Abstract
American Journal of Science, September.—Cambrian fossils from Mount Stephens, North-West Territory of Canada, by Charles D. Walcott. The fossils here studied were first discovered last year by Otto J. Klotz, and partly described by Dr. C. Romiger. A comparison with specimens from the Middle Cambrian Terrane of Central Nevada shows that the two faunas are identical, and that consequently the Mount Stephens remains should be referred to about the horizon of the upper portion of the Middle Cambrian system. Other discoveries near the Kicking Horse Pass on the Canadian Pacific Railway seem to show that this fauna extends all along the western side of the great Keweenawan continental area from Southern Nevada far into British America.—History of changes in the Mount Loa craters (continued), by James D. Dana. Here are studied the relations of Kilauea to Mount Loa, arguments being advanced to establish the independent origin of the former, contrary to the author's earlier views on the subject. But his old conclusion is confirmed that volcanoes are not safety-valves, but are rather indexes of danger, pointing out the parts of the earth's crust that are most subject to earthquakes. A contrast is also drawn between volcanoes of the Mount Loa and Vesuvius types, the discharges of the former being almost exclusively outflows, those of the latter upthrows of cinders combined with lava-streams.—On the formation of deposits of oxides of manganese, by F. P. Dunning-ton. The main object of this paper is to show that manganese sulphate has probably taken a very important part in the formation of deposits of manganese ore.—Maxwell's theory of the viscosity of solids and certain features of its physical verification, by Carl Barus. These researches tend to show that Maxwell's theory is a version of Williamson's theory of etherification and of Clausius's theory of electrolysis. The transition made is from unstable groupings of atoms to unstable groupings of molecules. But while preserving minutely all the essentials of Maxwell's argument, the experiments here described go one step further, showing that viscosity is a phenomenon evoked by certain changes of molecular structure, the inherent nature of which is ultimately chemical.—On the origin of primary quartz in basalt, by Joseph P. Iddings. Here are described certain specimens of basalt occurring in the vicinity of the Rio Grande Cañon, which exhibit a remarkable number of porphyritic grains of quartz. A theory is proposed to account for the possible origin of this porphyritic quartz.—Mineralogical notes, by Geo. F. Kunz. Here are studied some specimens of phenacite and quartz pseudomorphs from Maine, a variety of transparent oligoclase and a cyanite from North Carolina, an apatite from New York, and an aragonite pseudomorph from Arizona.—An appendix of 42 pages contains a complete list of the late Asa Gray's writings, chronologically arranged and disposed in three categories: (1) scientific works and articles, 1834–83; (2) botanical notices and book reviews, 1841–87; (3) biographical sketches, obituaries, &c., 1842–88.
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References
Silliman's Journal, Nos. 111 and 112.
Ibid., vol. xxxlx.
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Scientific Serials . Nature 38, 559–560 (1888). https://doi.org/10.1038/038559a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/038559a0