The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-06-05
HOW PHOSPHATE GROWS.
Facts Concerning It's Formation and
Development.

| 6CkS OOuCcI1lDk It's rOfLu6tlOn anu
Development.
Rev. T. w. Moore, recognized authority
on the formation OF minerals, writes as fol-
lows for the Fernandioa Mirror:
For many years have not been satisfied
with the theories given in books as to the
origin Of phosphate rocks. These theories
do not account for all the facts, and
especially for the facts of quantity and
masses. 1 will not discuss the theories
given in the books, but state the three
causes Of phosphate formation in Florida.
There are three distinct formations of
phosphate deposits in the state. The first 1
shall mention is the deposit of coprolites or
the deposit from animals which live on
flesh. These are richest in PHOSPHORUS.
The second formation / have reached is
occasioned by the absorption of phosphoric
acid from decaying animals and vegetable
matter. Where this formation has been
found the strata are thin. Both this and
the former class are limited. Accepted
| authorities account for both of these The
third formation is much more general and
! in immense quantity in the state. 1t is Of
this would write especially.
The bedrock on which rests the peninsula
or Florida has, since what is known by
biologists as the Vicksburg upheaval, been
slowly rising from the bed Of the ocean.
AS this bedrock came TO within 800 feet of
the surface of the water the coral insects
began to build. Through their labors a
series of coral reefs have been constructed
extending from South Georgia to the most
southern key off our coast. Sand and drift
filled up the intervals between these keys
| BY this means dam has been thrown
across what was once the channel OF
| the Gulf stream. The coral rocks is porus
| and hence allowed the water from the Gulf
| OF Mexico in seeking its outlet eastward to
hitter through. As the lime gave up its car
bon in combination with oxygen it took up
the phosphorous with which the water Of
the Gulf is SO heavily charged, and so
| formed phosphate of lime. or what is known
commonly as the white phosphate. Three
| things have TO be taken into this account:
First, the coral and smell had to have time
70 decompose, or give up the carbon, be-
| fore they could take on phosphorus. Hence
but little phosphorus is likely to be found in
the younger reefs; second, the pressure
| against the side of the peninsula must be
| Immense, as the Gulf stream flows at the
| rae OF from four to six miles per hour
third, the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and
the Caribbean sea contain more phosphorus
than any water | have ever sailed over.
| Night after night | have sat on decks of
| steamers to note the tracks of light made
by their passage through the water.
| The coral reef is most benefcent ar
rangement Of Providence, as it not only
constitutes the foundation Of islands and
continents, but arranges a system of filters
which purify the waters and collect for
mans use a most important agricultural
product. But for their work the seas could
not be inhabited by fish. A most remarka.
BILE fact about these minute insects is that
they build only in swiftly moving waters
and SO render their structure when aban-
doned by them the more effective as fl
terer.
The quantity of phosphates found IL
Florida will modify the price of them
throughout the world. reduce the cost OF
fertilizers in our own state, bring millions
of capital here, and give employment tc
| thousands.