Many of the springs are strongly impregnated with sulphur, and
some of them are saturated with sulphuretted hydrogen. I found
the opinion universally prevalent among the people of this state,
that the first appearance of these sulphur springs was immediately
subsequent to the earthquakes of 1812. They say, that then new
springs, impregnated with sulphur, broke out, and the waters of
some old springs, for the first time, gave indications of this
mineral. A sensible farmer, who has a large sulphur-fountain,
boiling up from the bottom of a river near its bank, assured me,
that there was no trace of this spring until after the period to
which I have alluded. He could have no interest in deceiving me;
and if he did deceive me, his conduct could originate only in that
love of the marvellous which is so characteristic of the human
mind. He moreover assured me that the "water had been growing
weaker, (to use his phrase) ever since its first appearance." I
have room only to mention, among the minerals of Indiana, many
varieties of clay, ochres, gypsum, alabaster, muriat of soda, (very
common,) iron ore, and antimony.
ART. V. _New localities of Agate, Chalcedony, Chabasie, Stilbite,
Analcime, Titanium, Prehnite, &c._
Deerfield, &c. In the account of the Mineralogy and Geology of
Deerfield, by Mr. Hitchcock, in the present Number, it will be
seen, that these interesting minerals (with the exception of
titanium) exist in the secondary greenstone of that place. We have
specimens, (through the kindness of Mr. Hitchcock,) and observe
that the agates, chalcedony, analcime, and prehnite, are imbedded
in the trap; the agates are in some instances very delicate in the
disposition of their bands, and need nothing but polishing to make
them beautiful; the same is true of the chalcedony. The chabasie
and stilbite occupy cavities, and the chabasie is often distinctly
crystalized in a rhomboid, so nearly approaching a cube, in the
quantity of its angles, that the mistake is easily committed of
supposing them to be cubes; the crystals are sometimes transparent,
and the largest a quarter of an inch in diameter. Titanium is found
in Leyden; it is the red oxide--very well characterized--in reddish
brown crystals as large as a common goose quill,[18] and, in some
instances, perfectly geniculated. It is rare to see finer specimens.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account