420 ANNALS NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 



the liquid lava at Kilauea during the summer of 1912. A successful 

 attempt was made to collect these gases directh' from the liquid lava at 

 a temperature of 1000° before the}- reached the atmosphere. The collec^ 

 tioii of the gas before it has become altered b}^ combustion with air has 

 proved to be an insurmountable difficulty hitherto, whether the gases were 

 collected in tubes for analysis in the laboratory or studied at the point 

 of emergence with the spectroscope. In either case, the gases were burned 

 or were in process of combustion, and therefore could not reveal either 

 the true identity or the original relation of the gases participating in 

 volcanic activity below the surface. This is the first time that unaltered 

 volcano gases have ever been obtained for study. 



In so far as the present reconnaissance yields final results, it shows that 

 the gases evolved from the hot lava at the Halemaumau crater are Ng^ 

 HgO, CO2, CO, SO2, free H and free S ; with CI, F and perhaps ^Hg in 

 comparatively insignificant quantity. jSTo argon was found, nor any of 

 the other rare gases. 



The main conclusion, upon finding this group of gases in association at 

 1000° or higher, is that they cannot be in equilibrium at that temperature 

 and must be in process of active reaction among themselves ; there can be 

 no equilibrium, for example, between free sulphur and COg, nor between 

 free hydrogen and SO2 or COg. 



This is a conclusion of rather far-reaching consequence, for it must 

 mean that the relative proportions of the gases are constanth' in process 

 of local change — a fact which is supported by the very considerable dif- 

 ferences between the analyses of the gases contained in different tubes 

 which were filled at the same time. Since these reactions are strongly 

 exothermic, it also follows that a very large and constantly increasing- 

 amount of heat is set free during the rise of the gases to the surface. In 

 support of this it was also observed that when the quantity of gas set free 

 was large the temperature of the liquid lava in the basin Avas higher 

 (July 6, 1912, 1185°) ; when the amount of discharged gas was small it 

 was lower (June 13, 1912, 1070°), the quantity of lava in the basin re- 

 maining substantially the same. 



Controverting a view recently put forth, H^O ^vas found to be present 

 as such among the gases set free, as indeed it inevitably must be, for it 

 has long been known that free hydrogen in association with SOo and CO, 

 will react to form water at these temperatures. 



Neither hydrocarbons nor chlorine in appreciable quantities were found. 



After the address, a collation was served in the Eskimo Hall. This 

 was followed by a reception to Dr. Day, and the Section then adjourned. 



E. E. Smith, 



Secretary. 



