Argillite, embracing Anthracite CoaL 299 



bute of acidity. It stimulates and then destroys life. Its 

 effects on tlie human system are analogous to a transient, 

 peculiar, various, and generally very vivacious ebriety. It is 

 much more rapidly and extensively soluble in water, than 

 oxygen. 



Mr. Faraday has shown that nitrous oxide may be lique- 

 fied under great pressure. When nitrate of ammonia was 

 heated at one end of a sealed recurved tube, nitrous oxide 

 was condensed into a liquid at the other end. 



One volume, or one atom of nitrogen = - 1.75 



And half a volume, or one atom of oxygen = - 1. 



Condensed into one volume, constitute one atom of 

 nitrous oxide, equivalent to - - - - 2.75 



Art. XVI.^ — ArgilUte, embracing Anthracite Coal ; by Prof. 

 Amos Eaton. 



TO PROF. SILLIMAN. 



Additional 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, N. 

 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 



* The Hon. Stephen Van Rensselaer, of Albany, N. Y. well known for his 

 munificent contributions in aid of science, has directed Prof. Eaton, aided bj^ 

 Mr. Courtland Van Rensselaer, to extend the geological principles developed 

 by the Erie Canal survey, to all parts of the state of New York, and the adjoin- 

 ing parts of New England, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. These gentle- 

 men have already commenced a course of examinations, for obtaining the ne- 

 cessary materials for completing the work. The result of their labors may be 

 expected in this Journal in due time. — Editor. 



