The herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1835-1837, 1837-01-12

From scientific Tracts pusishea at Bostoal
Geology -Granite Rock.
BY SAMUEL FISH
1sss
r. nss Ss ss,. ~ Of
doa q III, card and 90 Of earth
%:. snd
Ms y N Mss ne Ssl
wc.Sss saalosous Y Gracte
yacS%Rf.1Sds: granite srucus':Asii aaIa,y
Gs sDsssr. usssss than
fhs rocks bcatercd promiscuously over the ground.
Win peojle in general there 10 no beauty percepi-
HE in thdn and no interest taken in the examination
80 their espectve varieties. They are looked upon
"a an membranes rather than as article of use
Nv thascientific and the artist they viewed in
different light. The geologist takes an interest IN
them fothe sake Of the information they furnish IN
regard tihe formation of the globe the sculptor and
aychitee for the use which is made of them in the
arts with they respectively practice.
Tho,h granite particularly for architectural pur-
noses. tised more extensively than any other spe-
c,es of kck, yet other kinds are abundantly used,
not onlfor building but for great variety OF pur-
noses Primitive lines one, sometimes called statu
arv male is a valuable article for statuary pnr-
noses :lorphyry is an excellent though expensise
article the columns of splendid edlfces clay -sate
used fohe outside covering for the roofs OF houses
gvpsurbr plaster of paris is used in agriculture ana
ransitS limestone, for the purpose OF making quick
lime ID building stone, and for slabs 10 nfe-Pia
ces, taes, &c. The uses to whlcn inc al' s.e
kinds docks are applied, are too numerous to men
Grare is but single species Of the great variety
of rocLhelongn TO the globe we inhabt To give
aproDddea OF this substance 1t Will De necessary %
enter is some account of rocks in general. per-
son tahq careless view of the rocks seattle cd over
the ear would consider them too numerous 10 adj
init of systematic arrangement. more Caieiui %
servatil shows this to be mistake Notnlng y
more ssy than to arrange them into distinct classes
and ehsbit them under their appropriate names.
Thoud they seem to exhibit an endless variety, they
are al1composed of about nine different minerals
The yrious combinations of these minerals, or SIM
pie sustances il what Principally occasions TINS va
rlety.
UNI within few years, nothing has been so much
neglected as this branch Of natural philosophy Man.
kind to very great extent, have been contentea 70
live il ignorance in regard to the component primer.
ples of the globe Very inaccurate and inconsistent
ideas have been entertained in respectto rocks Seine
persons suppose that they have ever existed just as
we behold them at the present day. Others suppose
that they grow-vegetate like plants. Even tne
great MI. Locke the most profound metapnysde Acc
Though they cannot be said to grow, they may De
said to be formed-just as many other things are
formed-out Of materials which previously existed
ancient period in the form Of something else The
outer shell or crust of the earth, il IL commonly
called was csnso dated out ola very different mate
rial or of different materials to prepare place for the
residence of animals and the growth OF vegetables.
The outer shell or crust Of the earth does not always
cx;st in the same FORM All that loose SOIL in
Geology called diuvium and auvium, has existed in
the form OF rocks and much that is now in CONSOLE
dated form, has existed IN the iorm OF dliuvlum and
alluvium. From certain causes, with considerable
portion of the outward crust there have been altena
lions in this respect. From the effects Of the atmos
phere the atiriton of rain running streams the beat
ing and rolling OF the ocean, irost ana variety q
other causes sed matter has been broken down and
nuIyerzed; and from protraced rest, heat pressure
cemen ing principle, and other causes, loose SOIL
has been consolidated and converted into thick beds
of rocks
70 divided into four classes The names Of the four
classes are primary primitive, transition or inter
mediate secondary and tertiary Besides these, some
biologists have fifth class, called quaternary, but
Generally what are called quariernary are included
s.oder the head of tertiary These were formed one
afer the other in the order they have been named.
There have been great number of theories formed,
n regard 10 the earth of them so inconsistent as
10 be exploded as soon as they were promulgated
Those theories which have borne the test of the great
,st scrutiny are what has been called the Neptunlan,
~h;ch accounts for all the recks from winery on
din. and the vucanian, which ascribes them 10 an
rneous or fiery origin. Some persons are aversc to
hpOYcs; ana WHEN tUty uIc uO' lOuhucu oHiucib uiu
ntiona principles, they do only serve 10 mislead IL
difficult however, to communicate information to
INV great extent without some regular theory.
I The Vulcanian theory, which ascnbes the forrna-
lion of the rocks TO gneous origin, seems TO have
the most facts to support III and that ~ the theory
most believed in by those who have had the best OPP
portunity toJudge. -,
According to this theory, or that modification Of il
which seems TO be the most rational, the earth was
once an entire body of igneous materials. Ii existed
an this state for long tune; and when the heat at It's
surface was sufficiently dsspated, II began to be in
erus,ed over Just as water freezes when the empera
tire Of the weather is below 80 f. This incrustaton
extended deeper and deeper, until the whole Of that
class of rocks was formed denomlnaed primitive
This, 10 Judge from appearances took place when
he earth was comparatively IN an undisturbed state
md Inc consolidation extended round the entire globe
rbe other rocks were formed afterwards, from der-
nj causes, and in different manner.
From n variety Of circumstances, and multiplicity
n evidences we have the greatest reason to suppose
nm, the earth since il first spoken into existence
,as undergone many great changes. The account OF
ne creation given by Moses shows this. Its pnmor-
lial state, according TO this sacred historian, was
without form and void" This was its embryo state
Ind was probably very different state from what
some people imagRe. The second state "a mention
"a by the same historian was when armament was
ormed. The third state was when the waters under
ne whole heaven were gathered unto one place, and
he dry land was made To appear, 80 that the earth
r,uqht forth grass, herb yielding seed after his kind
md fruit-,ree Welding fruit after his kind The fourth
vss when lights were placed IN the heavens when doy
was divided from night and when days, and seasons,