J. W. Shipley — Volcanic Emanations in Alaska. 153 



face drainage in flood time has poured into open vents, 

 the evidence of the ensuing struggle between inflowing 

 water and issuing gases being found in the form of 

 mounds of ash and pumice six to eight feet high, spewed 

 out around the vents. To what extent surface infiltration 

 provides water for the mud flow will remain problematical 

 but the source of the heat necessary to account for the 

 high temperatures prevailing must be considered 

 magmatic. 



The temperature a short distance within the hotted 

 vents was several degrees lower than that at the orifice, 

 and vacuum tubes filled with the hot gases on being sealed 

 after cooling, sometimes blew out the glass capillary. 

 Evidently the issuing gases were not in equilibrium and 

 chemical action continued after their collection, result- 

 ing in an increase in the volume. The higher tempera- 

 ture at the orifice would indicate an oxidation of the 

 volcanic gases on contact with the air. 



A thorough study of the mineralization going on in this 

 valley would provide valuable data concerning the for- 

 mation of a number of economically important chemical 

 compounds. A study of the physico-chemical relations 

 existing within the vents where salts are being deposited 

 would be equally interesting. The Valley of 10,000 

 Smokes is but one of Nature's huge chemical laboratories 

 thrown open for inspection by the eruption of 1912. 



' ' The author wishes to express his appreciation of the 

 encouragement and help extended by Dr. R. F. Griggs 

 and his associates in the field, and to Mr. D. Binnington 

 for assistance in the laboratory examination of the tarry 

 deposits.' ' 



