The New York herald., 1851-08-26
NJ. F. Maury, superintendent of the Ma

The last paper was read by Prof. Horsford, Of
Harvard.
ABSTRACT OF PROFESSOR Hon sFoRD's PAPER ON THE
SoLIDIFIcAPIoN OF THE ROCK OF THE FLORIDA
REEF.
II is required to ascertain by what processes the
surface and the submerged rocks have become hard
ened. The surface rock is distinguished by great
compactness. 1t is found on the abrupt ocean side
and more sbundantly on the long slopes the land
side of the Keys. The submerged rock has an vo-
Itic appearance. 1t has solid6ed under water, and
is less hard than the surface rock.
The surface rock in many places, has no longer
the outer most position, it did have at the time of
its formation. 1t is interstratifed with friable
light eolored limestone
Profe :sor IL. here went on to explain the chemical
process Of hardening of coats of lime upon walls
of hydraulic cements. DO either of the above pro-
cesses furnish any suggestions as to the methods by
which the rocks Of the Florida reefs have been
hardened!
Professor II. now gave an account of the struc-
ture Of these rocks. The rock formed under the
water exclusively is composed OF grains less than
that of mustard seed which, to the naked
eve, appear quite globular, and OF uniform dia-
meter When carefully examined with micro
scope, they are found to be far from regular In
form, or uniform in size. fine deposit OF carbo-
nate of lime is distributed throughout the inter-
The surface, or crust rock, is composed of par.
ticles so minute as not to be distinguish ed from
each other. . .
acid and by operations on this solution it is deter
mined that there is present therein neither silica
nor sulphuric acid; and hence these ingre iients
permit no ,tion like that occurring in hydraulic
cements, or iu the hardening OF gypsum.
Professor II. proceeded TO explain the actual
cause and means Of their formation. On the IN hin
land against the Keys, there are depressons when
are filled with water only at long and Irregular in-
tervals This water, like that within and about
the keys, abounds with animal life. AS the water
eyaporates the animals die and fall upon and
mingle with the coral mud AZ the bottom. AS the
beds become more and more compieteiy afy' the
layer OF mud and animal matter hardens till it
forms mass resembling the surface or cruit r0,k.
Professor III. had analysed specimens OF this soiI
and growing rock He had found therein hydro
sulphurc acid carbonate of lime, and sulphuric acid
Conceving this soft rock to be In the condition IN
which the solidifed rock was at hrst the process OF
hardening might be easily explained r
The animal matter mixed with the carbonate OF
lime, &c., gave as early product OF decompo-
stion ny DIR phuric acid There resulted suphate
of lime and it further became soluble. AT later
period, the nitrogen going over into the form of
ammonia, decompes ed the salphate OF lne, forming
suphate of ammonia and soluble hydrate OF lima.
The latter with an atom of carbonite OF lime,
united to form the compound IN ordinary mortar
The carbonate Of lime, in solution fron the
added carbonic acid, as the water Is WiVhuIawn
by evaporation takes on the crystalline form, giving
increased strength and solidity to the rock nat
this explanation may serve, in no Seyer small mea'
sure for the coast rock, on the land slopes OF hey
West. and all localities OF nmlar cnafactsr IL Is
mud or finely divided carbonate OF lime Both these
occur The water about the Keys abeunds in ami
NAL life With the influx Of the tide, the slopes be-
come overspread with the water, and what 1t con-
tains in suspension The retreating water, at ebb
tide leaves thin layer of the animal matter, mixed
always, when the water is agitated, with the me
calcareous powder. Before the return OF Hood tide,
exposure to the atmosphere and warmth nave Sc
cured the success sion of chemical changes, enume-
rated abe ve and O thin layer OF rock Is formed.
repetition Of this process makes up the numerous ex-
cessively thin layers, of which this rock Is com.
posed. On the ocean side, the deposite is formed
from spray during winds, which drives the froth of
the sea containing, with coral mud, the exuye
from the outer barrier Of living coras upon the low
bluffs Of the Keys. To these chemical changes
must be added the simple admixture OF the
animal and vegetable matter, which, like mu-
cilage or glue ills up the interstices, increases
the extent Of surface, and, with II, the CO.
hesive attraction; and still fur.ner, 70 tne de-
composition of the organic matter, furnishing
carbonic acid, which gives solidty to the puvera-
lent carbonate of lime. The exceeding hrmness
of the coral mud is due, in part to the stone plants
which flourish in the waters within the reef, and
which admit of ready reduction to po wder Of ex-
| treme frmness. Professor h. gave the analysis OF
species of these, by which it was sho .n that the
stone plant as well as the coral animal, possesse;
the power Of abstracting lime from supharic acid
| the change, doubtless, being due to double dc.
| composition, with carbonate OF ammonia ex,reted
from the plant and animal, yielding carbonate o.
lime, quite insoluble, and suiPhate OF amnonis !h
calcareous skeleton becomes, therefore, OF exceed
ing simplicity. The surrounding aliment yields at
once to the exhaling carbonate Of ammonia, the
framework Of stone IL was matter OF interest,"
to determine in the OF coras whether the for
nation Of new coral without was attended with ab-
sorpton, or partial solution in the interior, and
corresponding reduction Of its specific gravity.
Professor H. showed, from analysis, ETC., that
there was no indication Of superior density in any
one part Other minor matters were alluded to.
The conclusions to which this research has
condu ,ted are that the submerged or voliti, rock
has been solidifed by the nhltration OF hney pow
dered (not dissolved) carbonate OF lime increasing
the POINTS of contact, and the introduction OF n
small quantity Of animal mu;ilaginous matter,
serving the same purpose rs the carbonate OF hme-
that Of increasing the cohesive attraction, AMI that
the surface rock has been solidided by having, IN
addition to the above agencies, the aid Of series
of che mical decompostions and recompositions, re-
sulting in the formation OF cemen.
lii one Of the grateful reflections arising from
this inquiry that nature has provided In the very
conditions Of the growth of the coral, the means o
securing, and in the purpose OF ages rendering ha
bitable the d)main cut oil from the sea by the emer
gence Of the coral reefs.
DISTINCTIVE CmARAcrKs OF THE iSDiAss OF CALI
PoRSfA, ny JoHs l.. LIE COME, NJ. d.
Much has already been written respecting
the races Of lndians in the western parts OF Amer
ca and can scarcely hope TO add any hing new IL
what has already been said concerning them. Yet
having bad opportunity Of seeing IN lay tfibss
rot usually visited by travellers, have th,ugh;
that il might be useful briefly to give my obserya-
tions on the distinctive characters presented by
these Indians.
| should these observations correspond with those
already made by Others, they will be interesting ..
having been derived from different source; should
they not accord, they may perhaps, gise some fur
ther evidence on the much vexed question OF the
origin Of the race.
The physical appearance Of the Californian In
dsns has already been described often, that there
is no use in repeating il here. will merely say
that the few Oregon Indians i have seen, did
not differ on any essential character from those o
Cal fornia, nor did the seashore tribes differ from
those Of the Sierra, the valley of the Coorad1
My notes are principally derived from the latter
! tribes, for the reason that | re named longer
,mongst them, and because the absence OF clothing
in those tribes permitted me 70 make The requisite
! com yarisons more easily.
The SPECIAL difference between them and the east
ern Indiaps, consists in the greater extent Of face
| with smaller and narrower Uranium, a less decided
obliouifv of eve greater natness of nose, te pcn.