192 The American Geologist. March isoo. 
by granite and basalt, and the catastrophe was probably due to 
the softening of some of the beds of the former and the pres- 
sure of an overlying mass upon the softened stratum. 
Discovery of Phosphate in Florida. Great excitement 
prevails in Citrus Co., Fla., and adjoining parts of the state, 
over recent discoveries of phosphatic deposit apparently in 
large quantity. The district lies along the Wekiva and With- 
lacoochee river and covers many thousand acres, being 100 
miles in length and 12 to 20 in breadth. The phosphate is found 
at varying depths from one foot to sixty and occurs for the most 
part in "pockets" sometimes 100 acres in extent surrounded by 
"barren ground." It is soft, and seldom requires drilling or 
blasting. Regarding its quality, reports are conflicting ; some 
giving it as very high in grade, 50 to 90 per cent, of phosphate 
and averaging 75. These figures are of course above the truth. 
South Carolina phosphatic material averages about 50, and it 
is not likely that this will be of better quality. The Canadian 
apatite does not exceed the higher figures, and this is much purer 
than any of the phosphatic marls. If worked with skill and 
judgment these beds ought to yield a good harvest to their 
owners as the market for phosphate is steady, and j^early in- 
creasing in extent. 
Scientific expedition to Yucatan and Mexico. Prof. 
Angelo Heilprin, of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Phil- 
adelphia and a party of specialists left New York on February 
15th for Progreso, Yucatan, from which point they will begin an 
extensive examination into the geologv, botany, and zoology 
of this little known country. After spending several months 
in the interior of this portion of Mexico, the party will embark 
for Vera Cruz to investigate the ^Hierra caliente'^ and the 
volcanic belt, Orizaba and Coliraa receiving especial attention. 
The party will then proceed to the city of Mexico, where the 
lakes on the plateau around the city will be studied. The 
expedition was organized under the auspices of the Academy 
of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. The specialists con- 
nected with the expedition are (in addition to the director, 
Prof. Heilprin) Mr. J. E. Ives, marine zoology, Mr. Witmer 
Stone, botany and ornithology, Mr. F. C. Baker, conchology 
and general zoology and Mr. R. LeBoutillier, photography. 
The results of this expedition into a country geologically' 
almost unknown will be awaited with great interest. The 
party is expected to arrive home before midsummer. 
At the University of Alabama the department of chemis- 
try and geology has been divided, geology and mineralogy 
being united under Prof. Eugene A. Smith, and a new profes- 
sorship, that of chemistry and metallurgy, being created. 
This much desired enlargement will afford professor Smith 
more time to devote to the geological survey of the state, and 
with additional instruction in eno;ineering, which has also been 
ordered by the trustees, will afford a good course in mining 
engineering and metallurgy. 
