Chapter III: Front Matter (3)

It may seem perhaps too trivial to remark, that the annexation of numbers, referring to the pages, would be a serious addition to the utility of the tabular view. Very few inadvertencies have been observed--the following may be mentioned: _Amenia_, in the State of New-York, is printed (by a typographical error we presume) Armenia; and _Menechan_, where the menechanite is found, is mentioned as occurring in Scotland, but it is in Cornwall.

Authors seem agreed that the black-lead ore is an altered carbonat, but they seem not to have been so well agreed as to the nature of the blue-lead ore. In the cabinet of Colonel Gibbs, there are specimens which appear satisfactorily to illustrate both these subjects. The black-lead is by the blowpipe alone reducible to metallic lead; there is one specimen in the cabinet referred to, which is blackened on what appears to have been the under side, and seemingly by the contact of sulphuretted hydrogen gas; that which was probably the upper part remains unaltered, and is beautiful white carbonat of lead; this appearance is the more striking, because the piece is large and full of interstices, by which the gas appears to have passed through. The blue ore is in large six-sided prisms of a dark blue or almost black colour; where the prisms are broken across, they present an unequal appearance; sometimes they are _invested_; and sometimes slightly, and at other times deeply, _penetrated_ by sulphuret of lead, having the usual brilliant foliated fracture. The part which looks like sulphuret of lead is easily reducible by the blowpipe, but not the whole crystal, as authors appear to imply; for if that part of the crystal which does not present the appearance of galena is heated by the blowpipe flame, it is not reduced, but congeals into the garnet dodecahedron, with its colour unaltered: these crystals are therefore phosphat of lead, and they appear to be either an original mixture of phosphat and sulphuret of lead, or the phosphat has somehow in part given up its phosphoric acid, and assumed in its stead sulphur, perhaps from the decomposition of sulphuretted hydrogen.

Professor Cleaveland will, of course, add new localities, even foreign ones, where they are interesting, and domestic ones, where they are well authenticated. Among the former, we trust he will mention the lake of sulphuric acid contained in the crater of Mount Idienne, in the Province of Bagnia Vangni, in the eastern part of Java, and also the river of sulphuric acid which flows from it and kills animals, scorches vegetation, and corrodes the stones.[10] Among American localities, we beg leave to mention violet fluor spar, abundant and very handsome, near Shawnee Town, on the Ohio, in the Illinois Territory, and galena, of which this fluor is the gangue;--sulphat of magnesia, perfectly crystallized, in masses composed of delicate white prisms, in a cave in the Indiana Territory, not very remote from Louisville, in Kentucky; it is said to be so abundant that the inhabitants carry it away by the wagon load;--pulverulent carbonat of magnesia, apparently pure, found by Mr. Pierce at Hoboken, in serpentine, where the hydrate of magnesia was found;--chabasie, agates, chalcedony, amethyst, and analcime, at Deerfield, by Mr. E. Hitchcock;--agates in abundance at East-Haven, near New-Haven, in secondary greenstone, like the above-named minerals at Deerfield;--saline springs, covered with petroleum, and emitting large volumes of inflammable gases, numerous in New-Connecticut, south of Lake Erie;--magnetical pyrites, abundant in the bismuth vein, at Trumbull, Connecticut:--very brilliant fine-grained micaceous iron, in large masses near Bellows' Falls; yellow foliated blende, in Berlin, Connecticut, and near Hamilton College--the latter discovered by Professor Noyes; it is in veins in compact limestone;--red oxid of titanium, often geniculated, at Leyden, in Massachusetts, discovered by Mr. E. Hitchcock;--red oxid of titanium, in very large crystals and geniculated, imbedded in micaceous schistus, at Oxford, 20 miles north from New-Haven;--silicious petrifactions of wood, abundant in the island of Antigua, recently brought by Mr. Pelatiah Perit, of New-York;--sulphuret of molybdena, at Pettipaug, and at East-Haddam, Connecticut;--prehnite abundant and beautiful, in secondary greenstone, at Woodbury, 24 miles north of New-Haven, discovered by Mr. Elijah Baldwin;--black oxid of manganese, in great abundance, and of an excellent quality, near Bennington, Vermont, and plumose mica, in a very fine graphic granite, in a hill two miles north of Watertown, Connecticut.

The introduction to the STUDY OF GEOLOGY, deserves a more extended series of remarks than it would now be proper to make, after so full a consideration of the previous parts of the work.

Professor Jameson's elaborate exposition of the Wernerian system, is too full, and too much devoted to a particular system, for beginners: the sketches of geology contained in the systems of Chemistry by Murray and Thomson, and in Phillips's mineralogy, are too limited, although useful: the excellent account of the Wernerian system, contained in an Appendix to Brochant's Mineralogy, has, we believe, never been translated; and we need not say that Professor Playfair's illustrations of the Huttonian Theory, De Luc's Geology, and Cuvier's Geology, are not well adapted to the purposes of a beginner; neither is Delametherie's, nor has it been translated. An introduction to geology was, therefore, hardly less needed than one to mineralogy. Professor Cleaveland has performed this difficult duty with great ability, and has brought this interesting branch of science fairly within the reach of our students.

Although adhering substantially to the Wernerian arrangement of rocks, he has, so to speak, blended Werner's three classes of primitive, transition, and secondary rocks, into one class; and where the same rock occurs in all the three classes, or in two of them, he mentions it in giving the history of the particular rock. This method simplifies the subject very much to the apprehensions of a learner. A rigid Wernerian would probably revolt at it, but the distinctions of Mr. Werner may still be pointed out, and, we should think, ought to be, at least by all teachers.

In Mr. Cleaveland's account of the trap rocks, we should almost imagine that some typographical error had crept into the following paragraph:

"But in modern geological inquiries, the word trap is usually employed to designate a _simple mineral_, composed of hornblende nearly or quite pure, and also those aggregates in which _hornblende_ predominates. Hence, the _presence_ of hornblende, as a predominating ingredient, characterizes those MINERALS to which most geologists apply the name _trap_."

Now, it is not accordant with our apprehensions that trap is ever at the present time employed to designate a _simple mineral_, nor has Professor Cleaveland himself used it in his tabular view, or in his description of simple minerals. In our view, it is the _classical_ word of modern geology, to designate that description of rocks in which hornblende predominates, and perhaps a few others of minor importance usually associated with them. It is true, a rock composed of pure hornblende may be called trap, but it is not true, _vice versa_, that this rock, considered in its character of a simple mineral, is called trap. If our views are correct, the section which is headed _trap_ or _hornblende_, should be _trap_ or _hornblende rocks_, and greenstone should come in as a subdivision, and not form a distinct section. With these alterations, and with the substitution of rock in the _first_, and rocks in the _second_ instance, in the paragraph above quoted, instead of _mineral_ and _minerals_, we apprehend the view of this family of rocks would be much more clear, and a degree of confusion, which learners now experience from the paragraph, would be prevented. If we are wrong, we are sure Professor Cleaveland will pardon us; if right, his candour will readily admit the correction.

As to the manner in which the work of Professor Cleaveland is executed, the remarks which we already made, have in a good degree anticipated this head.

We cannot, however, dismiss the subject without adding that, in our opinion, this work does honour to our country, and will greatly promote the knowledge of mineralogy and geology, besides aiding in the great work of disseminating a taste for science generally. Our views of the plan we have already detailed. The manner of execution is masterly. Discrimination, perspicuity, judicious selection of characters and facts, and a style chaste, manly, and comprehensive, are among the characteristics of Professor Cleaveland's performance. It has brought within the reach of the American student the excellencies of Kirwan, Jameson, Haüy, Brochant, Brongniart, and Werner; and we are not ashamed to have this work compared with their productions. In our opinion Professor Cleaveland's work ought to be introduced into all our schools of mineralogy, and to be the travelling companion of every American mineralogist.

We trust that all cultivators of mineralogy and geology in this country, will willingly aid Professor Cleaveland in enlarging his list of American localities for a second edition; and we hope that he will repay them, at a future day, by giving us a distinct treatise on geology, with as particular a delineation as possible of the geological relations of the great North American formations. Mr. Maclure has, with great ability, sketched the outline; but much labour is still needed in filling up the detail.

ART. III. _New Locality of Fluor Spar, or Fluat of Lime and of Galena, or Sulphuret of Lead._

Mr. Joseph Baldwin, formerly of Connecticut, now residing near Shawnee Town, in the Illinois Territory, has given us some interesting specimens of fluor spar. They are found not far from Shawnee Town, on the banks of the Ohio; and a few miles below where the Wabash joins the Ohio. The fluor forms the gangue of a lead vein, and we have pieces in which the lead and fluor are intimately blended. The lead ore is the common galena, or sulphuret, with a broad, foliated, or laminated fracture, and a high degree of metallic splendour. We reduced it to the metallic state, and it yielded a large product of very soft lead. On dissolving it in nitric acid, and applying the muriatic acid till precipitation ceased, the precipitate formed was _all redissolved_ by boiling water; nor, when submitted to cupellation did the lead leave any thing upon the cupel. We, therefore, conclude that it contained no appreciable quantity of silver. It is said to be very abundant at Shawnee Town.

The fluor spar is very beautiful. Its colours, chiefly, very deep purple and violet; but still highly translucent; one specimen was entirely limpid. Both kinds, when thrown in coarse powder, on a red-hot shovel, in a dark place, phosphoresced, and the violet specimens in a very striking manner. Of the violet kind, we have a specimen nearly as large as a man's fist, which is perfectly pure and sound, and appears to have been a single crystal; the natural faces and angles were unfortunately obliterated by grinding on a common grindstone. We have others which are decidedly crystals of perfect regularity; cubes, and passages between the cube and octahedron. In some of the specimens, the disposition of colours, and the transmission of light is such as to show very clearly that the octahedron lies in the centre, as the nucleus or primitive form.

The size and beauty of the specimens, and the abundance of this mineral near Shawnee Town, (provided there is no mistake in the case) clearly entitle this to be considered as the most interesting American locality of this beautiful mineral. Measures have been taken to investigate the subject more fully, and to obtain a supply of specimens.

Quartz crystals appear to abound at the same place, besides various other minerals.

ART. IV. _Carbonate of Magnesia, and very uncommon Amianthus, discovered near New-York.--Extract of a Letter from Mr. James Pierce to the Editor._

_New-York, May 18, 1818._

DEAR SIR,

I forward you specimens of straw and rose-coloured amianthus I recently met with on Staten-Island, which I detached, in strips, from a rock; it not appearing, as is usual, in veins. It breaks up like flax, and may be spun and wove without the aid of moisture; and in respect to tenacity, flexibility, and length of fibre, it may be considered the best found in this country, and perhaps equal to any hitherto discovered. Staten-Island exhibits many minerals worthy of examination. I subjoin, as requested, the following geological description, &c.

Hoboken, where I discovered native carbonate of magnesia, is situated opposite the city of New-York, on the western or New-Jersey bank of the Hudson. It is a primitive, insulated elevation, with a nucleus of serpentine; the ground gradually descends in every direction except on the river side, where mural precipices of serpentine rock are observed, extending about 100 rods parallel with the water, and elevated from 60 to 100 feet above its level. The carbonate of magnesia I found in horizontal veins of nearly two inches in breadth, and of unknown depth, in a midway region of this serpentine ledge; I extracted a considerable quantity with a spoon. When first taken out it was soft, white, and very slightly adhesive, from a little moisture; but, when dry, fell to powder without friction. The nature of the mineral I immediately conjectured, and treated it with diluted sulphuric acid, in which it entirely dissolved with effervescence, forming a bitter fluid, and leaving no sediment. Upon evaporation, well-defined crystals of Epsom salts were formed. It differs little from the manufactured carbonate of magnesia of the shops; but is rather a super than a sub-carbonate. It has been analyzed by Professor Mitchill, who found it exclusively composed of magnesia and carbonic acid. Carbonates of magnesia, hitherto discovered, have been, I believe, found impure, and in a state of rock, requiring chemical process to render them serviceable; this is, perhaps, fit for immediate use. When I first mentioned the discovery to mineralogists, they were incredulous, supposing it did not natively exist in this state, but I convinced them by uniting it with sulphuric acid.

REMARKS.

The specimen of amianthus, referred to in Mr. Pierce's communication, is uncommon. The fibres measure from 12 to 15 inches in length, and are as soft and flexible as fine human hair.

It will be remembered, that in the rocks at Hoboken, Dr. Bruce discovered the hydrate of magnesia, or magnesia combined with nothing but water, in the proportion of about 70 per cent. of magnesia. This discovery gave a new and interesting species to mineralogy; it is now admitted in the systematical works on mineralogy.

Mr. Pierce's discovery is not less interesting; and we presume he will be deemed correct in the opinion, that pure native carbonate of magnesia has not been discovered before. The serpentine of Hoboken, then, is memorable for affording these two new species.

ART. V. _Native Copper._

In Bruce's Journal, (Vol. I. p. 149.) mention is made of a remarkable piece of native copper, found near New-Haven many years ago, and weighing about 90lbs.

We have now to add, (and the fact is, indeed, mentioned in Cleaveland's Mineralogy,) that another piece has been recently found half a mile west of the Hartford turnpike road, opposite the town of Wallingford, and twelve miles from New-Haven. It was turned up in ploughing to repair a road. The country is of the secondary trap formation, and the rocks, at the particular place, are the old red sandstone of Werner, which here occupies the plains, and runs under the trap. The piece weighs almost six pounds; it is fine virgin copper, with rudiments of large octahedral crystals of native copper upon its surface, which is more or less incrusted with green carbonate of copper and ruby oxid, very much resembling that of Cornwall: the ruby oxid is particularly remarkable in the cavities of the piece.

As it was found within three or four miles of the place where the large piece of ninety pounds weight was discovered, and as copper is known to exist in many places in these hills, the facts should be kept in view, and may lead to something of importance.

ART. VI. _Petrified Wood from Antigua._

The mineralogy and geology of the West-India islands has been, as yet, but little explored. The scientific world has, however, been favoured with some interesting articles from the pen of Dr. Nugent; and we are informed that he has described also the geology of the island of Antigua. We have recently become acquainted with one interesting production of this island, and without waiting for Dr. Nugent's account, (which we believe has not yet reached this country) we shall lay it before our readers.

We are under obligations to Mr. Pelatiah Perit, of New-York, for a collection of specimens of silicious petrifactions of wood from Antigua. Their characters are indubitable; the distinct ligneous layers corresponding with the annual growth, the medullary prolongations, the knots formed by branches, the cracks and the bark, are all distinctly visible. Some of the pieces are ponderous portions of large trees.

As to the mineralizing matter, it is evidently silicious, and the specimens are principally the holzstein of Werner; crystals of quartz are apparent in the cavities; some parts are agatized, and veins of chalcedony occasionally pervade the fissures: they are not impressible by steel, and give fire with it. According to the information of Mr. Perit, they are scattered over the surface of the Island of Antigua, with a profusion hardly less than that which Horneman observed of the same mineral during his travels over the eastern part of the great African desert.

It is much to be wished that our numerous intelligent navigators and travelling merchants would, in imitation of this and of a similar example, mentioned below, bestow some share of their attention on the natural productions of the countries which they visit. In this way they might, on their return, render very essential services to the science of their own country.

ART. VII. _Porcelain and Porcelain Clays._

Through the kind offices of a friend, we have been furnished, from one of the great porcelain manufactories in the vicinity of Paris, with a series of specimens, to illustrate the elegant art of fabricating porcelain. The specimens begin with the raw materials, and exhibit them in all their principal stages of advancement up to the perfect vessel, including the materials for the glazing, and the colours for the painting, and the application of both. At the request of the manufacturer, through whose liberality we were indulged with this gratification, we transmitted to Paris various specimens of American porcelain clays. This gentleman has caused them to be subjected to trials in the porcelain furnaces, and he finds that some of them are equal to the French porcelain clays, and some superior. As our specimens were all labelled with the names of the places, in this country, from which they were obtained, we hope soon to learn where to look for porcelain clays, equal or superior to those celebrated ones from which the superb French porcelain is manufactured.

As this subject is one of much practical importance to the rising arts of this country, and as much interest has been excited in Paris concerning our porcelain clays, we should feel greatly obliged by the transmission to us of any specimens of American porcelain clays, with memoranda of the place, the quantity, the depth at which obtained, the difficulty of obtaining, and, generally, all the peculiar circumstances. We will take care that their value shall be ascertained, if they appear promising, and a proper return shall be made to the proprietor.

To those of our readers who may not be familiar with this subject, we would however take the liberty to remark, that porcelain clays generally arise from the decomposition of granite, and particularly of that kind which is denominated graphic granite, and which abounds with feldspar. It is, therefore, in the primitive countries that we are chiefly to expect them--such as New-England, and part of the high country of the middle and southern states.

It should be observed, that if a clay, otherwise apparently good, burns red, it contains iron, and is unfit for porcelain; although it may serve well enough for more common and coarse earthen ware.

ART. VIII. _Native Sulphur from Java._

Through the kindness of Mr. I. Huntington, recently returned from Java, we have received from that Island some fine specimens of native sulphur. They are very pure, of an orange yellow, slightly shaded with white, and occasionally with red; some of the cavities are lined with delicate crystals. What gives them particular interest is, that they are believed to be from that "large, and now nearly extinct, volcano, about sixty miles from the town of Batavia, at the bottom of which (of the crater) lie large quantities of native sulphur, even many hundred tons." It is in the crater of this volcano that the famous lake of sulphuric acid exists, and from which it flows down the mountain, and through the country below, a river of the same acid. (See Tilloch's Phil. Mag. Vol. XLII. p. 182.) It is a most curious phenomenon, and we believe entirely without a parallel. Another river, called the White River, unites with this some miles below its origin: this river, which is so called from the turbidness of its waters, its salutary to men and animals; fishes live in it, and vegetation is nourished by its waters; but after the junction it becomes clear; the acid dissolving the earthy particles which discoloured it, and it now becomes fatal to living beings: kills the fish, destroys the vegetation, and corrodes the stones in its channel. This remarkable river flows from Mount Idienne, in the province of Bagnia Vangni, in the eastern part of Java.

ART. IX. _Productions of Wier's Cave, in Virginia._

We are indebted to the Reverend Elias Cornelius, and to Mr. John H. Kain, for a collection of the calcareous incrustations of Wier's Cave, in Virginia.

The stalactites, and stalagmites, and various incrustations, are of uncommon size and beauty. Some of the stalactites have a delicate whiteness, and a brilliancy arising from their crystallized structure, which, with the regularity of their forms, give them a fair title to rank with those of the famous caverns in the Peak of Derbyshire, in the island of Antiparos, &c.

In these stalactites, the structure is most remarkably distinct, both in the fibrous and concentric lamellar form. In this collection were observed many forms of the crystallized hard carbonates of lime, of Count Bournon.

For a description of the cavern from which these specimens came, we refer to the succeeding memoir, by Mr. Kain.

ART. X. _Remarks on the Mineralogy and Geology of the Northwestern part of the State of Virginia, and the Eastern part of the State of Tennessee._ By Mr. JOHN H. KAIN, of Tennessee.

The most prominent as well as the most beautiful feature of this country, is that succession of mountain and valley, ridge and vale, which we meet with in traversing its surface. The grand range of Alleghany mountains enters Virginia about the 39th degree of north latitude; and, pursuing a southwestern course, spreads out upon the east end of Tennessee, and terminates near the southern boundary line of that state, in the Alabama territory; and about the 34th parallel of north latitude. In this view are included the Blue Mountains, the North Mountains, the Allegheny, (properly so called) the Cumberland, Clinch, Iron, and Smoky mountains, together with a variety of smaller mountains, spurs, and ridges, all running parallel to each other, from the northeast to the southwest; and all, I believe I may say, covered with forests, and presenting to the eye of the naturalist a most interesting field for speculation and improvement.

With a few exceptions, the geologist meets with none of those remarkable appearances which indicate the changes and convulsions which have been wrought by time, the great enemy of nature. Occasionally we are presented with a view of a sublime precipice, formed by a section which a river appears to have made for itself through an opposing mountain; and the large masses of ruins, which lie scattered around such a place, seem, to the imagination of the solitary traveller, the historical records of commotions, awful even in retrospect. Most commonly, however, the mountains seem to have lain for ages in undisturbed repose; and the streams of water, when they have crossed them, have sought an easy passage through the ravines, which do not so often divide a mountain, or ridge, at right angles, as wind between the ends of two opposing spurs, which pass each other, gradually declining into the champaign country at their mutual base. Through this whole extent of country we rarely meet with any remarkable falls of water; the obvious reason of which is, that the rocks are so soft that they are easily worn down to the level of the beds of rivers. But shoals, or shallows, are frequent, and are formed by beds of rounded sandstone, spread out into a broad base, over which the water often rushes with no small violence and noise.

The mountains are generally, though not always, sterile, and produce nothing but forest trees; but the valleys are, with hardly an exception, rich, and productive of every variety of "grass and herb yielding seed, and fruit-tree yielding fruit." Nor are they less favoured in the mineral kingdom; possessing the greatest abundance of all the most useful and necessary minerals, of which we shall now proceed to speak in order.

All the country included under the boundaries mentioned above, with the exception of some primitive ranges of mountains on the southeastern side, is apparently _transition_. This, it will be seen by a reference to Mr. Maclure's excellent map, will extend the boundary of his transition class considerably farther northwest, and make it include Cumberland Mountain and all East Tennessee. This would be evident from comparing the northwestern part of Virginia, which Mr. Maclure has included in his transition tract with all East Tennessee. Every mineralogist must observe the identity of the minerals of the two countries as well as that of their stratification and general formation. The limestone in the valleys, and the sandstone on the mountains, lie in strata which make an angle of from 25 to 45 degrees with the horizon. The limestone bears the impressions of shells, but rarely, if ever, of vegetables, and contains beds of hornstone, but not of flint, or what can properly be called flint.

The rock which lies in the lowest valleys, and often rises into pretty high hills, and is seen forming bluffs on the banks of the rivers, is _limestone_: it is of a dark blue, approaching to a gray, as it is exposed to the air, and often appearing quite white. Its fracture is compact in one direction; in another it is more or less slaty in its structure. It is interspersed with veins of the crystallized carbonate of lime, more or less perfect, and of a pure but opaque white. Another variety of this limestone, not so abundant, is that which is white and red, having the white and red spots intimately mingled. Its structure is similar to the other kind.

Lying in beds of this limestone, parallel to, and imbedded in, its strata, is a stone, which, from its globular form, its hardness, and its colour, has been usually mistaken for flint. On comparing it with the flint of chalk-beds, we find it much less translucent, its colour darker, and its hues duller; and its rough and irregular fracture, compared with the easy, smooth, and conchoidal cleavage of the true flint, decides it to be hornstone. It is found also forming considerable distinct beds on the hills; and is seen in detached pieces, and irregular pebbles, covering many of the ridges.

Alternating with the beds of limestone, and possessing the same formation, is a soft _clay slate_. _Soapstone_ is found in it.

As soon as we ascend the mountains, we meet with a slaty sand-stone of various compactness, as it possesses more or less iron, often forming an excellent iron ore. A variety of this iron ore has been lately turned to a good use, in the manufacture of a red paint, near Knoxville, Tennessee. Different varieties of this sandstone possess different qualities. It is converted by the inhabitants into millstones, grindstones, and whetstones. Interspersed among the sandstone of the mountains we often find very beautiful and interesting specimens of hornstones, assuming a resemblance to all the silicious stones, from the chalcedony to the jasper. In this extensive range of mountains, many other minerals exist, of which we shall treat more particularly hereafter. The limestone, slate, and sandstone, as far as the writer's knowledge extends, so to speak, _form the country_; the limestone and clay slate dipping under the sandstone. Gypsum, coal, sulphate of barytes, &c. are found in these, and we shall now speak of their localities.

_Gypsum._--This valuable mineral production exists in Washington County, Virginia, 20 miles north of Abingdon, in the vicinity of Saltville. It is similar, in every respect, to the plaster of Nova Scotia, and devoted by the farmers of that part of Virginia, and Tennessee, to similar purposes.

_Coal_ is said to exist in immense quantities in the Cumberland Mountain. A bed of it is wrought near Knoxville, Tennessee. It is of an excellent quality; but wood is so abundant that it is used only in forges.

_Sulphate of Barytes._--This mineral is found in Bottetourt County, Virginia, near Fincastle; and in Sevier County, Tennessee.

_Hard Carbonates of Lime._--Stalactitical concretions abound in all the caves so often described as existing in this country. Those of Virginia are more perfectly crystallized than those of Tennessee. Under the head of _hard carbonates_ should be mentioned an extensive bed or vein in Montgomery County in the State of Virginia, near the seat of Colonel Hancock. It appears to have been formed in a chasm, in the common limestone of the country, by a calcareous deposition which resembles, exactly, in all its characters, the calcareous concretions which are found forming in the caves of the country. The whole bed may, in fact, be regarded as a cave which has been filled up in the progress of time, by this curious process. Its width is various, from two feet to ten, or more, extending along the side of a very steep ridge, for at least 50 yards, and it is said to be continued seven miles farther.

_The silicious carbonate of lime_ may be worth distinguishing from the common limestone. It is found in a bed near Colonel Hancock's, and was supposed to be gypsum. It phosphoresces beautifully; it is white, and confusedly crystalline in its structure, and much harder than the common limestone. Indeed the limestone generally, on the east of the Alleghany, is somewhat harder than that on the west.

_Lead._--There are several localities of this mineral. A mine of it is wrought near New River, 15 miles from Wythe, Virginia. Another locality of the ore of lead is said to have been discovered in Granger County, Tennessee, on land belonging to General Cocke. It exists also, very near the surface, on the plantation of the Rev. Mr. Craighead, near Nashville; which, however, is out of our boundary.

Other metallic ores are said to have been found among these mountains, and particularly those of gold and silver; but the accounts are vague and uncertain, and not to be credited.

The numerous _Caves_ of this country present attractions to every, the least curious, traveller; and, in an eminent degree, to the mineralogist. They are crevices, or large chasms, probably worn in the rocks by the passage of water. This will, at first view, perhaps appear a bold assertion; but if it be recollected that they occur only in limestone, which is a soft rock, and (under certain circumstances,) soluble in water; that the rocks bear every mark of having been worn by water; and that streams of water are always found in them, it will not appear an improbable hypothesis. It is by no means difficult to believe that a stream, after having worn such a chasm as a cave presents, in the solid rock, may have found another channel; and, forsaking the old, have left room for nature to display some of her most beautiful works. A description of one of these caves will be a description of all; and we shall select _Wier's Cave_, in Rockingham County, Virginia, as it is the most curious of any with which we are acquainted.

The entrance of the cave is narrow and difficult. When the cave was first discovered, the passage into it was impeded by stalactites, which had formed perpendicular columns across it; but these are now removed. As we advance, our course is at first horizontal, but we soon descend fifteen or twenty feet by a ladder, and find ourselves in a large echoing cavern. Stalactites of a silvery whiteness are suspended from above, and pillars of stalagmites are rising around us. Ledges of rocks form our floor, and the uneven walls are incrusted over with a beautiful brown spar, which is sometimes suspended from the canopy in thin, shining, and translucent sheets. In passing on over the rugged rock of our pathway, our attention is divided between a care for our safety, and an admiration of the surrounding wonders.

Proceeding on through a narrower crevice in the rocks, we are soon introduced into other apartments, differing in shape and size from the first, but resembling it in the irregularity of its walls, floor, and covering, and in the calcareous incrustations and concretions, which, assuming a thousand fantastic shapes, and displaying a sparkling lustre, the more vivid as the light is stronger, give to this whole grotto the power of charming every beholder.

The cave is a mile and a half in extent, and extremely irregular in its course and shape. Its perpendicular height varies from three to forty feet, and its breadth from two to thirty. Its dividing branches are numerous, forming a great variety of apartments. The blue limestone appears frequently enough to satisfy us that it is the groundwork of the whole; but it is almost every where covered with incrustations of the hard carbonates. These hang from the arched vault above in clusters, and often reach the ground, forming massive columns. Stalagmites again rise from the floor like so many statues; the irregular sides of the ledges of rocks are often incrusted over with white crystals of the carbonate of lime, and have the appearance of banks of salt: at times we seem to walk on diamond pavements; again our footway is of rounded pebbles, and seems the bed of a river which had deserted its channel. Often we pass small streams of water; and the water is continually dripping from the ends of the stalactites, the echoing sound of which, when it drops, forms the only interruption to the profound silence which reigns throughout the cavern.

To give an idea of the diversified shapes which these concretions assume in the progress of their formation, (and they are constantly forming,) would be impossible. Suffice it to say, that there is scarcely any thing on earth to which they may not be supposed to form a resemblance; and yet, in fact, they are unlike any thing but themselves.

It is generally known that the earth in these caves contains the nitrates of lime, and potash, and other salts. The numerous caves which have been found in the Cumberland mountains and other parts of Tennessee, have been very productive of the nitrate of potash. In the investigation of the causes which have given origin to these salts, it may be recollected, that wild animals burrow in these caves; that when pursued by the hunter, they make them the places of their retreat, and probably die there; that the aborigines have made them a place of burial; and that the streams of water which flow through them in wet weather, carry with them not only great quantities of leaves but many other vegetable productions.

The _natural bridge_ is celebrated as one of the greatest curiosities of the world. Viewed by a geologist, it would probably be considered as a cave (so to speak) _unroofed_ in all but one place. It seems improbable that if the ravine had been made by a convulsion, which had split and separated the rock to the distance of fifty or sixty feet, any part of it, and particularly so large a mass as that which forms the bridge, should have been left, without exhibiting any marks of violence. The rock is limestone. It is known that this rock wears away rapidly under the attrition of water; and the supposition does not appear improbable, that, in the lapse of ages, so large a creek as that which flows below the bridge, may have worn as deep a ravine as that which now strikes us with so much surprise, In short, may not a cave have been originally formed where the ravine is now, and the pending portion of it have fallen in at every place except that which now forms this celebrated natural curiosity?

_Mineral Springs._--The mineral springs of this region are numerous and diversified. Chalybeate springs are promiscuously scattered over the whole of it; and springs impregnated with sulphuretted hydrogen are quite common. Salt springs and licks are found more in the western than the eastern range of mountains. That which was first wrought by William King, is well known. The salt here is associated with gypsum. In the same range of mountains, farther to the southwest, there are now several other salt-works, and also one to the west, on Goose Creek, in Kentucky, which has been very productive.

_The Warm Springs._--These springs are situated in a country which presents many attractions to the travelling geologist; and much light, it is hoped, will yet be thrown on the geology of our country, by a more minute and accurate examination of it than has yet been made.

The warm springs ooze through the sand on the south bank of the French Broad river, in the mountains which divide the state of Tennessee from her parent state, about the 36th parallel of latitude. The temperature of the water is about 95° of Fahrenheit.

On the opposite side of the river from the springs is a geological curiosity. A limestone rock is seen dipping under the sandstone which forms the country. Limestone is nowhere else to be seen within six miles of this place. In this limestone rock is a cave similar to others already described.

_Paint Rock_, in the vicinity of the Warm Springs, is interesting on many accounts. It is a bold precipice on the bank of French Broad river. At this place the river passes with a very rapid current directly across the course of a mountain, which terminates abruptly, and forms the precipice on the north bank of the river. On looking at the rock, the opposite end of the mountain, and the ruins around it, the mind is insensibly carried back to the contemplation of some dreadful commotion in nature, which probably shook these mountains to their bases.

The rock is composed of a _clay slate_; and it is here again remarkable, that this stone is not to be seen in any other place within some miles. It has received its name from some red paintings, (probably left on it by the Indians,) which have the appearance of hieroglyphics.

To conclude. It will be seen from the above observations, that this country presents a vast field of most interesting research, and claims the attention of every traveller who is interested at all in geological inquiries. If what has been said will at all contribute to the enlargement of the general stock of our knowledge on these subjects, the writer will be much gratified; and it is his sincere wish, that the accuracy of his remarks may be tried, and his mistakes corrected, by the researches of succeeding travellers.

ART. XI. _Notice of Professor Mitchill's Edition of Cuvier's Essay on the Theory of the Earth._

The American scientific public are under obligations to Professor Mitchill for bringing this book within their reach. It is one of the most eloquent, impressive, and instructive works on this grand but obscure subject, with which the world has ever been favoured. The reader is no sooner drawn within the current of Cuvier's eloquence, than he is borne along almost without the power or wish to escape. It is believed there are few intelligent and enlightened persons, whether geologists or not, who would fail to be gratified by a book which secures the understanding by a strict course of reasoning from facts, and delights the taste by a style bold, terse, and lucid, but at the same time rich and flowing.

The analysis of this work has been ably performed in Europe, and there is, therefore, the less necessity to attempt it here. While we take the liberty thus to recommend it, we do not hold ourselves strictly bound to the admission of _every one_ of Cuvier's doctrines; and might, perhaps, wish that in a few instances he had been somewhat more explicit, or somewhat more qualified.

The additions by Professor Jameson, of Edinburgh, are valuable and interesting, and are retained in the present edition.

Those by Professor Mitchill will be perused with pleasure and advantage. The learned author has assembled, in one view, a great mass of facts, partly resulting from his own journeys and observations, and partly deduced from other respectable sources. We have no doubt that most of these facts will be considered by the scientific world as very interesting, whatever views they may entertain of the conclusions built upon them. The author has occupied himself principally upon those portions of the United States, which, by the organized remains both of animals and vegetables, with which they more or less abound, exhibit the most decisive and interesting evidence of changes and catastrophes, whose history is to be sought in the memorials entombed in the strata themselves.

We give no opinion regarding the theories of Professor Mitchill, not intending to review the work, but merely to aid, as far as in our power, in drawing the public attention to the interesting subjects about which it is occupied.

If we have any remark to add, it is, that an adherence to the technical precision with which most rocks are at the present day described, appears desirable in mineralogical and geological descriptions. When in the valuable additions before us we read of schorl rock, we gain only the idea of a rock containing that mineral; but as it occurs occasionally in several of the primitive rocks, we are at a loss which is intended; we believe it never forms a rock by itself. So with the slate rocks: there are several varieties of them--mica slate, clay slate, greenstone slate, &c. besides some subdivisions; and the mere word slate does not always give us the precise idea. But we are aware that, in the present case, it was less in view to go into all the details of geological description, than to give a view of our organized remains and of their supposed origin.

ART. XII. _Notice of Eaton's Index to the Geology of the Northern States, together with a Transverse Section of the Catskill Mountain to the Atlantic._

The extensive collection of facts in this little book of fifty-four pages, is creditable to the author's industry and discernment: he informs us that he has travelled 1000 miles on foot, while investigating the geology of the district concerning which he has written. This district is certainly interesting, and every attempt to diffuse correct information concerning it, deserves encouragement. Mr. Eaton's account of the regions he has explored, has every mark of verisimilitude; and we commend his efforts to diffuse geological information, by short courses of lectures, in different towns. In his arrangement of rocks, he has deviated from Werner--has adopted some views of Bakewell, and some of his own. Werner's arrangement of rocks has, undoubtedly, its imperfections and its redundancies; and yet it may be questioned how far his system has been really improved by its different emendators. If Werner, by mentioning argillaceous schistus only in the primitive class of rocks, left us to dispose of it where we might, when we find it at one time, covering or sustaining anthracite, with impressions of ferns, and at another with impressions of fish and vegetables, and in contact with bituminous coal; still those who, with Mr. Eaton, throw argillaceous slate into the transition class, and omit it in the primitive and secondary, embarrass us with an equal difficulty; for we find argillaceous slate in contact, and alternating with, mica slate, and without any impressions of organized bodies, when we must, without a doubt, call it primitive.

This is the fact with the clay slate of the Woodbridge hills, near New-Haven, which is primitive; that of Rhode-Island, with anthracite, is transition; and that at Middlefields, west of Middletown, with impressions of fish, is secondary. Slate then appears to belong to all these three great classes of rocks.

As to the _metalliferous_ limestone, we do not so much object to the introduction of this term by Bakewell, although it appears to us quite as well to say that certain limestones, those of the transition class for example, are metalliferous. But is Eaton correct in referring such limestone as that of which the New-York City-Hall is built, to a metalliferous class? Is not that limestone decidedly primitive? The fact mentioned of its containing pyrites, hardly proves it to be metalliferous; since most rocks contain more or less of pyrites. Some other remarks of less importance we might add, but we prefer concluding by recommending this tract to the perusal of those who wish for information respecting the geological structure of New-England; and we think that Mr. Eaton is seriously aiding the progress of geology in the interior of New-England.

ART. XIII. _Notice of M. Brongniart on Organized Remains._

This distinguished mineralogist, so advantageously known by his excellent work on mineralogy--his researches in company with Cuvier, into the subterranean geography of the environs of Paris, and his superintendence of the great porcelain manufactory at Sevres, is attempting to form an extensive collection of organized remains.

Through Professor Cleaveland, we have received from him the following

NOTICE

_Concerning the method of collecting, labelling, and transmitting specimens of fossil organized bodies, and of the accompanying rocks, solicited by_ M. BRONGNIART.

The study of fossil organized bodies appears to be of the utmost importance in determining the relations of different formations, one of the principal objects of geology.

In order more effectually to appreciate the value of this method of investigation, it is necessary to multiply observations--to endeavour to render them exact and precise--and especially to make them upon a general plan.

M. Brongniart has been long occupied in such researches. The essay published by M. Cuvier and him, upon the geology of the environs of Paris, has afforded an example of their use.

He has laboured since this period to apply this method to other formations, which contain the relics of organized bodies; but he stands in need of much assistance, and he presumes to ask it, not only of naturalists, but even of all persons interested in the sciences. By means of the following instructions, he endeavours to avail himself of the kindness of persons the least conversant in the discrimination of fossils.

1. To collect all the fossil organized bodies which can be obtained; especially _the distinguishable impressions and remains of vegetables_ from coal countries, and beds of wood, coal, and others. The _shells_, _crustaceæ_, _madrepores_, _fishes_, &c. It is not necessary that these bodies should be either large or entire, but they must be sufficiently characterized to be capable of being recognized.

It is useless to transmit large unmeaning pieces, which are recommended only by their size--such as large ammonites--large madrepores--large pieces of petrified wood--fragments of the one, or small individuals of the other, are often sufficient. We may avoid also collecting the inner moulds ("des moules interieurs") of shells, because they are almost invariably incapable of being recognized.

2. Petrifactions, isolated and detached from their rock, are the most convenient in the determination of species; but when they cannot be separated from the rock, we need not hesitate to send them engaged; it is sufficient if a portion large enough for discrimination is visible.

Among shells, those are preferable which have the mouth or hinge in view; among madrepores, those on whose surface the figures (les étoiles) are distinguishable; among vegetables, those whose leaves are distinctly expanded, (expalmées.)

3. Upon the objects transmitted it is desirable to have, at least in part, the following notices:

1. The exact place from which the object comes: this is the most important circumstance, and the easiest to obtain.

2. The kind of formation in which it is found, and a specimen of the stratum, or at least of the rock, which contained it. It is desirable that this rock exhibit remains of petrifactions similar to those found in the stratum from which it has been drawn.

3. The nature of the formation of which this stratum or rock composes a part, and specimens of as many of the superior and inferior strata as can be obtained, designating the order of superposition of the strata.

4. It is important to designate, by the same mark, all the petrifactions _unquestionably_ found in the same stratum, or at least in the same formation. The specimens ought to be almost square--about three inches or more on a side, and one and a half thick.

5. It is equally important not to mix petrifactions found in different formations, or in different strata of the same formation; or if they are packed together, to distinguish them by numbers, marks, or labels.

When the preceding notices cannot be obtained, the first will suffice.

In order to collect the petrifactions, and to render them useful, it is not necessary to know them, nor to be perplexed to find them out; nor to be afraid of sending objects already known or of little note. A part of the preceding indications, connected with the most common petrifactions, will always render them useful. The important point then is, not to mix those which are found separate, nor to separate those which are found associated in the same stratum.

This is easily attained, by designating by a common number, letter, or any sign whatever, one particular formation or stratum, and by marking with the same sign all the petrifactions which are evidently found together.

The labels designating the place or the geological situation, may be placed in the papers which envelope the specimens, or a number, referring to an explanatory catalogue, may be attached to each specimen.

As far as possible, it is necessary to stick the labels or numbers to the pieces, by pasting; and the surest way is, to write upon the piece itself, 1st, the place where it is found; 2d, the number by which it is indicated in the historical notes above requested.

If there is not time to make out as many numbers or labels as there are pieces, it will be sufficient to unite in one box or packet all the petrifactions of one particular stratum, and to designate them by a general label.

It is necessary to pack the shells and other fragile pieces in separate boxes, and to wrap each piece in a separate paper.

M. Brongniart cannot allow himself to prefer such requests, except under the express condition, that a memorandum of all the expenses which the transportation and packing of the specimens may create shall accompany the letter of advice.

The objects destined for him may be sent by the common modes of conveyance, with a letter of advice, to the following address:

Mr. A. BRONGNIART, Member of the Royal Academy of Sciences, Engineer of Mines, etc. Rue Saint-Dominique, Faubourg Saint-Germain, No. 71, Paris.

ART. XIV. _Observations on a species of Limosella, recently discovered in the United States, by Dr. Eli Ives, Professor of Materia Medica and Botany, in the Medical Institution of Yale College._

This small plant was observed in flower in July, 1816, by Mr. Horatio N. Fenn (now of Rochester, State of New-York) in company with Dr. Leavenworth. The plant and the seeds have been preserved by me, in a flower-pot, from that time to the present. The plant was taken a few rods south of Mr. Whitney's gun manufactory, on the margin of the river, where it was covered by every tide. I have since observed the plant in great abundance on the margin of the Housatonuck, in Derby, and in those small streams in East Haven, Branford, and Guilford, which empty into Long-Island Sound.

A specimen of the limosella (with some specimens of the tillea) was sent to Z. Collins, Esq. of Philadelphia, who wrote me that Mr. Nuttall had found the same plant, a few days previous to the receipt of my letter, and that they had no question on the subject of the generic character, but that it would probably prove to be a new species.

In the transactions of the Medico-Physical Society of New-York, page 440, it is described under the name of limosella subulata. A description of the plant was published about the same time, by Mr. Nuttall, in the Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. (See Vol. I. No. 6. p. 115.)