Ether and Energy in Evolution of Matter 13 



large part from exposure of the more primitive granitic masses 

 to alteration, denudation, and removal, with subsequent re- 

 deposit; so that active wearing do\\Ti of land areas and simul- 

 taneous formation of lacustrine or sea deposits were now estab- 

 lished. Thick beds of sandstones, slates, and conglomerate 

 rocks enclosing rounded water-worn pebbles are fairly frequent. 

 Such facts clearly indicate that during the archsean epoch 

 terrestrial conditions must have resembled those of the present 

 day to a considerable degree. But as Arldt has suggested, 

 and as the writer has indicated from the standpoint of plant 

 hfe {13: 259), the temperature very probably was much higher 

 than now, ranging from 80° C. do^Ti to 60° or 65° C; the atmos- 

 phere in many places must have been warm, moist, and stimu- 

 lating to molecular change; diverse chemical substances must 

 have undergone active integration and disintegration; while 

 copious supplies of thermic, luniic, chemic, and electric energy 

 must have favored widespread chemical action. 



While there seem to have been ocean cavities of wide extent 

 but shallow depth, the active volcanic and denudation changes 

 proceeding must have resulted in formation of extensive swamp, 

 lacustrine, and shore areas of no great depth, but which would 

 become the arenas for diverse cheniico-physical activities. Not 

 a few of these areas must have sIiotnti conditions that at the 

 present day are only paralleled by those now limited regions 

 where geysers, hot springs, and mud volcanoes are active. 

 Even though our knowledge of these is still limited, the cheni- 

 ico-physical and biological problems they present, as set forth 

 by Weed (74.' 619), Davis {15: 145), and others, suggest 

 many interesting parallels with what probably was archsean 

 environment. So the writer has pointed out that the rich 

 protophytic life of present-day hot springs which flourishes 

 at 60° C. to 80° C. may have had its origin amid like archsean 

 environment {13: 259). When we reflect on the vertical 

 thickness of the deposits of this epoch, and compare these 

 with the total mass of the later sedimentary rocks, it is not 

 surprising that some geologists, as well as palaeontologists, 

 have demanded for deposition of the former a time-interval 



