so • KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE. 



also be thrown down. The salt lagoons along the Black Sea, and other similar 

 places, are instances in which the actions above described are to-day carried on 

 before our eyes. It has been proved by actual experiment, that these actions 

 follow such conditions, so that this is no fine-spun theory. It has also been 

 shown that when a solution of calcium sulphate is surrounded by an atmosphere 

 of carbon di-oxide a much less degree of concentration will precipitate the 

 gypsum. This would help to account for the large beds of gypsum found in 

 some places. Some fresh waters contain calcium sulphate and magnesium car- 

 bonate which are deposited by evaporation. Also, many waters containing 

 magnesium and calcium sulphates are mixed with river waters containing sodium 

 carbonate, which changes these salts to carbonates, after which they are much 

 more easily deposited than when held in solution by sea water. This, perhaps, 

 is the origin of many magesium limestones and dolomites, which are not associ- 

 ated with gypsum or common salt. 



We may safely conclude, then, that the alternate deposits of gypsum, mag- 

 nesium carbonate and common salt indicate the former existence of inland seas, 

 which have been subject to a considerable concentration. The continued leaching 

 from the soil of so much sodium carbonate, which is afterwards carried to the sea, 

 can only result in making the sea water more salty, and in a corresponding 

 removal of calcium chloride. That such a change is actually taking place, is 

 proved by comparing analyses of ancient and modern sea waters. In the cavities 

 of many rocks may be found water that was enclosed when the rocks were 

 formed. Such waters contain much more calcium chloride than do our modern 

 waters, but much less sodium chloride. 



It does not seem possible that all, or nearly all, limestone is organic, as is 

 commonly taught. There are but two ways by which the great amount of 

 calcium carbonate formed in past time — and which is still being formed — can be 

 removed from the water ; first, by precipitation and crystallization ; second, by 

 being assimilated by organic life. I cannot help believing that the greater part 

 of it has been precipitated. Large proportions of all limestone, no matter how 

 fossiliferous it may be, has once been in a finely divided state. To attribute the 

 origin of these to disintegrated organic remains, is striving top hard for an 

 explanation. 



The western part of Kansas abounds in thick beds of limestone and in chalk 

 formations. This limestone is of a fine texture, gradually grading into the chalk 

 beds. In many places are found almost the entire skeletons of fishes, birds and 

 reptiles of different kinds ; also in many places ammonites, which are beautifully 

 pre'served. These skeletons are sometimes found with almost all their bones in 

 their proper places. Even a large piece of a saurian skin was found, which 

 must have been left quiet for a long time, or it could -not have been so perfectly 

 preserved. In short, there is no lack of evidence that the seas of western Kansas 

 were unusually quiet. Yet, these great beds of limestone have been mostly made 

 up of finely divided calcium carbonate. I cannot conceive of a raging and 



