Weekly miners' express. (DuBuque, Iowa) 184?-1849, 1848-05-03
From tile American Artisan.
GEOLOGY FOR SCHOOLS AND
FAMILIES.
By JOSIAH HoLBRoor.

Geography geology, and geometry,
are all derived from the Greek word re,
slgnifying earth, or the world. Graplo,
meaning to write or. describe; added to
ge, makes Geography, describing the
earth. Logos, meaning word or dis
course, added, forms geology, or dis
course about the earth. MetTon, mean
ing measure, added, makes geometry, or
measuring the earth. These three sis
ter sciences, then, describe, analyze, and
measure the earth. Geography tells the
places and geology the ingredients Of
mountains, islands and continents. The
one tells where the Andes mountains are,
the other what they are. The one is,
hence, essential to full knowledge Of the
other. ,t&
After witnessing the great intelligence
and interest evlnced among the small chill
dren in the New York Public Schools,
the editor of the Tribune enquiries
"What more rational or appropriate start
ing point IN tho race after knowl-
edge can be selected than the elements
of our globe p at the same time adding,
"that every person in the world evident
ly ought to know what the world is made
off, especially as this information can be
acquired at an early age, with the great.
est ease and delight.
Ten simple minerals are the elements
OF all mountains, rocks, and soils, and are
hence called the SOCIOLOGICAL ALPHA BET"
These minerals, variously combined,
form about IS different kinds Of rocks
Both the minerals and the rocks which
they compose, can be learned by any
child OF three years in week if not in a I
day. The knowledge thus obtained is of
the most substantial, as we'll as interest
ing, character; and the more substantial |
and interesting because very young chill
dren, not only may, but do, both learn
and prepare this fundamental lesson Of
knowledge for themselves. The first
time little child picks up pebble, he
learns the most important lesson that ev-
err is or can be learned in this very i'm
porlant science. The pebble is one, and
the mos! important letter in the Geologi-
cal Alphabet. 1t is called quartz, and is
the only nincra found everywhere. 1t
enters more largely into rocks, noun
talns, and soils than any other; and also
forms, under different coors and textures,
nearly all the gems used as ornaments,
and articles Of commerce in all ages of
the world. The twelve precious stones
placed in the breast-plate Of Aaron the
high priest, were varieties Of quartz as
were those named in the book of Reyela-
lions, as forming the streets Of tho New
Jerusalem. Quartz is also essential in
the mandatory Of glass.
As quartz, the first and most important
letter in the Geological Alphabet; also
one OF the most instructive and interest
ing things in the world, is found every
where, we invite euery child in every
school and family to look for it, as he
will most certainly find it. 1t is very
hard and scratches glass. 1t also has a
great many colors and beautifully chrys-
talized, with six sides. Frequently the
middle Of the crystals, is six-sided
prism, and the two ends sx-sided pyra-
mids. Great quantities Of quartz crys-
tails are collected by children at Little
Falls, N. w., and sold to travellers u1-
der the name of Diamonds Red quartz
with fine texture is called Jasper; when
purple, it is called Amithyst; if clouded,
Agate; if yellow, Comedian, Or perhaps
Topaz: when Of pearly lustre, it is
called Opal. Every child who gets
specimen Of quartz, or learns the first
letter Of Geological Alphabet. will be
nearly certain to procure and learn the
whole, aud in short time have beau,-
full and instructive 'Famizy Museum" for
the entertainment Of himself and his
friends,