Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1878 edition. Excerpt: ...-which occur from age to age are limited to the surface, and arc caused by water and heat. But the heat is generated at certain depths by chemical action. All changes which matter undergoes below the surface of the earth are attended, of_ course, with the disengagement of heat; and such changes cannot occur at a point not reached by moisture. In some localities the changes are more active than at others, as indicated by the temperature. Increase of temperature is not always experienced in penetrating the crust of the earth, nor is the degree of increase in all places the same. The fourth point is, that a crust, being a series of plutonic rock, was formed over the surface of an incandescent globe from the effects of the cold of celestial space, just as from, contact with cold air a crust is formed over a stream of lava. But, in regard to the primary formation, the opinions of geologists vary. It has been claimed that the fragments of the strata of an antecedent formation have been found included in this; and the evidences that life was, during its period, extant, are being discovered by scientific gentlemen. It was of very great thickness, and is said now to rest upon granite; but we may perhaps suppose that when its deposition commenced it was upon a regularly stratified formation, then existing. A careful examination of the appearance and character of the various strata of the metamorphic rock will lead many to believe that its materials are derived from disintegrated, stratified rock. And the axes of the New England primary formation are about twenty miles apart. As this very great depth of deposit was probably upon an older deposit of equal thickness, or, if tilted, of vastly greater depth, the latter must have found itself, as the...
