4 



V 



4 



Arctic Explorations. 235 



I 



may 



situations, we maj almost consider the volcanic or at least igne- 

 ous origin of boracic acid so well established as to lead us bj its 

 occurrence in the saliferous strata to seek for some volcanic 

 agency as the cause of their production. 



Such an origin has already been assigned^ I find, to the "gyp- 

 sum of JSTova Scotia by Mr. Dawson."^ This formation has been 

 shown to be a member of the Lower Carboniferous series, and is 

 assumed to have arisen from the action of rivers of sulphuric 

 acid more or less dilute, such as are known to existf in various 

 parts of the world, issuing from then active volcanoes^, and flow- 

 ing over the calcareous reefs and bed of the sea. ^'In accord- 

 ance with this view the g3'psum is found only in association 

 with the marine limestone, thou oh, as might have been antici- 

 pated, these last sometimes occur without any gypsum.:}; 



Gypsum, which is geologically of very various ages in differ- 

 ent countries, was supposed by the writer just quoted, to be pe- 

 culiar to the Lower Carboniferous series in Nova Scotia alone, 

 hut it has been shown by Prof. W. B. Eogers§ that a bed of this 

 substance with rock-salt occurs in a thick deposit in limestone of 

 the same period near New Kiver in Virginia. 



I think the occurrence of natro-boro-calcite in the gypsum of 

 Nova Scotia cannot but lend support to the theory of Dawson 

 as to the origin of this rock, when all the circumstances above 

 nientioned are considered ; and that a search for it or some equiv- 

 alent in similar situations, might lead to more conclusive evi- 

 dence as to the geological causes of the Saliferous systems in 

 general, and furnish additional links of union between the 

 sciences of geology and mineralogy- 



Art. XYlll.— Arctic Explorations, hy Dr. Elisha K. Kane, U.&N.\\ 



The writings and explorations of Dr. Kane are so widely 

 ^nown, and the volumes are so accessible to all, that a review of 

 ^lis works in this Journal seems hardly necessary. There are 

 however scientific observations scattered through the volumes 

 which it may be convenient to have here indicated if not placed 

 i^ detail on record, and some results of his investigations which 

 ^re profitable subjects of discussion and of wide import in science. 



X Aciuliun Geology! p. 2-24. § Edin. Ne^r Phil. Jnnrn., Ap 1857, p. 860, 



J Arctic KxpNtraUons: The Fir.^t United tales Griimell Expedition in Search of 

 Sir John Franklia A personal narrative, by Elisha Kknt KahicMD, U. ^- ^• 

 1 Vid. 8v(». Philadt>lphia: 1H57. Childs A Petersen,— The Second Grinr»ell Expe- 

 ^itit.n, ihid., 2 vols. 8vi), 1857. Chikls *fc Petersen. 



The volume on the FitoC E\'pedItion is a nii\v edition, witJi many additional illut- 



