Chapter XI: Part II: Ontology--Of Singulars (3)

Text size

507. As there is not simply a single earth, salt, Inflammable and metal, but in each class many of them; we have to inquire what is the groundwork of their further distinctions or of their systematic division. Here also may we go to work again chemically and philosophically.

a. _Chemical Division._

The _Metals_, _chemically_ regarded, do not admit of being separated into constituent parts. They exhibit only physical differences in gravity, colour, hardness, malleability, conducting power, tension or their mutual polarity. If it be endeavoured to arrange them according to these respects, nothing but disorder results. The same is the case in reference to their affinity for oxygen, sulphur, the acids and other metals. Rather more order is at once displayed if their philosophical composition, namely as carbon and fire, be submitted to our consideration.

508. In consequence of this view, the _Metals_ must divide into Earth-metals and Fire-metals; and the latter again into three subdivisions, nearly as follows:--

A. Earth-metals--difficultly fusible and invariably oxydized--Sidereometalla, e. g. Iron--Manganese, Wolfram, Uranium, Titanium, Chromium, &c.

B. Fire-metals.

a. Heavy metals; difficultly fusible, unoxydized or noble metals, e. g. Platinum, Nickel, Cobalt.

b. Light metals; the easily fused noble metals--e. g. Gold, Silver, &c.

c. Heat-metals; the easily fused, ignoble and frequently volatile metals, e. g. Lead, Tin, Antimony, Zinc, Arsenic, &c.

509. The _Inflammables_ divide under a chemical point of view into two groups--into the varieties of Coal and Sulphur, whereof the Earthy lies at the basis of the former which is non-fusible; the Aerial at that of the latter. They do not admit of being divided, unless a mean betwixt the two be taken, the combinations of carbon and hydrogen in the resins.

510. The _Salts_ admit of a better dismemberment. Their constituent parts are alkalies and acids, the former the Earthy, the latter the Aqueous. The mean condition is exhibited by the neutral salts, so that three orders are the result.

511. Now by the philosophical view we have first attained to the very remarkable import of the acids. They are forsooth nothing else than oxydized elements and mineral classes. In the nitric acid it is evident that, as the acid of nitrogen, it is the _aerial acid_; as sulphuric acid is the _inflammable acid_; arsenic acid the _metallic acid_. Upon this ground we may expect that the other acids also have a similar origin. Without much hesitation hydrochloric acid may be viewed as the _aqueous acid_, which is associated with the sea; the carbonic acid as _æther-_ or _igneous-acid_, as well on account of its constituent parts and gaseous character, as chiefly on account of its general diffusion. There remain then only two that have been called mineral acids, the fluoric and boracic acids, the first of which, as conqueress of the earths is the _earth acid_, the last being thus the acid of the _salts_. We have accordingly--

a. _Elemental acids._

1. The oxydized æther is Carbonic acid.
2. The oxydized air Nitric acid.
3. The oxydized water Hydrochloric acid.

b. _Mineral acids._

4. The oxydized earth is Fluoric acid.
5. The oxydized salt Boracic acid.
6. The oxydized inflammable Sulphuric acid.
7. The oxydized metal Arsenic acid.

512. The vegetable and animal acids are none other than repetitions of the elemental and mineral acids. They may perhaps be parallelized in the following manner.

Fire-acid (Carbonic acid) Acetic acid Hæmatosine.
Air-acid (Nitric acid) Malic acid Lactic acid.
Water-acid (Hydrochloric acid) Saccharine acid Mucic acid.
Earth-acid (Fluoric acid) Tartaric acid Phosphoric ac.
Salt-acid (Boracic acid) Tannic acid Uric acid.
Inflammable-acid (Sulphuric acid) Succinic acid Sebacic acid.
Ore-acid (Arsenic acid) Indic acid Formic acid.

All the remaining acids must be viewed as subordinate to, or as kinds of these.

513. The _alkalies_ appear to follow the same course, though it does not admit of being so completely demonstrated.

Fire-alkali Ammonia Vegetable, and Animal alkalies.
Air-alkali Potash Alcaloids Alcaloids.
Water Soda Urea.
Earth Lithium Bile, &c.
Salt
Inflammable
Ore-alkali

514. The earths proper do not consist of two principles, and do not, therefore admit of being chemically divided.

515. This division is only incorrect in a naturo-historical sense, because it has no reference to the totality. Inasmuch as every mineral class is viewed as having originated out of only one or two elements, it divides by the chemical method only into constituent parts or fractions, as the acids and alkalies, which are obviously only moieties, and taken in a strict sense are not true minerals.

b. _Genetic Division of the Classes._

516. The total division only is genetic and consequently correct.

517. As the classes have originated through that which directly preceded them, namely, the elements; so must the divisions of the classes be determined by the other classes. Such divisions are called orders. Every class necessarily divides into four orders.

Order 1. Earths.
2. Salts.
3. Inflammables.
4. Ores.

_CLASS I._

EARTHS.

518. There must be therefore pure earths, haloid or salt-earths, inflammable earths and metallic earths or ores.

1. The Earth-earths must have neither saline, nor inflammable nor metallic properties, and thus also be insoluble in acids. Such is the case with the _Silicious earths_.

2. The Haloid-earths must have saline properties, dissolve in acids, but not fall to pieces when exposed to air and fire. Such is the behaviour of _Argillaceous earth_; it admits besides of combining with water, that antetype of the salts.

3. The Inflammable earths must be soluble in acids and exhibit electric or aerial properties. Such is the behaviour of the _Talcose earths_; its minerals are unctuous, fall when exposed to the air into electric lamellæ, and burn brittle.

4. The Metallic earths must undergo change in acids, air and fire. The _calcareous earth_ dissolves in all acids, burns corrosive and becomes almost a metallic calx. The Orders of earth are consequently:

1. Earth-earths _Silica_; Quartz, &c.
2. Haloid-earths _Clays_; Felspar, &c.
3. Inflammable-earths _Talcs_; Mica, &c.
4. Metallic-earths or Ores _Calx_.

519. Nature does not produce any so-called pure calcareous earth, but only this earth in an _oxydated_ condition. Carbonic acid is the oxygen of the earth that has become free, and the corroding calx is the Metallic, the other constituent part of the Earthy, which has obtained some oxygen, but lost the Aqueous by the carbonic acid and thereby has become corrosive.

520. The carbonate calcareous earth is the whole earth, not the corrosive. This is only the half of the earth-element, only its basic or phlogistic principle. What has been called pure calcareous earth is a half earth; the perfect or naturo-historical earth is just that which is chemically impure.

521. The calcareous earth is not, however, perfected with one position. It still exhibits several stages of development which appear to be approximations to the salt, e. g. Strontian and Baryta.

522. The silicious earth, which principally represents the Earthy, holds its principles more firmly together. No separation occurs there in the carbonic acid and the basic or corroding body of earth; no association with water, no great activity, no direct participation in the highest evolutions of the planet; but it continues to lie in an extreme state of contraction, and in a state of indifference in the non-differencing darkness.

523. This pure earth is the basis, the pedestal of all the other earths, and the foundation of the planet; for it alone is the earth proper, the earth-abiding earth-element, while the other masses of earth, divided in their principles, have pitched themselves in outward opposition to the sun and other elements. The silicious earth is in every respect the centre of all earthy productions, these being only digressions from it. The Zircon earth is only a removal or displacement of the silicious toward the argillaceous earth.

524. The argillaceous earth also is not dissevered into its principles; it is not found as a carbonate. On the contrary, it is at once shown to be far more pliable by its capacity for being kneaded and moulded in water, and by its hardening when exposed to air and fire. It is also seized upon and dissolved, i. e. reduced to the aqueous condition, by all acids. Its kindred earths are the Glucine and Yttria, verging towards the talcose earths.

525. The first dismemberment of principles is shown by the talcose earth. Where it appears uncombined with the former earths it is carbonate, yet still feebly corrosive.

526. These three principal earths together make up the body of the earth, while the calcareous earth is only spread over them like a mantle or crust.

527. As no earth is in its totality corrosive, and none such occurs in nature or has at least not been originally produced from it, so may the insolubility of the earths in water be set up as an essential and thoroughly valid characteristic of the earths. Their distinctive characters have been sedulously rendered fluctuating, by having been drawn not from nature, but the products of art. That the corrosive chalk is soluble in water, and may therefore be a salt is true; but it has not issued thus out of the womb of nature. Mineralogy knows nothing of a corrosive calcareous earth. The earths are sufficiently separated from the salts by their insolubility in water. They are separated from the ores by their incombustibleness, or, if they have been already burnt, by their incapacity for reduction. As both of these qualities are imparted by fire, so the earths are distinguished by their immutability in fire, whereby is naturally understood not the scoriation, but change of the earthy character. They differ also in the same manner from the Inflammables. Nature does not undertake the artificial reductions of earths to Metalloids, at least not so, that they may become again of themselves earths. The metals are permanent reductions.

528. Earth is thus the body, which is mutable neither in water, air, nor fire. _Earth is a water-, air-, and fire-proof body._ This is the brief, rigid, wholly exclusive, and significantly expressive definition, which a so-called empirical science could never, but philosophy alone, bestow.

529. The Ore is not soluble in water, nor mutable in air; on the contrary, it is fusible, oxydizable, or reducible in fire. _Ore is a water-and air-, but not fire-proof body._

530. The Inflammable is immutable in water, but mutable in air and fire. _The Inflammable is a water-proof, but not air-and fire-proof body._

531. The Salt is soluble in water, and decomposible in fire, but immutable in air. _Salt is an air-, but not water-and fire-proof body._ The legitimate series of gradations comprised in the above four definitions cannot escape the attentive reader, nor moreover that the properties of the earths are all affirmative. Nature has not employed such insignificant means of distinction as our mineralogy has done; has nowhere used an acid in order to distinguish the metals from the earths, nor savour to separate the salts from the earths; but she selects universal reagents which are the elements themselves. So simple is Nature, if we do not violate her by art.

DIVISION OF THE EARTHS.

532. There is not merely a single silicious mineral, but many such, just as in clay, talc, and calx. How, then, do differences occur in these earths? When we survey the science of Mineralogy we remark that most minerals are composed of several earths; with them also metals, coal, sulphur, alkalies and acids are frequently associated. It follows thereupon that the further distinctions are no longer of an _internal_ kind, namely, alterations of substance; but proceed from combinations and thus indicate stöchiometric bodies. The next division of the orders I call _Families_.

Order 1. _Silicious_ minerals. *

533. With how many bodies now can the silicious earth combine? It will first of all appear in a pure condition, as in quartz; then, in the next place, combine with the other earths, thus with clay, talc and calx. We have thus four families of _Earth-silices_.

Fam. 1. Pure-Silex Quartz.
2. Argillaceo-Silex Zircon.
3. Talco-Silex Emerald.
4. Calcareo-Silex Leucite.

534. Thus the hardest minerals or the silicious precious stones are here placed. But these are obviously not exhausted with the above four combinations, but more of the latter must still be sought for. Those bodies which rank next to the earths, and can therefore enter into the following combinations are the other mineral classes, such as the salts, Inflammables, and metals; and we accordingly obtain the following _silicious_ minerals, as constituting _classes_.

Fam. 5. Salt-Silex Topaz.
6. Inflammable-Silex Diamond.
7. Ore-Silex Garnet.

535. Still all the silicious minerals are not exhausted with these combinations. But now the silicious earth can combine with nothing more than the _elements_, whence three families originate.

Fam. 8. Water-Silex Hornstone, Silicious schist, Jasper, Flint, Opal.
9. Air-Silex Silicious sinter, as Tripoli and Polierschiefer.
10. Fire-Silex Obsidian with Pitchstone, Pearlstone and Pumice.

536. Upon casting a glance at this series, it is shown, that the first seven families occur in a crystalline, but the last three only in a compact or structureless condition. The latter occur at the same time in large masses, the former, on the contrary, but scantily dispersed. The first family or the quartz, occurs as well in a compact and massive state as crystallized; the others, on the contrary, taken collectively, are only crystallized, and scarcely form small rocks here and there, but never mountain-chains. They are the precious stones proper, both on account of their hardness, as also their rarity. Precious stones are thus only combinations of silex with other earths, and with the classes; on the contrary, the elemental silices only, viz. the earth-, water-, air-and fire-silices, are massive.

537. It is here shown, that freedom finds a place also in dead nature. Quartz only is necessary as the earth in general. Its marriages with the other earths, &c., to form precious stones are not necessary, but free or accidental, and may therefore happen for the first time in the laboratory.

538. If we now proceed to the arrangement of the Clay, we find exactly the same law to prevail in the genesis of its minerals i. e. stöchiometric combinations with other orders, classes, and elements. We have likewise--

A.--_Earth-Clays._

Fam. 1. Silicious clays Felspar.
2. Argillaceous clays Sapphire.
3. Talcose clays Ruby.
4. Calcareous clays Epidote.

B.--_Class-Clays._

5. Salt-clays Schorl.
6. Inflammable clays Azurite.
7. Ore-clays Harmotome.

C.--_Elemental-Clays._

8. Water-clays Clay-slate.
9. Air-clays Potter's-clay, Clay-stone.
10. Fire-clays Lavas, Phonolite, Toad-stone.

The water-clays are hydrates; the air-clays volatilized hydrates; the fire-clays are clay fused or transmuted by heat. Here also the first 7 families only are crystallized; the 3 last, on the contrary, as well as the first in part, occur only in a compact state and in large masses.

539. The Talcs follow the same laws, and we have--

A.--_Earth-Talcs._

Fam. 1. Silicious talcs Mica.
2. Argillaceous talcs Sapphirine.
3. Talcose talcs Talc, Chlorite.
4. Calcareous talcs Augite.

B.--_Class-Talcs._

5. Salt-talcs Hornblende.
6. Inflammable-talcs Asbestus.
7. Ore-talcs Olivine.

C.--_Elemental-Talcs._

Fam. 8. Water-talcs Serpentin, Steatite.
9. Air-talcs Lithomarge, Fuller's-earth, Bole.
10. Fire-talcs Basalt.

Here also the first 7 families only are crystallized and occur for the most part in a scattered manner; but the aqueous, aerial, and igneous families, as well as the first family in part, are merely compact and mountainous masses.

540. The fourth order or that of the Calcareous earths is developed likewise according to the same laws. As, however, it approximates the salts, and therefore combines with acids, it presents many anomalous varieties, of which account cannot be taken in every instance. These minerals are soft throughout, change by fire and admit of being wholly or partially dissolved in acids. Here belong the zeolites, or combinations of the calcareous earths with the other earths.

A.--_Calcareous earths, Zeolites._

1. Silicio-calcareous earths Lapis lasuli, Scapolite.
2. Argillaceo- " Mesotype, Analcime, Stilbite.
3. Talco- " Stellite.
4. Calcareo- " Tabular spar.

B.--_Classes of Calcareous earths._

5. Halo-calcareous earths Boracite.
6. Inflammable- " Phosphate of lime, Fluorspar?
7. Ore- " Titanite, Tungsten.

C.--_Elemental-Calcareous earths._

8. Water calcareous earth Hydrophyllite? Wavellite.
9. Air- " Gypsum, Heavy-spar, Celestine.
10. Fire- " Limestone.

Here also the first 7 tribes only occur crystallized, the 3 last, in a great measure, compact, and as mountainous masses.

_CLASS II._

WATER-EARTHS. SALTS.

541. The chief distinctions of the salts consist also in their combination with the other classes, and we have therefore 4 orders--

1. Earth-Salts Double-salts.
2. Saline-Salts Neutral-salts.
3. Inflammable-Salts Saponaceous-compounds.
4. Metallic-Salts Vitriols.

The same will hold good without doubt of the orders, as in the case of the earths. They form as many families as there are principal masses of them present, with which they may combine. As the acids, from being the children or offspring of water, play the chief part in the water minerals, and are themselves nothing else than oxydized and outwardly lying masses, they carry consequently within themselves the number and import of the families; thus it is they which determine indeed the division. If the bases were to be taken as the groundwork of arrangement, there would be only earths and alkalies, and on the other hand numerous metals, by which step the mineralogist would fall into the unprincipled method of classification adopted by empirics. Here also the philosophy of nature shows, and that indeed upon sound reasoning, that the acids and not the bases afford the principle of a natural classification. A somewhat different opinion is held by the chemist, who must characterize the salts according to both series; but this is by no means the course taken by the historian of nature.

ORDER I.

_Earth-Salts--Double Salts._

(Combinations of acids with earths.)

Fam. 1-4. Earthy-acids or Fluoric-acid earths; here also belong Bromic,
Iodic, and Cyanic acids.
5. Salt or Boracic-acid.
6. Inflammable or Sulphuric-acid--Alum, Sulphate of magnesia.
7. Metallic or Arsenic-acid.
8. Water or Hydrochloric-acid--the earths Barytes, Strontian, and Lime;
Murias ammoniæ, Chloride of Calcium.
9. Air or Nitric-acid--Strontium, Nitrate of lime.
10. Fire or Carbonic-acid--Vegetable-acid earths.

Order II.

_Salt-Salts--Neutral Salts._

(Combinations of acids with alkalies.)

1-4. Fluoric-acid
5. Boracic-acid Borax.
6. Sulphuric-acid Sulphate of soda, Sulphate of potash.
7. Arsenic-acid.
8. Hydrochloric-acid Rock-salt, Muriate of soda, Sal-ammoniacum or
salmiac.
9. Nitric-acid Nitrate of potash or saltpetre, Cream of tartar.
10. Carbonic-acid Soda, Subcarbonate of potash, Binoxalate of
potash, Acetate of potash.

ORDER III.

_Inflammable-Salts--Saponaceous-compounds._

(Soluble, and at the same time combustible bodies.)

1-4. Earth-Soaps Calcareo-sulphuret of potash.
5. Salt-Soaps Common sulphuret of potash.
6. Inflammable-Soaps Fatty or soft soaps.
7. Metallic-Soaps Metallic Soaps.
8. Water-Soaps Animal mucilages.
9. Air-Soaps Saccharum or sugar.
10. Fire-Soaps Vegetable extracts.

ORDER IV.

_Ore-Salts--Vitriols._

(Combinations of acids with metals.)

1-4. Fluoric-acid
5. Boracic-acid
6. Sulphuric-acid Iron, Copper, Zinc, Vitriol.
7. Arsenic-acid White arsenic.
8. Hydrochloric-acid Calomel, Corrosive sublimate.
9. Nitric-acid Nitrate of silver.
10. Carbonic-acid Sugar of lead.

_CLASS III._

AIR-EARTHS--INFLAMMABLES.

542. It is very difficult to arrange this class, because it has been wholly neglected by mineralogists, and is, properly speaking, quite unknown to them, because they have had recourse only to those combustible bodies which occur accidentally in the earth, while according to philosophical principles everything belongs to the province of natural history, that has originated or may originate in nature, so that its situation is a matter of complete indifference. If we follow the same laws according to which the earths and salts have been so excellently arranged, we must here also adopt four orders, namely, combustible things which bear a resemblance to earths, others to salts, others to metals; finally, others which represent combustibility in a pure state, and thus we obtain--

1. Earth-Inflammables Coals.
2. Salt-Inflammables Fats.
3. Inflammable-Inflammables Resins.
4. Ore-Inflammables Colouring matters.

The Earth-inflammables will be such as are solid and burn, without becoming fluid, e. g. Common Coal. The Salt-inflammables will either be or become fluid before they undergo combustion, and are readily converted of themselves into acids, e. g. Animal and Vegetable Fats. The Inflammable-inflammables will be of a sulphurous character, solid or fluid, fragile, electric, fetid and fluid before they burn. These properties are found in the Resins. The Ore-inflammables are those which, independently of their combustibility, possess pre-eminently one property of metals, namely their non-transparency, or coloration, e. g. the Pigments or colouring matters from the organic kingdoms.

ORDER I.

_Earth-Inflammables--Coals._

1-4. Earth-Coals Common-coal, a mixture of coal and earths.
5. Salt-Coals Gunpowder, viz. a combination of charcoal with
a salt.
6. Inflammable-Coals Glance-coal, viz. carbon without earths.
7. Ore-Coals Black-lead, or carburet of iron.
8. Water-Coals Peat-bog and brown or Common coal?
9. Air-Coals Lignite or wood-coal?
10. Fire-Coals Animal carbon, fibrine.

ORDER II.

_Salt-Inflammables--Adipaceous or Unctuous bodies._

1-4. Earth-fats Spermaceti? Tallow.
5. Salt-fats Lard and Train-oil?
6. Inflammable-fats Butter?
7. Ore-fats Wax?
8. Water-fats Vegetable oils?
9. Air-fats Desiccative or drying oils.
10. Fire-fats Greasy oils.

ORDER III.

_Inflammable-Inflammables--Resins._

1-4. Earth-resins Sulphur, Phosphorus.
5. Saline-resins Chloride of sulphur, Chlorate of Sulphur.
6. Inflammable-resins Mineral-pitch, Amber, Turpentine.
7. Ore-resins Balsams.
8. Water-resins Gum-resins.
9. Air-resins Ætherial oils.
10. Fire-resins Alcohol, Æther.

ORDER IV.

_Ore-Inflammables--Pigments._

1-4. Earth-pigments Ochre-pigments.
5. Salt-pigments Soluble-pigments from roots and wood, such
as Krapp and Dier's-weed.
6. Inflammable-pigments Retinoid-pigments from roots and wood, such
as Dragon's-blood, Turmeric.
7. Ore-pigments Indigo or devil's-dye.
8. Water-pigments Sap-colours, such as Sap-green, Oak-gall.
9. Air-pigments Flower colours, such as Saffranon and
Saffron.
10. Fire-pigments Animal colours, as Scarlet and Blood-red.

_CLASS IV._

FIRE-EARTHS--ORES.

543. The metals are again easier of arrangement, because they have a resemblance to earths and have been better worked out both in chemistry and mineralogy. They divide very naturally into--

1. Earth-Ores Ochres, combinations of metals with oxygen.
2. Salt-Ores Haloids, insoluble combinations of metals with
acids.
3. Inflammable-Ores Blendes, combinations of metals with Sulphur,
Phosphorus, and Selenium.
4. Metallic-Ores Pure metals.

The principles of this arrangement which has been at present pretty generally followed, were first published in my essay 'Das naturliche System der Erze,' 1809. In order to gain a proper insight into the serial gradation of all the families we must first regard the 4th order.

ORDER I.

_Earth-Ores--Ochres._

1. Silicious-Ochres Metallic calces with silicious earth, as
Lierite, Dioptase, Electric calamine.
2. Argillaceous-Ochres Clay-iron-stone.
3. Talcose-Ochres Blue-iron-stone.
4. Calcareous-Ochres Black oxyde of manganese.
5. Salt-Ochres Calces not peroxydized. Bog-iron.
6. Inflammable-Ochres Pure calces without metallic lustre, as
Wolfram, Protoxide of Uranium, Rutile,
Tin-stone.
7. Ore-Ochres Oxydulated, as Iron-glance, Red oxyd of Copper.
8. Water-Ochres Hydrates, as Brown-iron-stone-ore, Gray ore of
manganese.
9. Air-Ochres Malm-rocks; volatilized Ochres of the
difficultly fusible metals, as Umbra, Yellow
earth, Earthy manganese, Black cobalt.
10. Fire-Ochres Slags, volatilized calces of the difficultly
fusible metals, as oxyde of or White antimony,
Protoxide of Arsenic.

ORDER II.

_Salt-Ores--Haloids._

Fam. 4. Earth-Haloids Fluoric-acid.
5. Salt-Haloids Boracic-acid.
6. Inflammable-Haloids Sulphuric-acid, as Sulphate of lead,
Phosphoric-acid as Green and Blue
phosphates of iron, Diarsenate of iron,
Uran-glance, Green phosphate of Lead.
7. Ore-Haloids Chromic-acid, as Chromate of lead,
Arsenic-acid, as Cube-ore, Arseniate of
iron, Olivenite, Cobalt-bloom.
8. Water-Haloids Hydrochloric-acid, as Muriate of copper,
Horn-silver.
9. Air-Haloids Nitric-acid.
10. Fire-Haloids Carbonic-acid, as Iron-spar, Red
manganese-ore, Earthy blue-copper,
Malachite, Carbonate of lead.

ORDER III.

_Inflammable-Ores--Blendes._

1. Silicious-Blendes Zinc-blendes, Cinnabar, Red antimony and
Ruby-silver-ore.
2. Argillaceous-Blendes Iron and Copper pyrites.
3. Talcose-Blendes Sulphuret of Titanium, Chrome, Uranium.
4. Calcareous-Blendes Sulphuret of Molybdena.
5. Salt-Blendes Copper-glance, Gray copper.
6. Inflammable-Blendes Nickel-glance, Cobalt-glance.
7. Ore-Blendes Sulphuret of Platinum.
8. Water-Blendes Gray antimony, Galena.
9. Air-Blendes Bismuth-glance, Arsenical pyrites.
10. Fire-Blendes Silver-glance-ore.

ORDER IV.

_Metallic-Ores.--Metals._

(Pure or reduced metals.)

544. The classification of metals is one of the most difficult, because no natural arrangement of them has been as yet attempted, and their signification is also so mysterious that we can only get at it, by clinging fast to the laws of development. Thus assuming, that they likewise arrange themselves according to the elements, classes and orders of the earths, we have at once the _Elemental metals_. The earth-metals are without doubt the difficultly fusible, ignoble or oxydized, such as iron with its congeners. Then the air-metals present themselves with their peculiar character of volatility, as Arsenic with its congeners. These being once rendered solid, the easily fusible but non-volatile will correspond to water, such as Lead with its congeners. The noble metals consequently as Gold, Silver, &c., must doubtless be regarded as fire-metals. Having once separated these 4 groups, the _Class-metals_ admit of being more readily brought into their place. There is one metal, which subjected to moisture is readily converted into a salt, namely copper. This is consequently the representative of the salts among the metals. Ore-metals are, without doubt, those resembling iron, which do not, however, occur in an oxydized condition and are therefore noble Irons. Of this kind are Platinum with its retinue. Between Copper and Platinum nothing else can be introduced but Nickel and Cobalt, as they are likewise difficultly fusible and tolerably noble. They are thus the Inflammable metals. After all these separations a great group is still left of the earth-metals or the difficultly fusible and ignoble. They divide therefore without doubt according to the 4 earths. If now iron approximates the argillaceous-earths, so will those metals whose oxydes are distinguished by a striking colour be regarded as talc-metals. Of this kind are Titanium, Chromium, Uranium, which crystallize moreover into spiculæ like hornblende, or into lamellæ like mica. These again being separated the silicious and calcareous-metals remain for investigation. The former are those which scarcely admit of being reduced; the latter, on the contrary, those which approximate to the noble, difficultly fusible metals, namely to platinum. It can hardly be doubted that Tantalum is the silicious-metal. For the calcareous-metals Sulphuret of Molybdenum is left, to which Osmium seems to approximate. We have accordingly the following genetic arrangement:

A.--_Earth-Metals._

(Difficultly fusible and ignoble.)

1. Silicious-Metals Tantalium.
2. Argillaceous-Metals Wolfram, Cerium, Manganese, Iron.
3. Talcose-Metals Titanium, Chromium, Uranium, Vanadium.
4. Calcareous-Metals Molybdenum, Osmium.

B.--_Class-Metals._

(Difficultly fusible and noble.)

5. Salt-Metals Copper.
6. Inflammable-Metals Nickel, Cobalt.
7. Ore-Metals Platinum, Palladium, Iridium, Rhodium.

C.--_Element-Metals._

(Easily fusible or noble.)

8. Water-Metals Antimony, Lead, Tin
9. Air-Metals Zinc, Cadmium, Bismuth, Arsenic.
10. Fire-Metals Tellurium, Mercury, Silver, Gold.

Every one will easily see that these groups of metals agree with their antetypes in properties, as also that this arrangement is more natural than any that has hitherto been advanced. Glancing at it, it must strike the reader that in several of the families 4 metals are present, and that none exceed this number. There are 4 sideroid, 4 titanoid, 4 platinoid, 4 arsenicoid and 4 argyroid metals. Now, as they are to be viewed as deoxydized earths, it must be assumed that in each family they are mindful of their origin, and everywhere represent the 4 earths along with the character of their family. They are earths divided unto the last members, or reduced in a primo-chemical manner. In order to recognize the parallelism of the classes, orders and families, we have only to compare the adjoining table. We cannot expect to find all the minerals ranging there in their proper place. For we are treating the subject at present only as regards its principles.

Table A
FIRST CLASS.

EARTH-EARTHS--EARTHS.

SECOND CLASS.

WATER-EARTHS--SALTS.

THIRD CLASS.

AIR-EARTHS--INFLAMMABLES.

FOURTH CLASS.

FIRE-EARTHS--ORES.

II.--_GEOLOGY_.

545. Geology is the history of the formation of the planet. It is the doctrine which comprises the structure and thus the form, with the organs or members of the planet, if we would compare the latter with an organic body.

1. _Form of the Planet._

546. Crystallization belongs to the essence of the earth as the globular form does to that of water. The life of the earth consists in the formation of crystals. The being of the earth and of the crystal are identical. The solid planet earth, has originated also according to the laws of crystallization.

547. It is not, however, a single large crystal, the structure of which appears to be homogeneous; but it is crystallized in its smallest parts; it is an accumulation of crystals, which its atoms, integral parts, or _constituent forms_ present for our examination. If a schorl or feldspar were extended to the size of the whole earth, its integral parts, though undiscoverable before by the microscope, would then become visible. Crystals would be exhibited therein of silicious, argillaceous, talcose, and calcareous earths, of iron, boracic acid, &c. In short it would prove a complex _kind_ of _rock_ or _mountain_. The fundamental or principal mass of the planet is thus a granular _kind_ of _rock_ or _mountain_, probably like granite. Each of these constituent forms is crystallized for itself out of the fluid-mass according to the laws developed in the theory of crystallization, in every point of the fluid a globe of crystallizing forces being constituted, that generated the constituent forms.

548. The earth (regarded as planet, not as element) has during its coagulation into a solid nucleus, generated an infinity of polar spheres, as every polar line consists of an infinite vicissitude of poles.

549. These integral crystals have originated only in drops of water; for then only was an infinite multitude of polar axes and polar radii separated from each other. Water in infinitely numerous drops is rain. In the primary rain each drop crystallized, and each fell towards the centre, because the primary water ranged over a vast extent. The granular rock has originated in and out of rain. It is crystallized _rain_.

550. It does not follow from this, that the earth should be an accidental accumulation of small crystals, which, by the rotation of the planet, formed themselves mechanically into a spheroid. As in small crystals the infinity of poles reunites to constitute some principal polarities, so also is this the case with the globe of the earth; this results from its genesis whereby it is present in a definite space, and hence coheres or hangs together as _one_ piece. The earth is only _one_ small punctule of contraction wrought in æther-space by the agency of light. Again, it was without doubt a single central tension, which, occurring upon a large scale, attracted together all the particles of æther, and from that circumstance arranged them also. It was probably magnetism, which is so intimately connected with the rotation of the earth's axis, or the conflict of magnetism in its interior with the electricity upon its surface, which was active in the condensation and arrangement of the masses.

551. This arrangement of the parts of the earth, upon a large scale, is a regulation of its constituent forms. The adjusting forces are, however, those that operate through the whole sphere, and are thus linear and spherical at one and the same time. By these the laminæ of the nucleus were determined. The constituent forms of the earth are consequently arranged in laminæ. What in the crystal is called the cleavage of the laminæ, is in the earth _stratification_. The strike of the strata combined with their dip determines the crystal nucleus of the earth.

552. The strike and dip of the strata happened without doubt according to definite laws of crystallization, and has by no means been resigned to elevating force, mechanical dislocation, or even to chance.

553. On this very account the two directions of the earth's laminæ cannot have a similar bearing over the whole earth. They can only have a long tract extending in the same direction in individual mountain-chains. This does not, however, exclude a parallel strike and dip occurring in some wholly different quarter of the world; it must indeed occur, and in such instances we meet with the opposing sides or edges of the earth's nucleus.

554. The earth has without doubt originated according to the laws of the polyhedron, which represents in the nearest manner the globe. The polyhedron of the globe is the rhomboidal dodecahedron.

555. The land cannot therefore have an equal elevation everywhere above the water, because the crystal consists of edges, angles, and surfaces or sides. The mountain tops are probably the angles, the mountain ridges or chains the edges, the plains the lateral surfaces of the crystal.

556. Several mountain-chains run parallel, but interrupted, with the equator. This parallelism extends to the most temperate zones. Then follow oblique mountain-chains, as the Carpathian, Alps, Pyrenees. Lastly, mountain-chains pass from the poles to the equator, as the Sewo, Ural and Altai mountains. Subordinate mountain-chains unite the latter transversely and the former in the direction of the meridian. The earth is probably a _regular_ net of crystal edges and angles, and thus of crystal surfaces also.

PRIMARY VALLEYS.

557. Although the earth may be regarded as originally a crystal, that consists of level surfaces, edges and angles, wide fissures may still have originated between its laminæ, such as we see in large crystals of felspar. These fissures or gaps are the primary valleys.

558. There must be therefore valleys or parallel valleys, which probably extend for hundreds of miles, and are many miles deep--Longitudinal valleys.

559. The laminæ of the earth had without doubt transverse fissures, which have been called hidden passages. These transverse fissures are the transverse valleys, which are consequently less long and deep.

560. The mountains originate of themselves. They do not properly originate, but valleys only originate, and the ridges of the crystal laminæ afford the mountains. The mountains have not been originally upheaved above the surface of the earth, nor the valleys depressed. A valley, which is several miles broad, must originally have been several miles deep, and the mountain wall consequently several miles high. The earth at its origin was a cloven and jagged polyhedron, a polyhedric star, such as the moon is still.

561. The mountains are not therefore large crystals, which crystallized above the surface of the earth. They are only crystal laminæ, and may be as irregular as possible in form; for they are ruptured crystals.

562. The water, which from the beginning had covered the polyhedron, now sunk into the primary valleys. From the water resulted new and final crystallizations, and these deposited themselves in the valleys, upon the level ground and the flanks of the mountains; and thus the fathomless primary valleys have been in part filled up. There are no longer any primary valleys upon the earth.

563. After the water was once confined in narrow canals, it must begin to flow, and by the force of its current many a steep primary wall must have fallen in, been crumbled into ruins, and either been left upon the spot or washed away--Diluvial drift rocks (Trümmersteine), Nagelfluhe, Stratified rocks.

564. The principal direction of the water was formerly, as it is even now, determined by the rotation of the earth; it flowed therefore from east to west under the equator, from north-east to south-west in our temperate zones, and pretty well from the north or from the poles toward the equator in the frigid zones.

565. The primary valleys, which had originated in these directions, were more excavated by aqueous agency than those which ran in other directions, new valleys being also produced; the mountain chains therefore upon the earth agree in the main with the water courses, and, though not generated from, have been certainly changed in character by, the latter. Such must be our conclusion, if in the formation of the earth nothing but crystallization be taken into consideration. Condensation alone brings yet other phenomena along with it.

Previous Next

Comments

Elements of PhysiophilosophyChapter XI: Part II: Ontology--Of Singulars (3)

0%34 min left in chapter