184 Prof. Nepomuk Fuchs' Chemical Views regarding 



it was thought could not be explained in any other way than 

 by a previous solution. But such an assumption is by no means 

 necessary, for we know that bodies can crystallize without being 

 dissolved, or being in a liquid state. On this subject, I would 

 refer to my Essay on the Amorphism of Solid Bodies (" uher 

 den Amorphismus Jester kdrper''^), in which I have shewn that not 

 only liquid bodies, but also such as are in an amorphous (formless) 

 solid state, are capable of crystallization.* The passage of such 

 amorphous masses into crystalline ones, takes place more par- 

 ticularly when they are under water, and are in a semi-solid or 

 pasty (Jestweich) condition. In passing, however, from sucli 

 a condition into a crystalline one, they diminish considerably 

 in bulk. Accordingly, it is by no means necessary that all 

 crystalline bodies should have been previously in a liquid con- 

 dition, although they must all have been in an amorphous state. 

 From these views, I would deduce the following application to 

 the formation of mountain masses. At first the earth, by means 

 of water, was partly in a semi- solid or pasty, partly in a liquid 

 or dissolved condition. The question first to be answered is, 

 "What was dissolved, and what was solid, and only penetrated 

 by water ? A knowledge of the exact constituents of mountain 

 masses facilitates the answer. Two acids, viz. Silicic acid (ge- 

 nerally termed silica) and carbonic acid, at once present them- 

 selves as the most important component ingredients. The 

 former formed the insoluble portion of mountain masses, either 

 vmcombined as a gelatinous substance, or united with such bases 

 as alumina, potash, magnesia, the oxides of iron, &c. A large 

 portion of this acid was also dissolved in water, as is still ex- 

 emplified in springs. The carbonic acid appropriated to itself 

 the lime and a large quantity of the magnesia, and formed the 

 principal mass of the dissolved portion. It is not necessary 

 at present to attend to what was dissolved besides ; but I may 

 remark, that it could consist of nothing but matter which har- 

 monized with the calcareous solution. But, as the neutral car- 

 bonate of lime which occurs in nature, is not at all, or very 

 slightly soluble in water, and only becomes soluble when an 



* Our Author's Memoir on the Amorphism of Solid Bodies, will be found 

 in vol. xviii. p. 263, of this Journal. 



