The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-05-06
MINERAL VEINS AND WATERS.
Professor Clarke'S Thomas Memorial Lee
tufe Last Evening.
NEPTUNIAN AND PLUTONIAN THEORIES.
The Dead Sea and Its salt-The .James River
Mineral Springs-Sulphur-yo
Regions-Beds OF Rock.

Last evening select audience assembled in
the chapel at Richmond College. when Pro-
lessor Clarke delivered the second lecture in
the Thomas series for this year.
hev. A. i. Dickinson, d. D.. Rev. George
Cooper, ID. d., Major Robert Stiles. DIR. Will
liam ii. Taylor, State chemist. and other
prominent men were noticed in the audience
In graceful and appropriate manner Pro-
fessor Winston introduced the lecturer and
the theme: Mineral Veins and Mineral
Waters"
Profess OF Clarke began by referring briefly
70 the two ancient theories in reference to
the origin OF all mineral substances: First. the
Neptunian theory, which claimed that every
thing was formed ty the action of water:
second. the PlutOnian theory. which regarded
hre rs the great organizing force
There was some truth in both theories, but
neither had il fully
Mineral waters were first considered. All
waters contain mineral matter and gases IN
solution, some, of course. containing a much
larger proportion of solid matter than others.
Interesting facts were mentioned in regard
TO the Dead Sea, the water of which contains
as much salt as 1t can hold in solution; the
Great Salt Lake. Is per cent. of its waters
being solid matter, and the waters OF various
other localities
The water Of James river contains only
seven-thOusandths of one per cent. OF mineral
matter, and is. therefore. remarkably pure.
Water is the supreme solvent Put pure
water in tightly stopped glass bottle. and In
a few days it will be found that part of the
glass has been dissolved.
The Mississippi river has been carefully
studied in this respect.
II carries down millions of tons of solid
matter every year, but the valley OF the MIS-
sissippi is 30 large that it would take 5000
years TO uce the average level one foot
The professor referred to the fact that VIZ
ginia IS famous for mineral springs. OF which
the sulphur springs are the most valuable
The value of sui phur water is due TO the
amount of sulphureted hydrog en- gas in solu-
ton in it.
Another interesting substance found in So
luton is borax. In Tuscany there is vol
canic region where jets of steam issue from
the ground. This locality was an object OF
superstition in the Middle Ages, when it was
thought TO be one of the entrances TO the in
fernal regions.
The jets of steam that issue from the earth
in this region contain bOric acid, from which
bOrax is obtained
In recent years deposits of boraX have been
found in California and Nevada which eclipse
all sources of this substance elsewhere.
Beds of iron have been formed by the con-
centraticp of water charged with iron in solu-
tlOn. Hence the connection DetNeeu ulueIai
waters and metallic veins.
In the Southern States the beds of rock
and veins of minerals are not so near the sur
face as farther north. owing 10 the action of
glaciers in the geological period Immediately
preceding ours.
The glaciers. or mountains of ice, moving
southwark left the rocks bare, but stopping
about central Pennsylvania all the region
south of that glacial line is covered with a
thick LAYER of lecOmDOS ed matter.
man discovers a mineral vein on his land
and sinks his shaft: his neighbor knowing the
direction of the VEIN sinks a shaft on his land:
the other goes beyond 10 get further advan-
tage of the vein; their claims conflict, and
here the science Of geology comes TO an end.
and the science Of law steps in. Finally the
lawyers own the mine.
Many of the dreams of ancient philosophers
have been realized in modern science: con-
hicting theories have been harmOnzed. and
much light has been thrown on some of the
most perplexing problems arising from the
seemingly mysterious changes that are con-
stantly taking place in the great laboratory of
nature.
The third and last of this course of interest
ing lectures will be delivered by Professor
Clarke tomorrow evening at O'Clock.