4§ 



capable of producing two distinct physical conditions of matter in 

 presence of one another." 



In conclusion, Dr. Andrews referred to the discovery made 

 many years ago by Dr. Jas. Thomson, of the influence of pressure 

 on the temperature at which liquefaction occurs ; and stated that, 

 in his opinion, this discovery pointed to the direction which future 

 investigations must take, with the view of resolving the difficult 

 problem of the possible continuity of the liquid and solid states of 

 matter. 



On Wednesday Evening, 9th March, a paper, by R. Tate, 

 A.L.S., F.G.S., and J. S. Holden, M.D., F.G.S., on the "Iron 

 Ores associated with the Basalt of the North-East of Ireland," was 

 read by Dr. Holden, Glenarm. The authors stated that, since 

 1790, an iron band had been known in the midst of the basalt of 

 the Giant's Causeway ; but further discoveries during the past few 

 years had brought to view numerous exposures, which were con- 

 sidered to represent portions of one sheet of iron ore, extending 

 uniformly throughout the basalt, and over a very large area. Every- 

 where the iron band and associated rocks present identical features, 

 from which the following generalised section may be deduced : — 

 The underlying basalt gradually passes upwards into a variegated 

 lithomarge about thirty feet thick, graduating insensibly into a 

 yellow or red ochre or bole, of five or six feet thickness, which 

 passes into a dense red ochreous bed of about two feet, charged 

 with spheroids of magnetic iron. The spheroids are of the 

 average size of peas ; they increase in number and size to- 

 wards the upper part of band, and not unfrequently constitute 

 that portion of it. The line of junction between the iron 

 band and the overlying, and usually more or less columnar basalt, 

 is in all cases well defined, and sometimes exhibits decided uncon- 

 formability. Several theories were discussed to account for the 

 origin of the present condition of these ores, but from field obser- 

 vation, and chemical analysis, the authors had been led to consider 

 them as elaborated out of the basalt by metamorphic action. The 



