78 C. A, Goessmann on the Chemistry of Brines. 
te me a — more importance to the presence or absence 
of t mpound ; and its presence has since been recognized 
. especially characteristic of the salt deposits of ante-tertiary 
Consequently these have been considered as a product of 
the constant admixture of the oceanic waters of preceding geo- 
logical periods; while on om other hand its absence in our pres- 
ent ocean and in most salt ts of a more recent date, is an 
established fact. Although ages 
progress, we must acknowledge, that our ideas concerning the 
main features of the primitive or — oceans are still vague, 
and wears so moe this one point, 
and brines i issuing from moa rocks are 
at iat the aly sources from which we can draw informa 
tion, our conclusions must partake of a more or less arbitrary 
character ; for both these saline solutions may be due to a per 
eolation of fresh water through Silurian rocks impregnated with 
the entire saline matter of the concentrated or evaporated marine - 
waters of a preceding, a contemporary, or a succeeding geolog- 
ical period; or, they may be due to a re-solution of portions of : 
such deposits, or to a mere oozing out of their mother-liquors i in 
in a more or less diluted condition. The difficulties in estab- 
lishing even oo — their original composition are in- 
ereased when we contemplate the possible changes which the 
ehave suffered i in the course of time* 1 in 
- uent a of its eal solutions in passing to the surface. 
et as ‘of aad the iscovery of aw —— marine et 
cided Silurian engin, i. €. issuing fock Silarian secs 
Silurian rocks of the State of New York abound with saline 
springs and mineral waters - various kinds ;+ the : same feos is 
known in Canada. T.S. H 
ba aaa 
