774 ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS 



unusual abundance of meteoritic material in its vicinity is shown to be not an 

 exceptional phenomenon, but rather a characteristic of desert regions. On 

 account of the excessive dryness of the atmosphere there is practically no 

 chemical decomposition of the rocks going on to destroy rapidly stony or 

 metallic substances, no vegetation in which the larger meteoritic fragments 

 are lost to view, and extensive deflation constantly keeps the immediate sur- 

 face of the ground remarkably free of the lighter soils, leaving the pebbles 

 and larger rock fragments always exposed to the sky. From the desert regions 

 of the globe, it is believed, will be derived our chief information concerning 

 meteoritic materials. 



CONNATE WATERS OF THE ATLANTIC COAST 

 BY ALFRED C. LANE 



iAl)stract) 



In previous papers before this Society, the Lake Superior and Canadian 

 Mining Institutes, the author has called attention to the possibility of admix- 

 tures of connate (originally buried) waters in underground waters, especially 

 in the Lake Superior region. Waters of the Atlantic coast seem also to show 

 such admixture, sometimes of water higher in calcium chloride than the 

 present ocean. For instance (figures in parts per thousand) : 



1. Maine, Vinalhaven : Ca .404; Mg .131; Na .465; K .140; SO^ .122; CI 

 1.790; Na:Cl .26. 



2. Massachusetts, Boston: Ca 1.84; Mg .76; Na 3.38; K .07; SO, 1.35; CI 

 10.82; Na:Cl .31. 



3. New Jersey, Passaic : Ca 1.72 ; Mg .74 ; Na 2.74 ; K .50 ; SO, 1.55 ; CI 8.50 ; 

 Na:Cl .32. 



1. Is cited from Clapp, United States Geological Survey W. S. Paper 223, 

 well 230 feet deep. 



2. Slide rule computation from Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural 

 History, New Hampshire, volume 17, pages 486-488, well 1,750 feet deep. 



3. New Jersey Geological Survey Annual Report 1882, page 144, 2,050 feet, 

 "wholly Triassic sandstone and shale." 



CHANGES PRODUCED ON SPRINGS BY A SINKING WATER TABLE 

 BY T. C. HOPKINS 



(Al)stract) 



The past two seasons (1908 and 1909) have been exceptionally dry in central 

 New York. The water table has consequently sunk lower than for many years. 

 Besides the drying up of^many springs, wells, and streams, some of them have 

 changed the kind of mineral matter held in solution. A spring at Edwards 

 Falls, near Manlius, was a calcareous spring until last year when it gave off 

 considerable sulphur. This year it is giving off both sulphur and iron oxide. 

 Another spring 4 miles south of Syracuse has changed from a calcareous to a 

 sulphur spring during the same time. 



