The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1853-08-12
HOLBROOK'S GEOLOGICAL
CABINETf

4. 1
q AN INTRODUCTION AND AID TO BooKs
s The Bible is book of examples, founded ,
;. principles for the regulation of human chi
4 duct; especially so for the management
). the mind and soul,or intellect and heart III
i example furnished by it, as starting poia
! in the pursuit of knowledge, is not only nj
proPriate, as founded on Divine Wisdom, b,
I is equally simple, beautiful,and sublime. 81
, the beginning God created the heavens an
the earth," is the sentence commonly refe,
ed to as specimen of the very highest sui
Unity. Its sublimity is in its simplicity, cor
nected with the glorious truth uttered.
sentence more full of instruction never ha
been, probably never will be, uttered. 1t i
also pre-emnently fitted TO an inquisitiy,
young mind, eagerly observing surrounding
objects; at the same time rapidly and sue
cessfuly, because practically learning them
If the elements of the created universe
from the "FtrSt LeSson'' of the Creator to his
creatures, why not follow the example thus
set us by him who created mind, as a Startino
point in the mind? In accordance with this
example Of Divine authority, the elements
of our globe are selected as "fra lesson''
for children. A theological Cabinet" is pre-
pared, consisting Of twenty-five mineral
| specimens, SO selected, arranged, labelled, g.
described, as to show, almost at a glance, the
elements and structure of mountains rocks.
and soils; exactly fitted to crafty the eager
curiosity OF every child to learn what he sees;
not only by seeing, but by handling, examin-
J inn ola a.
! Tor acquiring the most substantial knowledge,
by the most thorough modes of learning.
"Ndture before Books, and Dravinq before
Wr't,ng," is motto always in accordance
with common sense, and now completely
tested by experience, both in this country
and Europe. 1t is already widely adopted by
both continents, and is certain soon to be
observed by all persons, everywhere, in the
early instruction Of children. The "Alphabet
of Geology" by preceding the "Alphabet of
Books" changes the latter from an unmean-
ing, irksome task, to an instructive, delight
full lesson; learnt rapidly and certainly, be-
cause practically and agreeably.
The principal families of rocks, or geologic
al formations, are the granite family, COM
posed of three members, and forming all the
highest mountains in the world; the horn-
blend, or trap family, consisting also of three
or four members, widely scattered over the
earth; lime formations, very abundant, vali-
Gus, and useful; magnetism or serpentine
formations, containing highly valuable ores;
congomerate rocks, or those formed from the
fragments of broken down rocks; carbon, or
coal formations; fossils, or organic remains,
or rocks containing the remains of more than
nine thousand animals, with those of numer-
ous plants; coral ranges, very extensive, and
still increasing, by the labors of insects of
the sea; and volcanic rocks composing very
numerous islands, and some mountains, from
ten to fifteen thousand feet high. All these
vast ranges of rocky and mountain masses,
constituting the elements, the grandeur, and
riches of our earth, beautifully and emphatic
ally declared the sublime truth, that He who
formed them has indeed and in truth "ueiqLed
the mountains in scales and The hills IN a
Jalance.''
Nos. and 2.-Quartz is the only mineral
found everywhere. 1t forms considerable
part of all the highest mountains in the
world, is the principal element of soils, 'om-
poses nearly all the pebbles upon shores and
IN banks of gravel and sand is the only
material essential in the manufacture of
glass; and, some of its varieties, formed most
or all the gems mentioned as set in the
breastpate of Aaron the high priest; also,
those mentioned as composing the streets of
the New Jerusalem. Quartz also forms most
of the precious stones used IN all ages of the
world, as personal ornaments worn on fingers,
breasts, &C., and hence furnishing, to con-
siderable extent, articles OF commerce among
nations.
1t scratches most other minerals, and is
hence one of the hardest. It's colors are
white, red, brown, smoky, blue green, yellow,
and clouded, with various shades of different
coors, The most common quartz crystal is
a hexagonal or six-sided prism, ending in
pyramid, with the same number of sides. The
names, determined by the colors, forms, &C.,
are milk quartz, smoky, grey, yellow, rose,
limpid, jasper, blue, red and clouded quartz;
with numerous other varietie The gems
are amethyst, or purple quartz; jasper, or red
quartz; cornelian, yellowish red; agate,
clouded, &C., &c.
I'VE o'--DutotoHc poiouS puuI0; pllh-
cipally bro't from France, and used for the
stones of flour mills, and is preferable for
that use to any other material yet discovered.
Its great hardness and numerous pores give
it the character of an aggregation of knives,
admirably fitted for reducing wheat and other
grains to flour. ...
No. 4.-Felspar resembles quartz, and is
extensively combined with it, in rocks,
mountains, soils, &c. When pulverized, or
decomposed, 1t forms clay, as pulverized
quartz does sand. The two, combined, are
the principal and essential ingredients of all
soils and of course should be fully & familiar
ly understood by all farmers. Felspar is used
for making China ware, or porcelain, as quartz
is for glass. 1t is scratched by quartz, and
breaks more in the form of lomina, or
smooth table surface, giving it the appearance
of a collection of small steps. Its color is
white, reddish white, flesh color, sometimes
brown, and occasionally other colors. 1t is