376 
NATURE 
WG 
[NOVEMBER 27, 1913 
important results were secured. According to the 
first accounts, this coast includes granites of two 
ages. Prof, David and Mr. Priestley, during the 
Shackleton Expedition, referred all the granites to 
one period; according to the present volume 
(p. 433), the granites are of infinite variety, and 
probably belong to many ages. The majority are 
assigned to the interval between Cambrian times 
and the deposition of the Beacon Sandstone; and 
perhaps the most important contribution that is 
promised by this expedition is the determination of 
the age of these sandstones owing to the discovery 
of some fossil plants, which are said to be much 
better than the indefinite remains collected by the 
two previous expeditions. The specific identifica- 
tion of the fossils is expected, and they are said 
to indicate a late Paleozoic age. Further details 
are given of the great dolerite sill intruded into 
the Beacon Sandstone, and from the description 
it appears to be strikingly like that which forms 
the most conspicuous feature on the central high- 
lands of Tasmania. Some copper ore was found 
on the cliffs at Cape Bernacchi. 
Mr. C. S. Wright describes the nature of his 
observations on the properties of ice, and briefly 
discusses the cause of the northward flow of 
the Barrier. It is now universally agreed that 
the Barrier is due to the accumulation of snow, ‘as 
first suggested in Nature, and as the ice is afloat 
close to its landward end, it can only flow north- 
ward; and if the snowfall is continuous across it 
the velocity is necessarily greatest along its 
northern edge. Mr. Wright has also described the 
magnetic, electrical, and pendulum observations, 
and the measurements of the radioactivity of the 
air. 
The biologist, Mr. Lillie, has given a short 
summary of the zoological work, and as fifteen rich 
trawl hauls were made, many new species may be 
expected. He remarks, however, while though 
there is an extraordinary wealth of individuals, 
the variety of forms is not very great, whereas 
the one Antarctic haul of the Challenger contained 
the highest proportion of new forms. But Mr. 
Lillie’s result is what would have been expected, 
especially in the shallower waters. 
The meteorological report by Dr. Simpson, 
though he says it will take years to work out the 
full results, contains some interesting suggestions. 
One passage illustrates the malicious irony of fate. 
He points out “one can now say definitely that 
the blizzards which have been so fateful to British 
Antarctic exploration are local winds confined to 
the western half of the Ross Barrier” (vol. ii., 
p. 463). He adds: “If this had been known pre- 
viously, the history of the conquest of the South 
Pole would have been very different.’’ Dr. Simp- 
son was originally selected as the physicist for the 
expedition of the Discovery, but he was rejected 
on the grounds of health by the naval .medical 
authorities. If he had gone on that expedition 
its observations on its chief meteorological problem 
would not have been set aside as unintelligible, and 
his conclusion would no doubt have then been so 
NO. 2300, VOL. 92] 
Colorado (Montrose and San Miguel counties), — 
clearly recognised that the great Antarctic tragedy — 
might never have occurred. va 
Both volumes are superbly illustrated by photo- 
graphs by Mr. Ponting, including one in natural _ 
colours, and by coloured plates after the beautiful 
sketches by Dr. Wilson. J. WeGi 
RADIUM RESOURCES. 
N address to the sixteenth annual convention — 
of the American Mining Congress, Philadel- 
phia, October 20-24, by Mr. C. L. Parsons, of 
the Division of Mineral Technology, Bureau of — 
Mines, is published in Science of October 31, — 
dealing with the present’ commercial situation as 
regards radium and its ores, the available sources 
of radium in America and elsewhere, the prospect- 
ing for, concentration, and costs of mining carno- 
tite, and the probable future of radium in the 
treatment of disease. A bulletin is about to be 
issued by the Bureau of Mines, and an advance 
statement was issued in April directing attention 
to the fact that in 1912 nearly three times as much ~ 
radium in the form of carnotite deposits was pro- 
duced from Colorado as from all the rest of the 
world put together, and was exported almost — 
entirely to Europe. a 
The publication of this statement has already 
resulted in a considerable increase in the selling 
price of the material, and has rendered ores con- — 
taining less than 2 per cent. of uranium oxide sale- 
able, whereas before they were worthless. Ameri- 
can carnotite is found in several districts in — 
the Paradox Valley being described as the richest 
known radium-bearing region of the world, an 
in Utah, north-west of these counties, the deposits — 
of which are of lower grade, but cost less in 
transportation than those of Colorado. In the 
latter case (Paradox Valley) mining costs 
28 dollars to 4o dollars, and hauling charges to — 
the railway 18 dollars to 20 dollars. The costs — 
in the European markets average 70 dollars, and — 
a 2 per cent. ore at Hamburg now sells at — 
95 dollars per ton. Mechanical concentration has 
been successfully employed, and it appears can — 
save at least one-half of the material now wasted. — 
The equilibrium amount of radium (element) in — 
a 2 per cent. U;O, ore is about 5°25 milligrams — 
per ton. The actual amount present in carnotite 
may safely be reckoned to be at least 4 mg., 
which, when extracted, sells for about rool. — 
Of this sum 2ol. represents cost of raw material, 
leaving Sol. per ton margin for the cost of extrac- — 
tion and profits of the manufacturer and sales- — 
man. ; 
Efforts are being made to foster the produc- — 
tion of radium ,in the U.S.A., for although the 
total value of the world’s output is insignificant, 
compared with that of commoner materials, being 
estimated for 1912 as 1,000,000 dollars, its poten- 
tialities in work for the public knowledge and — 
public weal cannot be measured in cash. A — 
National Radium Institute has been formed, work- 
ing in conjunction with the Bureau of Mines, for 
