GEOLOGY. 359 



GEOLOGY. 



Chamberlin, T. C, University of Chicago, Chicago, IlHnois. Study of funda- 

 mental problems of geology. (For previous reports see Year Books Nos. 

 2-20.) 



As indicated in the last report, these studies are being guided by general 

 conclusions quite notably at variance with inherited tenets relative to the 

 physical constitution of the earth. These guiding views have been derived in 

 part from previous geologic and cosmologic studies, but in a very notable 

 degree also from the disclosures of recent physical and chemical researches 

 relative to the constitution of matter. It will be conceded, no doubt, that 

 reconstruction of geologic interpretations, so far as to bring them into harmony 

 with the fundamental nature of matter, at least, is imperative. The mere 

 acceptance of the new tenets, however, is only a small part of the reconstructive 

 task; the larger labor lies in the revision of the various derivative doctrines into 

 which erroneous basal views have entered more or less occultly. It is not at 

 once apparent how many current doctrines are dependent ulteriorly on the 

 basal concepts that are now found untenable; nor is it always obvious what 

 are the special applications of the new basal views which should replace them. 

 This makes special emphasis of the salient features of the new views, when 

 they enter a discussion, permissible if not obligatory. Among the basal 

 conclusions that have entered into these studies during the past year are the 

 following : 



1. That the earth-body is essentially an elastico-rigid spheroid in which the 

 molten and viscous elements are so far subordinate that the larger problems 

 of the earth-body are to be solved on the elastico-rigid basis. 



2. That the method of yield of the elastico-rigid body is dominantly 

 idioatomic, or idiomolecular, that is, takes the form of progressive reorganiza- 

 tion atom by atom or molecule by molecule, each acting individually and 

 successively rather than collectively and simultaneously as in fluid or viscous 

 bodies. 



3. That the energy engaged in organizing and maintaining the elastico- 

 rigid mechanisms of the earth-matter is vastly greater than the energy engaged 

 in producing fluidal or viscous relations between these elemental mechanisms, 

 or, in other words, the revolutional energy in the earth is vastly greater than 

 the vibratory energy. 



4. That both the rigidity and the elasticity of the elemental mechanisms, 

 whether atoms or molecules, is essentially dependent on the intense revolutions 

 of the electric elements and the magnetic polarities that arise from these 

 revolutions. 



5. That the atoms and molecules are themselves elastico-rigid bodies and 

 probably the supreme type of such bodies. 



6. That the intimate structure of the earth has a minute openness of the 

 planetary order and a practically indefinite compressibility. 



7. That the earth's resistance to compression, as also its rigidity and 

 elasticity, are dynamic (gyroscopic) rather than material in the common sense 

 of this term. 



8. That the main heat of the interior is a product of the earth's own concen- 

 trating, combining, and organizing processes, especially its compression, and 



