OLIVEK: MINEEAL SPEINGS OF THE WEST RIDING. 349 
deliver up its sulphur in a soluble form, in the presence of water 
charged with carbonic acid and alkaline carbonates. There are, 
however, the facts, that the atmosphere of coal-mines not 
unfrequently contains sulphuretted hydrogen, and that sulphur 
springs are found in the coal measures where pyrite is frequently 
met with ; but even in such cases we cannot be quite sure that soluble 
sulphides have not been formed as well as the pyrite, and are merely 
liberated by the mining operations. 
(3) Volcanic Sulphide. — I merely mention this possible source 
of sulphuration, in favour of which there does not appear to be any 
direct evidence. 
(4.) Fetid Limestone. — Certain portions of limestone are occasion- 
ally met with in the Craven district which, on being broken up or 
pounded, distinctly emit the odour of sulphuretted hydrogen. They 
probably contain some soluble sulphide, possibly derived from the 
sulphur of the proteid or sulphur-holding tissue of the lime building- 
organism having passed into organic combination.* May not a bed 
of calcareous stink-stone approach the surface along the lines of 
anticlinal disturbance, and account for the sulphuretted character of 
the issues there observed ? This is of course a mere conjecture, but 
I think it is a matter worthy of further enquiry.f 
3. Baeium and Steontium. 
Among the springs here referred to, the Harrogate waters 
stand alone in containing barium and strontium in notable proportions, 
these constituents not being present in the other issues. But the 
presence in the latter of sulphates, which precipitate the soluble salts 
of barium and strontium, sufficiently accounts for the difference ; J 
* " In some quames in the Carboniferous Limestone of Ireland, as m. ution- 
ed by Mr. Jukes, the freshly broken rock may be smelt at a distance of a liiindred 
yards when the men are at work, and occasioDally the stench becomes so strong 
that the workmen are sickened by it and require to leave oft" work for a timB." — 
Text-book of Geology : Archibald Geikie, F.R.S., 1882. 
t The reader will bear in mind, that the Mountain Limestone which crops 
up freely in the western part of the West Riding, probably lorms the lloor oi a 
great portion of Yorkshire, and underhes Harrogate. 
X The veins of barium sulphate seen in some limestone (iuairies to the 
west of Bolton Bridge (Ray Gill, &c.) , may be examples of the precipitation bere 
refen-ed to ; the stdphate-charged surface water having deposited the barium 
brought up by subterranean currents. 
