Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-11-16
AGRICULTURAL GEOLOGY.
ron rHx NATIONAL IsTxLLIsxscER.
HI JOSIAH HoLBR0oK.

| F0R THE NATIONAL LINTELLIGEuCER.
Oxygen, calcium Carbon sulphur, phosphorus, nitrogen,
hydrogen, chlorine, and uorine ultimate principles Of
maer-simpe elements yet decomposed or rendered
more simple. They all into lime formations. Oxygen
and calcium are The elements Of quick lime Oxygen and
carbon cabonic acid The oxyde Of calcium combined
with carbonc acid forms the carbonate of mehe material
of extensive mountain ranges of limestone in all its varieties
texture color, and other properties Coral formations
tending many thousand miles in different parts Of the eah
the carbonate of me and used for the ordinary purposes
of that mineral Marbles existing in several hundred vae
ties also carbonaes of lime. So is chalk So
eal hundred crystalline forms Of this important element Of
globe. These crystals though presented under two three
hundred different shapes, all be reduced shape
shown in rhombic spar, which, if broken into fragments
smaller than the head Of pin, presents in every fragment
rhombic or diamondshaped crystal
All the carbonates of lime are composed of three simple
elements ultimate principles viz Oxygen, the great sup
porter of combustion carbon, the principal element Of coal
in all its varetes-wheher mineral vegetable Of course the
important combustble upon globe and calcium,
etal also combustibe. The oxygen first exists in two
bnaons viz with carbon and calcium !; these two COM
pounds also combined, of still me compounded,
producing the abundant carbonate and of the
abundant rocks and useful minerals upon our globe
Next the carbonates of lime the suphaes the most
l
composed of three elements and the in the csrbo
naes except that sulphur takes the place Of tie carbon The
oxygen and the sulphur form suphurc acid a combining
with the oxygen Of calcium gives the suphate of lime This
abundan, depose of lime formations also presents very
merous appearances. All the sulphaes of lime nearly So
give to the thumb nail The carbonates yield the point of
the knife but not to the thumb-nail. The carbonates ef
ervesce with any strong acid, vinegar which eer
vescence shows what is called lie in eyesone which is
the mouth piece of certain shells all shells being the carbon
Of lime. suphuc acid has stronger hold in its vari
Gus combinations than other acids and is hence dis
placed either by carbonc, muriac, nitric acid Conse
quenty the suphae Of lime does not like the eabonae eer
with any acid. The humb-nal, the point of
knife, and any acid hence sufficient tests for
ordinary purposes, distinguish the carbona,es of lime from
suphates The ulphae, like the carbonate appears many
beautiful crystalline forms.
Experiment By collecting such varieties Of these two lime
formations any easily procure and arranging them
upon the mantelpece, in case, beautiful "CALcA-
Rkous CABINET will be formed These specimens, tested
each other by the thumb-na the point Of knife piece
quartz glass, any acid vinegar also by the sigh
feel and tase will furnish much rich instruction and delight
fol amusement the possessor. If any doubts it, let him
try the experiment. If he has doubts he will try it of
| course.
Bones the phosphate of lime is beautiful crystal
called APPETITE. This crystal is found in granite rocks, is Of
green color hexhedra hspe and resembles the bery and
emerald. The phosphate of lime constitutes part Of mari
BEDS and greatly increases the ezng power of that power
fu fertilizer. 1t is also ingredient Of milk. In these
various relations il exists in small abundance, and per-
forms unmportant agency either in animate nanimate
creation 1t surely ought to be known, at least by every
farmer and Of course taught every farmers son, and daugh
ter too
Debyshire spar is the uate Of lime receives beauti
full polish and is much used for and other mante
It also appears in beautiful crystals both in regular
cubes and octahedrons equal crystals precisely
the shape of alum crystals easily formed by dssolvng alum
in hot leaving the mass while cooling, to its
particles around wire put into the form of card basket
any other fancy article preferred Nitrate of lime is another
cacaeous ormaon less abundant and less useful than either
Of the other ates before named.
Each of the lime formations now given is composed Of
three elements ultimate principles Two of these elements
the in al-oxygen and calcium, the oryde oil
calcium The other elements entering severally into the
compounds carbon, sulphur phosphorus, fuorne, and
nitrogen; which, after being acidfed by the agency Of
oxygen, combining in each with the oxyde,
form the carbonate, phosphate fuate and nitrate
of lime. .es
All these lime formations, except the nitrate, frequently
appear beautiful crystals Some of the carbonate crystals
rhombic spar, pearl spar, dogtooth SPAR tabular SPAR
satin SPAR arragonte and Others amounting in the whole tc
three hundred distinct crystalline forms Of the cabo
Of lime. Some Of the crystals Of the suphats Of lime
selene (moon sone brous gypsum radiated gypsum
anhydrous gypsum &C. The principal, perhaps The only
crystal Of the phosphate Of lime APPETITE, already named
the form Of sx-sided prism, often than an incl
in diameter. The phosphate Of iron sometimes pre-
sents interesting crystalline forms.
Some of the beautiful and instructive exhibitions
the wonderful science of cystaosraphy in the uate
me The principal crystals those already named
the cube and octahedronvz. six and eght-sded figures
BY cleavage, these crystals be changed from one
the othethe cube the octshedon the octahedon int
the cube Both these crystals, and their process trans
formston beautifully exhibited by specimens formed
pasteboad with great skill and tase the richest possbl
amusement Of girls in school in Washington for th
Scholars Fair in New York. They were much admire
! and largely commented upon by the crowd Of visers
Experiment piece Of thin pasteboard into eou
lateral angles figures with three equal Sides say an inc
and baIf in length. Slightly the divisions by the poir
of knife for the convenience Of folding them into vsrou
desired forms boxes Thus prepared the paper can
readily folded into shapes to illustrate the primary crysa
Of the Auate Of lme alum, (supbate Of auins gold or
lead, and very numerous other minerals.
|
An elderly gentleman, accustomed to "indulgev cnere
the room Of cerain inn where grave Friend by h
FIRE. Lifting pair Of green specscies upon bis rehess