The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-02-06
GreHiag stats Soaraai.
TUESDAY EVENING, FEB. 8, 1872
SCIENCE.

AT a late meeting of the New York
Lyceum, Professor Wurtz illustrated by
experiment the formation of amorphous
carbonate of lime, using pure solutions oil
either carbonate of ammonia or soda and
chloride of calcium, which instantly ap.
peared as a perfectly transparent heavy
precipitate. BY agitation this was changed
to a white Opaque gelatinous mass, that
soon became starch-like but in the course
of q couple of hours separation took place,
the precipitate falling in rhombohedral
crystals, leaving the liquid nearly clean.
This experiment was applied to illustrate a
conjecture as to the formation of crystal
line carbonate of lime, Calcite, in nature.
Limestone rocks supply a solution of the
carbonate, while, finding its way into fis-
sures, cavities, etc., first appears I'M the
amorphous state, from which it slowly
crystallizes into the varied and beautiful
forms Of the mineral. Transparent and
opaque layers are frequently seen in silicious
minerals, as agate, chalcedony, and all
stages of the transition to perfect interior
crystals are common in quartz goodies. 1t
was suggested as possible that all crystal
line minerals may have passed through this
anonymous condition, excepting, OF course,
the crystals Of igneous rocks.
WOODEN NAILs.--A little matter Curl
ously illustrates the influence of opening
up Of the Far East upon the nations of the
West. Wooden nails, as everybody knows
who has ever knocked tea-chest in pieces,
or carefully examined any piece of Oriental
joiner work, are in common use in China,
Japan, and Hindoostan and now with the
increasing intercourse of the United States
with the two former countries, the wooden
nail is actually, to certain extent, driving
the common iron out of use. 1t seems
remarkable, now that machinery has been
so perfected as to pour out the metal fas-
tening in unlimited profusion, that this
should be the case, but manufacturers in
the Eastern States are said to be striking
up quite trade in wooden nails with the
Far West.
PROFESSOR G. A.. Young's observation
of supposed explosion on the surface of
the sun gave good opportunity for testing
the theories of connection between solar
phenomena and terrestrial magnetic dis
turbances. Accordingly the great magnet
of Greenwich Observatory was called on
to show its records. Sngularly these do
not exhibit any unusual vibration at the
time of the violent action on the SUMS
chromosphere but do report sudden and
extraordinary movement two hours and q
half later, indicating magnetic storm,
which developed into the beautiful aurora
of the evening. While, therefore, the
phenomena were not Simultaneous, there
appears To be a real connection, requiring
longer time for transmission than has been
supposed necessary or, as there were
faint oscillations at the time, movements on
the solar surface of mechanical character
only are not so highly magnetic as others
which are less demonstratiye.
THE Philadelphia North american says
that the iron production of the United
States during 1871 amounted to 1,S50,000
tons, and that it would have reached
100000 tons but for the disastrous
miners Strikes in the Pennsylvania
anthracite regions. The result of that
foolish movement has been to break up the
old arrangements for the supply of anthra-
cite, causing thousands of acres of new coal
lands to be brought into working. The
probability is that coal production will be
larger during 1872 than during any former
year. If SO iron will be more abundant
and cheap.
OUR mineral resources are beginning to
show very satisfactory results. Our total
production of copper, in 1871, an ounted
TO ~ 900, 900 pounds. The surplus at the
beginning of the year was 100000
pounds, and at its close 5,7oo,00 pounds.
The consumption is thus shown to be in
creasing faster than the production. Dur
ing the past year the single county of Mar
quette, Upper Michigan, yielded 8l3,379
tons Of iron ore, and 81 ,225 tons of char
coal pig iron. The ore was also shipped
in large quantities to other manufacturing
points. This interest is becoming very
important one.
ASTRONOMERS are agreed that Encke's
comet is glowing mass of carbon vapor.
Its spectrum consists of three bands, the
middle one Of which is much brighter than
the other two, all apparently identical with
the middle lines of carbon. In shape the
comet resembles a shuttle, whose longer
axis is directed toward the sun, carrying
two wings of fainter light on either side
near the head.