The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-09-03
0eoloGaeal Meeting.

Thu Ap,us, Meeiing Of the American Association Of
G.olosist. and Nstur.,t. commenced yetsIssy nos
ton in the Chair J. D. Dana Esq, appointed secre
tary and the following acting committee 9 ). JACK
,ns ksn%ca
Silliman, Hunt Red6eld Dana, the Geoiogst OF the
American Exploring Expedition, together with seVetsl
others who seemed to take lively interest IN The pro-
ceedngs The Chairman called the list OF the com
mittees who had been appointed to report on the nature
and properties Of several classes OF minerals vegetables
and animals, indigenous to the soil.
report read from Professor LOOMS OF the "com.
mttee the sediment of rivers" detailing particulars
in relation TO the Kennebec river The report showed
that daily record of the height Of the river had been
kept and whenever the water had be turhd the half
OF cubic foot of had been taken every morning.
which after standing - hours carefully drawn off,
and the sedment dried at of about 25o deg
Fahrenheit report in relation the Mississippi river
was also read detailing the nature and properties Of the
sediment deposited in that rver-containing varieties Of
chloride of lime soda &C. Thirty feet below the bed of
the river stages horns, and skeletons of animals and
fishes were found
opportunity to address the Association tomorrow (s
day in relation to observations made by him on
Mr. BSows wished to hear In some of the reports
detailed Of the velocity Of the currents in the
flyers. .
in which there three distinct currentone al the
rate of four miles, at two and halt miles; and there
were also edaies in the river He would merely men,
ton an anecsote in relation to the latter current
eddy A party OF young men went on an excursion
down this and after got into one o. these
music upon the shore and much asonshed to find
that should continue all night along the banks Of the
When morning dawned however. they soon discovered
that they had been caught in eddy and had been Kept
around all night ana hs 70
report on the fossil vegetation OF America, ny ): E.
Teschemacher, was presented and contained variety
of interesting information After lucid inquiry into
the properties OF nutritious vegetation, 1t went on to
state that the copper ore, recently brought from New
Jersey consists of the blue and green carbonaes, ana
bedded in the carhonates From every appearance" the
whole was originally sulphurc the exterior of VIII ch
TO a considera depth has decomposed, and con-
verted into these csrbonates The most probable cause
Of this conversion is the contact OF the suhure alter us
election ON below with carbonic acid dissolved in IL
quid precisely such liquid as might be expected to be
formed from a surface OF water with superintendent
ance this decomposition and conversion of sulphuret
into csrbonates is not proceeding; the action
was changed 1t is not uncommon to find sulphuret Of
lead converted into carbonate, but have any
instance so clear and striking as that OF the copper ore
CRYSTALS OF carbonate Of lime often found in state
Of decomposition, and have severe! specimens on
ed crystal Chemists well aware that, although car
Donate of lime insoluble in water, it is soluble in wa
ter charged with carbonic acid on the supposuon OF
an atmosphere Of carbonc acid gas with which the i'm
extent Of surface water would be mpregnated,
these phenomena easily eXpcable
Nor should be forgotten that the density of carbonic
acid gas being I524, the present atmosphere looo hs
increased pressure of tho column would countervail
siderable quantity Of the first gas in solution
The report then gives list Of the fossil negotiations
from American localities, and concludes
The new and extensive field. opened by the working
Of the vast coal formations of the American continent
and the general progress Of science will undoubtedly
engage many in the pursuits of the chemical
microscopcai and botanical branches Of vegetable fos
sils from the knowledge acquired in these added TO
renewed ahors in the field may reasonably hope for
developments Of the greatest interest to geology.
hose who have studied the subject must have per-
ceved that although plates give an idea oil the outline
of form and yenaon Of fossil plants yet unless the art
list hmself well versed in their distinctive characters
the specimens themselves are indispensable to form
correct opinions BY careful inspection Of these, dis
tinctions are much moro readily apparent
Tb. m.etnp here took short in order to mako
arrangements relative to the order Of business
The CHAIRMAN stated he would De unable 10 act as
Chairman of the business committee.
Mr.. MEIGs motion, was here appointed chairman
of the Committee. -
G Red6eid requesting tho pleasure OF the company OF
the association to spend the evening with him at his resi-
dence No. 324 Greenwich street, in the evening ats
O'Clock
The invitation accepted
MIR. BaowS moved a resolution to instruct the com.
mees rivers to report on the currents and counter
currents of rivers. Adopted.
The committee business here reported that lectures
Soes on the Geology Of Lake superior SC by D.
Dana on the Volcanoes of the Moon by j. II Blake,
the Native Gold of Dedham, Massachusetts, by j. A.
with popular lectures other subjects to be delivered
the New York University which would gladly be ten
Professor SlLLIMAN suggested that some enquiry
should be made relative to native gold found in Vi
ginia. The ubject interesting and was cal
culated in instances to mslead persons who were
paper read, frem DR.. Perkins, in relation to
earthquakes of which there appeared to be about
hundred indications in this region for the last two
tuies The shock lately felt at Boston was felt in New
buryport on the 25th August last
Professor begged to make remark, that in
relation the shocks felt many cases. which may be
ton twas ell known that the earth contained combust
BILE matter which often had internal struggles producing
gas and steam and may in many instances be produced
from local causes lie referred to the earthquakes, or
Shocks that felt in New England in support of his
Mr. DroKrSsox explained in relation to shocks that
felt in Mississippi in lsll and were also felt at
The Association adjourned to meet at O'Clock, P NJ.
splendid collection Of Minerals is offered for sale at
the College Many Of the specimens as from the mag
Sir q. Tuthll and were recently purchased by gen.
teman in London long dstng for his devotion
mincraogy by whom they were sent to friend in this
country.
DR.. T. JACKSON in the char.
The SECRETARY read paper sentin by Mr. Cozzens, q
member oil the society, the subject OF the earthly
matter contained in vegetable substances The writer
vegetable substances but was found in the greatest
quantity in the plants and leaves OF plants in all the 70
Of the United States that from his experience he
thought this fine earthly matter was carried up in thu
sap by the roots of the plat and by natural pro-
cess, Afterwards formed constituent part OF plant
itself which he concluded that great part Of the
earth Of forests afterwards produced by those
plants and vegetables when they became decomposed.
The writer also made very interesting remarks on
boulders and stated to be his opinion that when Net
with the surface of the EARTH they frequently
they drawn their by the operation Of roots of trees
in seeking for themselves moisture and nourishment
Some very interesting experiments made by Mr. Coz
zens ascertain the quantity of earthly or ashy matter
in given quantity Of vegetable matter were also re-
ceived. By Of those experiments. it appears that,
from grains of wood Vegetable substance) he OBJ
tanned 3l7 grains Of ashy or earthly matter.
After the paper read anondescript specimen o.
is supposed sh the species of which is extinct,
was presented 1t was sent to the Society from