Foundation of a new Geology. 305 



primitive condition ; water has everywhere produced changes 

 more or less considerable, and we possess many observations 

 on the porosity of the densest rock. The whole family of 

 zeolites, all the hydrated minerals, and the carbonates in 

 the crystalline rocks, are secondary formations of minerals 

 originally the same, but now wrought up again by carbonic 

 acid, oxygen, and the other bodies which form a part of the 

 water. Mineral springs which issue from great depths only 

 form a particular case, and these are the waters which, with 

 a small quantity of carbonic acid and oxygen, have produced 

 at the surface the most important phenomena, and, as I shall 

 shew, are producing them still. 



During my investigations, I have found great assistance 

 in the great number of facts which mineralogical chemists 

 have made known ; but there are, at the same time, many 

 blanks to be filled up, and my own exertions will be insuffi- 

 cient for that purpose, unless I obtain assistance. 



It may be demonstrated mathematically, that all the sedi- 

 mentary formations, transition masses (with the exception of 

 transition granites and basalts), and all the substances in- 

 closed in drusy cavities, are derjved from crystalline rocks. 

 These have furnished the materials, and the waters have con- 

 veyed the quartz, calcareous spars, heavy spars, metals, and 

 other substances which fill the cavities, into their present 

 beds. Of this I am perfectly convinced by an examination 

 of the amygdaloidal rocks of Oberstein. 



M. Rose has informed me, that every time he has made 

 sulphuretted hydrogen pass into minerals dissolved in acids, 

 he has remarked particular reactions. The precipitates have 

 often presented copper, and as this precipitate is always very 

 small, and does not enter into the formula, it has been ne- 

 glected, as forming an uninteresting mixture. In one point 

 of view, however, these minimum quantities are of very great 

 importance, and it is to be regretted that the anxiety to find 

 a chemical formula should be greater than that which should 

 be manifested in searching out mixtures continually inter- 

 vening, although in the very smallest proportions. For ex- 

 ample, if it could be demonstrated that in the species of fel- 

 spar, as in the Amazon stone, copper and other metals are 



