New-York tribune., 1906-07-06
RADIUn AND VOLCANOES.


Major C. E. Dutton, leading American au-
thority on earthquakes, presents in 1.-The Pop
ular Science Monthly a remarkable theory in
regard to volcanoes. He connects such disturb
ances as were witnessed on the shores of the
Bay OF Naples a few months ago with the won
derful discoveries made by the Curies
In a volcanic eruption five things are involved
heat, pressure, molten rock, water and some
agency which opens new crevice or reopens an
old one in the earths solid crust. Many geol-
ogists think of the interior of the globe as
permanent reservoir of lava, because computa-
ton shows that if the increase in temperature
which has been observed for a few thousand
feet continues at the same rate it must be high
enough at a depth of twenty or thirty miles
to reduce every known element TO a fluid or
potentially plastic" state. So enormous Is the
weight of the overlying strata that this soft
material would improve every opportunity TO
escape. If on it's way upward it should encoun-
ter water, steam would be generated and explo-
sive phenomena would attend the flow Of lava.
Major DuttOn dissents from the accepted doc
trine only at two points apparently. He believes
that the pockets in which the softening of the
rock occurs are within three or four miles of
the surface. and frequently much higher The
heat which operates there. in his opinion. is
evolved by the disintegration Of radium hidden
i'm the rocks. Each seat OF activity. he holds, is
practically independent of every other. but it
may be the scene of repeated outbreaks. When,
by slow accumulation Of heat, considerable
volume of lava has been formed and the covering
of the receptacle has been ruptured there will
be discharge. The relief thus given may be
adequate for the emergency. but so long as any
radium is left in the vicinity further disturbances
must be expected.
In support Of his novel and extremely inter
esting theory Major Dutton cites number of
recently observed facts. Radium itself is so
hard to find that the amount Of 1t now in exist
ence seems to be almost infinitesimal but traces
of it's possible presence are strangely abundant.
One of the properties of the element is that it
enhances the cOnductivitT OF the air-''ionizes'
it, to use the modern scientific expression-sO as
10 facilitate the escape Of an electric charge
which could not otherwise get away. If it is
desirable to ascertain whether given mineral
contains radium or one of the allied elements,
specimen is brought into proximity TO an instru-
ment consisting essentially of two strips of gold
leaf. If a preliminary to the test, these have
been electrified. they will repel each other and
stand out at certain angle. If they change
their attitude when the mineral is held near
them the effect is interpreted as an indication
of radium, uranium thOrium. In many parts
Of the country the soil Of back yards responds 70
this particular test The water of mineral
springs and the solid residue derived from it
exhibit the quality even more conspicuously. It
is not, of course feasible to get down under a
volcano to learn whether or not the rocks there
are radioactive" but Major Dutton says that
a German investigator. Rausch Won Trauenberg,
examined the gases emitted by Vesuvius, and
noticed that they produced marked ionization,"
or. in other words that the leaves of an electro
scope were promptly deprived of their charge
when held Over the crater.
The world will not accept this new theory Of
the origin of volcanic disturbances in hurry.
A long series of observations from other vol
canoes than Vesuvius is demanded before i'm
portance can be attached TO the one made by
Won Trauenberg. Time will be required, 100, for
consideration of Major buttons logic. Ioniza-
tion is really modern discovery. It may have
other causes than the dissolution of radium.
The phenomenon seems to be attributable in
some instances TO solar action. So short is
the time in which the subject has been studied
that present knowledge is extremely imperfect.
Major Dutton himself recognizes the need Of
further investigation however, and advances his
ideas with modesty and scientific caution.
Moreover, he has made out fairly good prima
facie case, and. even though 1t may not stand
the test Of time he has performed a valuable
service TO science in opening an entirely fresh
line of conjecture and inquiry