Argillite, embracing Anthracite Coal. 299 
bute of acidity. It press mteote and then destroys life. Its 
effects on the human system are analogous to a transient, 
peculiar, various, sie generally very vivacious ebriety. It is 
much more rapidly and extensively soluble in water, than 
ox 
Mr. § Faraday has shown that nitrous ree may be lique- 
fied under great pressure. en nitrate of ammonia was 
heated at one end of a sealed recurved ake, nitrous oxide 
was condensed into a liquid at the other end. 
One volume, or one atom of nitrogen = - 75 
And half a volume, or one atom of oxygen = - i: 
Condensed into one volume, constitate « one atom a 
nitrous oxide, equivalent to - - - 2:75 
Ant. XVL—Argillite, embracing Anthracite Coal ; by Prof. 
Amos E 
TO PROF. SILLIMAN. 
AppirionaL geological surveys, having been directed by 
Mr. Van Rensselaer, the regular course of the report, com- 
menced in your Journal, will be interrupted for a few months. 
In the mean time, I hope that a few isolated facts may not 
be unacceptable.* 
I shall not, at present, discuss the question whether we 
have a primitive and a transition argillite, or a transition argil- 
lite only ; but shall briefly state a few facts now established 
by careful observation. 
The glazed or japan-varnished variety of argillite, extends 
from Baker’ s Falls, near Sandy Hill, Washington county, 
Y. to the Highlands, on Hudson river, a distance of one hun: 
dred and forty miles. Throughout its whole extent, it em- 
braces in small quantities, anthracite coal, passing into a 
mixture of anthracite and plumbago. Talc and argillite are 
mumiicent ‘contributions in aid of science, a dire ed Prof. 5 em 
Mr. C n Rensselaer, to ee tend the geol cpus = developed 
by the, Erie Canal nese to all parts of the me of New York, and the adjoin- 
ing parts w ew sey ser oe dlgres Th te tle- 
men have already of inations, for obtaining the ne- 
ec terials for completing the work. The result of their labors may be 
expected in this Journal in due time.—Edit 
