer is represented by a different color: light blue for 'ALLUVIUM', light yellow for 'DILUVIUM', yellow for 'TERTIARY', reddish-brown for 'SECONDARY', dark red for 'PRIMARY', and purple for 'UNSTRATIFIED'. The layers are not uniform; they have irregular, jagged edges, particularly in the lower layers. The diagram is bordered by a pattern of dark blue, cross-hatched lines. At the bottom center, the number '2' is printed in black. The overall style is illustrative and scientific, resembling a geological diagram from the 19th century. The colors are muted and the lines are precise, suggesting a hand-colored lithograph.