﻿122 BACON. 



He further says, concerning the origin of the various elements and 

 compounds found in volcanos : 



The belt of weathering may be permeated locally with hot, gaseous solutions. 

 The work of these gaseous solutions is of essentially the same nature as ordinary 

 gaseous solutions, * * * k u t the gaseous solutions adjacent to igneous rocks 

 usually contain a greater quantity of the active chemical agents than do ordinary 

 solutions, and moreover their temperature is much higher than normal. This 

 gives a combination which results in much more rapid alteration than the average 

 of the belt of weathering, and alteration of a different kind * * *. It is to 

 be presumed that the ultimate source of the various products fouud in the belt 

 of weathering is the material of the original magmas. * * * Chlorine, hydro- 

 chloric acid, hydrofluoric acid and hydrosulphuric acid are undoubtedly largely 

 formed by the action of hot water upon chlorides, fluorides and sulphides. 

 Sulphurous and sulphuric oxides are produced by the action of the oxygen upon 

 the sulphides. 



Van Hise inclines to the view that the volcanic waters as well as the 

 substances dissolved in them usually have their origin in the original 

 magmas and he calls particular attention 12 to the kaolinization of 

 feldspars by wet steam. This possible origin of the kaolin beds must 

 be considered when we wish to arrive at conclusions regarding the 

 origin of the extensive clay beds found in this active volcanic region. 

 These speculations in regard to the origin of the substances found in the 

 crater waters of Taal volcano are of interest, but naturally they can not 

 be conclusive until much more extended investigations, which the Division 

 of Mines of this Bureau plans soon to take up, have been completed. 

 The very exceptional composition of these waters is made more evident 

 by a search through the published reports of water analyses, for I have 

 been unable to find any waters which even approach to them in composi- 

 tion. Many mine waters are markedly acid, but this is usually due to 

 ferrous or other sulphates, which are ultimately referable to the decom- 

 position of sulphides. I have been unable to find reported analyses of 

 waters containing large amounts of aluminiitm, iron, and chlorine. 



A STUDY OF THE RADIO-ACTIVITY OF THE WATERS OF TAAL VOLCANO. 



In my first paper on the Taal waters from the crater of Taal volcano, 

 I gave the results of experiments which were all negative, to determine 

 whether these waters are radio-active, but as these determinations were 

 made about one month after the waters were collected they coidd not be 

 considered as being conclusive. I was especially anxious to test these 

 waters for radio-activity because of the recent theories which have been 

 developed by Rutherford, Strutt and others in regard to the influence 

 which the small amount of radium found in the earth's crust would 

 have on the maintenance of the heat supply, and consequently I considered 

 it of importance to study a hot, active volcanic area in regard to its 



12 Loc. eit. 493. 



