L 152 ] 



is di-edf^ed up ; tbis peculiar ore is formed by the action of micro- 

 scopic organisms, which extract the iron from the water in which 

 it is held in chemical solution ; the bottoms of these lakes pertain 

 to different owners, and are divided into sections, which are 

 alternately dredged after an interval of some years' repose, during 

 which the iron ore again accumulates." If so large a quantity of ore 

 as that stated above could be raised over a small area, and in a 

 comparatively short space of time, what must be the amount which 

 huge lakes and long centuries of rej^ose would afford? 



He would now call their attention to the fine crystals before 

 them in a mass of quartz from Norway, and the same substance in 

 a block of liiva fi'om Vesuvius. They might ask how he I'econciled 

 the crystals in lava with an aqueous theory of deposition. He 

 answered that Mitscherlich had shown that the substance forming 

 these crystals had not been subdued by the action of intense heat, 

 but generated by contact at a high temperature of the vapour of 

 water and that of sesquichloride of iron. The presence of these 

 crystals in quartz was strong evidence of the part which water 

 has played in the genesis of the rock itself. Even the magnetic 

 oxide which they saw, formed by the union of iron with oxygen, 

 with the production of an intense heat, could also be obtained from 

 a solution of iron. The problems, however, connected with his 

 subject, were still many and perplexing, but the light seemed dawn- 

 ing on us by degrees ; and now that astronomy, geology, and 

 chemistry, alike brought their forces to bear upon the subject, the 

 time could not be far distant when we shall see clearly, where now 

 we but dimly groped our way. 



On the motion of the President, Mr. Alderman Cox, a vote of 

 thanks was accorded to Mr. Pankhurst for his paper, and the 

 trouble he had taken in illustrating it by experiments. 



Before the conversation on the paper was opened, the 

 Chaieman suggested that, in order to facilitate discussion on 

 subjects treated before the Society, short syllabuses of the papers 

 read should be published on the notices convening the meetings. It 

 was decided that the suggestion should be acted upon, as far as 

 practicable; that was, that those who could, and had time to, prepare 

 syllabuses of addresses when they delivered any, should do so, and 

 the Society would be thankful for them. 



