576 Scientific Intelligence. 



1890 it was 606 millions, and in 1880,365 millions. The pro- 

 duction of gold in L909 reached a higher figure than ever before, 

 very close to 100 million dollars. There was also a decided in- 

 crease in the production of aluminum, but a falling off in the 

 other metals as compared with 1906-7. In most of the other 

 products, also, the total value for 1909 falls somewhat below the 

 maximum already attained. A prominent exception is that of 

 the clay products, the total value of which was 160 millions. 

 Corresponding with the increase in aluminum there has also been 

 an increase in the amount of bauxite, as noted below. 



6. The Production of Gems and Precious Stones in the United 

 States in 1899. — A summary of the precious stones industry in 

 1909 has recently been given by Douglas B. Sterrett, as an 

 advance chapter of the " Mineral Resources of the United States." 

 The total valuation of the different kinds of precious stones amounts 

 to about §53-1,000, which is an increase of 25 per cent over the 

 preceding year. This increase is most conspicuous in the tur- 

 quoise and turquoise matrix from Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, 

 and Colorado, especially in the first-named state. Variscite has 

 also been produced in considerable amounts, particularly in 

 Nevada, taking the place of the lower grades of the turquoise 

 matrix. Other new points brought out are the occurrence of 

 delicately-colored rhodonite in Siskiyou Co., California; a prom- 

 ising emerald locality in Cleveland Co., North Carolina ; fine 

 chrysoprase from Tulare Co., Cal. Serpentine, pseudomorphous 

 after amphibole and somewhat resembling cat's-eye, has been 

 placed on the market under the name satelite. Some other similar 

 names, having, however, no special claim to scientific recognition, 

 are noted. The report contains many other facts of mineralog- 

 ical interest. 



7. Production of Bauxite in 1909. — In an advance chapter 

 by W. C. Phalen, from tbe Mineral Resources of the United 

 States, it is stated that the production of bauxite in 1909 amounted 

 to 129,101 long tons, valued at $679,4-47 ; this is an increase of 

 23 p. c. in quantity as compared with 1907. The states from 

 which the bauxite is obtained are Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, 

 and Alabama ; of these the first named shows an increase of 200 

 p. c. as compared with 1908 and over 70 p. c. compared with 1907. 



8. Origin of the Thermal Waters in the Yelloivstone National 

 Park. — An interesting discussion on the hot springs of the Yel- 

 lowstone Park was given before the Geological Society of Amer- 

 ica at the annual meeting of December 27, 1910, by the President, 

 Arnold Hague. It closes with the following clear and concise 

 summary : " In conclusion I may state that I have attempted to 

 show : (1) that igneous activity was continued throughout Ter- 

 tiary time ; (2) that this activity came to an end with the close of 

 Pliocene time ; (3) that during the Eocene and Miocene deep- 

 seated waters were active geological agents, and that these waters 

 were essentially primitive in their origin ; (4) that in strong con- 

 trast to the explosive, volcanic conditions of the Miocene, the 



