MINERALIZATION OF ORGANIC REMAINS. 
69 
An analysis was lately made of the water which was flow¬ 
ing off from the rich mud deposited by the Hooghly River in 
the Delta of the Ganges after the annual inundation. This 
water was found to be highly charged with carbonic acid 
holding lime in solution."^ ISTow if newly-deposited mud is 
thus proved to be permeated by mineral matter in a state of 
solution, it is not difficult to perceive that decomposing or¬ 
ganic bodies, naturally imbedded in sediment, may as readily 
become petrified as the substances artificially immersed by 
Professor Goppert in various fluid mixtures. 
It is well known that the waters of all springs are more or 
less charged with earthy, alkaline, or metallic ingredients de¬ 
rived from the rocks and mineral veins through which they 
percolate. Silex is especially abundant in hot springs, and 
carbonate of lime is almost always present in greater or less 
quantity. The materials for the petrifaction of organic re¬ 
mains are, therefore, usually at hand in a state of chemical 
solution wherever organic remains are imbedded in new 
strata. 
* Piddington, Asiat. Research., vol. xviii., p. 226. 
