Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-04-13
Geological CaDinet: :.
I'm Introduction and .Hd TO Reading.
nv tostlH u0thpooK.

agement of the mind and soul, OF intellect
: and heart The example furnished by it,
: as starting poinl in the pursuit Of khowl-
edge, is not only appropriate, as founded
on divine wisdom, but is equally simple,
beautiful, and sublime. "In fhe beginning
God created the heavens and the earth,"
. is The sentence commonly referred to as q
specimen OF the very highest sGblimity -
Its subimity is in its simplicity, CONNECTED
with the glorious truth uttered. A sem
lence more full of instruction never has
been, probably never will be, uttered. It
is also pre-emihehty Fitted to an inquisi.
tive young mind, eagerly observing sur.
rounding objects, at the same time rapidly
and successfully, because practically; learh-
ing them.
II the elements of the Created Universe
form the first lesson' of the Creator to his
creatures, why not follow the example thus
set us by Him who created mind, as start.
ing point in the training of mlndl In &C.
cordance with this example Of Divine au-
thority, the elements OF OUR globe are Sc
lected as a first lesson" for children. A
theological Cabinet" is prepared, consist,
ing of twenty-five mineral specimens, SO
selected, arranged, labelled, and described
as to show, almost at glance, the ele-
ments and Structure of mountains, rocks.
and soils exactly fitted 10 crafty the ca
ger curiosity Of every child to learn what
he sees; not only by seeing, but by hand
ling, examining, comparing, classifying.
and other steps for acquiring the most sub.
stantial knowledge by the most thorough
modes of learning.
"yNature before Books, and draping be.
fore Writing," is motto always in accor-
dance with common sense, and now COM
pletely tested by experience both IN this
country and in Europe. 1t is already
widely adopted on both continents, and Is
certain soon to be observed by all persons,
everywhere, in the early instruction of chill
dren.. Tie "Alphabet Of Geology" by
preceding the "AIphabet of Books" chan
ges the latter from an unmeaning, irksome
task to an instructive, delightful lesson;
learnt rapidly and certainly, because prac-
tically and agreeably. =. :. 49,.
The principal families of rocks, or geo.
logical formations, are the granite family,
composed of three members, and forming
all the highest mountains IN the world, the
hornbend, or trap family, consisting also Of
three or four members, widely scattered
over the earth. Lime formations, very a.
bundant, various, and useful; magnetism or
serpentine formations, containing highly
valuable ores conglomerate rocks, or those
formed from the fragment Of broken down
rocks carbon, or coal formations; fossils,
or organic remains, or rocks containing the
remains of more than nine thousand atii,
mails, with those Of numerous plants; coral
ranges, very extensive, and increasing, bS
the labors OF insects of the sea; and vol.
canic rocks, composing very numerous is.
lands. and some mountains from ten to ff.
teen thousand feet high. All these vast :,
ranges of rocky and mountain masses, con.
stituting the elements, the grandeur and
riches of our earth, beautifully and eirinnphat.
ically declare the sublime truth, that He
who formed them has, in deed and in truth,
s'weighed the mountains in scales, and the
hills in a balance.n
Nos. !. and 2. Quartz is the only mine.
raj found everywhere. 1t forms conside.
rable part of all the highest mountains III
the world is the principal element of soils;
composes nearly all the pebbles upon
shores, and in banks Of gravel and sand; i
the only material essential in the manufac-
ture of glass; and, in some of its varieties,
formed most or all the gems mentioned as
set IN the breast-plate 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 orna.
ments, worn on fingers, breasts, &C.; and
hence furnishing, to considerable extent,
articles of commerce among nations.
1t scratches most other minerals, and is
hence one of the hardest. Its colors are
white, red, brown, smoky, blue, green, yell
low and clouded, with various shades OF
different colors, The most common quartz
crystal is hexagonal or six x-sided prism,
ending in pyramid, with the same num-
her of sides. The names, determined by
the colors, forms, Sc, are milk quartz, siiio-
ky. grey, yellow. rose, limpid, jpspery, blue,
red and clouded quartz with humefoiis
oher varieties. The gems are amethyst,
or purple quartz Jasper OF red quartz;
cornelian, yellowish red agate, clouded,
SC.
No. 8. Burstone is porous quartz, prin:
cipally brought from France, and used for
the stones of flour mills, and is preferable
for that use to any other material yet DIS
covered. Its great hardness, and numer-
Gus pores, give it the character Of an ag-
gregation OF knives, admirably fitted for re.
ducing wheat and other grains to -four: !.
No. 4. Felspar resembles quartz, and is
extensively combined with it, in rocks,
mountains, soils, sc. When pulyerzed,
or decomposcd, it forms clay, ,,as phlysrized
quartz does sand. The two combined are
the principal and essential ingredients 81
all soils, and of course should be fully and
familiarly understood by all farmers. Eel
spar Is used for making China ware or por-
celain, as quartz is for glass. It is scratch.
ed by quartz, and breaks more iii the fotmi
of lamina, or smooth table surface, giving
IT the appearance of collection of small
steps. Its color is white, reddish white,
fesh-color, sometimes brown, and occa-
slonally other colors. tits far less vati:
Gus, and less beautiful in its varieties, than
quartz. When it has CLASSY appearance,
and is translucent it is called adularia.-
Labrador Felspar, found extensively in Es:
sex county, IN. W is opolescent or ha;
play of colors, as, 1t is exposed to ths
light in different attitudes.
No. s. Mica unites with quartz and fel
spar, to form the Himmalay mountains, th'
Andes, Rocky mountains. Alps, Pyrenees