The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-09-17
A Geological View of the Moon.

A Geological View of the Moon.
The following article was translated for
the Maine Journal Of Education from Co.'S
mos:
Under this title Stanislas Meunier recently
gave a lecture filled with interesting facts,
and pleasantly illustrated by numerous
Photographic projections by the aid Of the
Drummond light.
The professor remarked at the opening
that it is not wholly certain that there are
not on the surface of the earth specimens
of lunar rocks, since there is no absolute
proof that the meteorites are not elections
from the volcanoes of the moon. He more
over added that one can very proftably
study at distance the geological structure
of inaccessible localities.
The moon, which appears to be wholly
deprived of all atmosphere and conse-
quently Of water, presents two very differ
ent kinds of rocks, those which constitute
the mountains, and those which constitute
the so-called seis. The former, from the
form which they present, and the analogy
of that form with that of terrestrial vol
canoes, are evidently volcanic rocks. The
others, according to Lecoq, are dry sands
or melted rocks.
One may, in some instances, study very
closely the structure of mountains, and
draw, for example, the analogy of the
form of the circles in the moon with that
of the circles of granite porphyry in the
earth. Schroeder and Herschel both dis
covered in various mountains of the moon
places where very fine qualification may
be seen.
This study of the mountains of our satel-
lite has led to comparison with the noun
tains of the earth, and in some instances
very striking analogies have been found,
especially at the Puys d'Auvergne, the vol
canoes of Teneriffe, Palma, etc.
Finally, the observations of astronomers
have furnished basis upon which Chacor-
nae proposes theory concerning the geog
ony of the moon. 1t comprises three grand
periods 1. The formation of the circles.
2. The extension of the muddy diluvium
which constitutes the seas. 8. The forma-
ton of the comparatively small craters.
After reviewing the various observations
cited to prove the actual activity of the
opinion of Beer, Moedler, and Arago that
the moon is dead star. He then went ON
to prove that this inference may also be
drawn from that singular appearance upon
the surface of the moon to which has been
given the name of grooues. There are
grooves with parallel sides nearly mile in
width, and from ten to one hundred and
twenty five miles in length. About ninety
have been counted, and it is very probable
that they are still in the process of forma-
ton. 1t was a very long time before any
reliable explanation of the grooves was
given. We are indebted to Professor Lecoq
for it (Trdite de Geological 1t has been
further developed by Saeman, who made it
the subject of a special article printed, in
the Bulletin de la Societe geologique de France.
According to these biologists the grooves
are due to the cracking which is evident
on the surface of the moon as a result of
the loss of heat. There is no reason to
suppose that at a former period the moon
had not upon it's surface both an atmos-
phere and water But the latter penetrat-
ing the crust as it does upon our globe,
has been gradually absorbed in proportion
as the crust has increased in thickness
All the water had disappeared long before
the cooling process had reached the centre.
The loss of heat continuing, the rocks
| in solidifying contracted in way analo-
gous to that which basalt manifests, and
the grooves are the result. Into these
grooves the atmosphere settled.
Everything indicates that the earth is
actually passing through the various states
through which the moon has already passed.
1t is estimated that already one fiftieth of
| its primitive ocean has been absorbed, and
| that what remains will have been drunk up
when the thickness of the crust shall be
one hundred miles. Our whole earth from
| what is known of it, would easily absorb
| fifty oceans like ours, so that the water at
present upon tne earUu, DelHS ollCe dDSoIoeu
and which constitutes only one twenty-four
thousandth of its weight, would become
absolutely insensble to the most precise
chemical analysis.
Then the earth will crack open, as the
moon has done, and it's atmosphere will
settle into the assures beneath its surface.
A long time before this all life will have
| ceased.
The prediction which the study of the
moon allows us to make in regard to our
globe will evidently be realized only in
far distant future, for after the experiments
of Bischof nine millions of years will be
needed for the earth to cool down 15o, a
loss almost imperceptible, since the inter-
nal heat adds only one hirtieth of degree
to the temperature at the surface. We
may go further and apply to the sun every
thing which has been said of the earth and
the moon. Being larger, it will cool less
quickley, but the time will nevertheless
come, at least everything seems to indicate
it, when it will have absorbed its waters
and it's atmosphere, and the assures will be
formed upon its surface. Our whole solar
system will then be only an assemblage of
dead worlds