ALLUVIAL DIVISION. 
79 
breathe the air of the atmosphere, and secrete the oxygen for purposes of the animal economy, 
or eat our food from which we secrete the solid materials of our osseous system. 
We see no reason for supposing that the lime now on the surface, or in the crust of the 
earth, may not have existed as such, as well as silex, alumina and other mineral bodies, 
before the first organic beings. Most persons suppose, and there are reasons for the belief, 
that the arrangement of the original inorganic materials of our globe preceded the introduction 
of the first organic inhabitants. 
We know that the sea contains lime, that rivers, springs and volcanoes are continually con¬ 
tributing fresh supplies from the interior of islands and continents, and from the bowels of the 
earth, and thus tending to remove the older limestones. 
We see then that no argument can be sustained in favor of the organic origin, or the pro¬ 
gressive increase of the absolute quantity of limestone, from the magnitude of coral reefs, or 
the greater proportion of limestone in the more modern formations. 
ALLUVIONS FROM SOLUTION. 
These alluvions are numerous, and some of them are of importance in consequence of their 
extent, and others from their economical applications, or the chemical or physical changes 
incident to their formation or deposition. They may be classed under the following heads, 
viz; 
1. Calcareous tufa or sinter, stalactites, stalagmites, calcareous concretions, incrustations, and 
clay balls. 
2. Sulphate of lime, alum, sulphate of alumina and iron. 
3. Nitrates of lime and of potassa. 
4. Sulphate of magnesia, and muriate of soda. 
5. Springs (chalybeate, hepatic, acidulous, gaseous and thermal); common springs. 
6. Caves, sink-holes, subterranean streams, and springs. 
7. Sulphur, carburetted hydrogen and sulphuretted hydrogen. 
8. Sulphate of iron. 
9. Orpiment and arseniate of iron. 
10. Bog ore and wad. 
11. Carbonates of copper. 
12. Alluvial sandstones and conglomerates. 
1. Calcareous Alluvions. 
Calcareous tufa is abundant in the limestone regions of the First district, and frequently 
contains shells of helices, the perfect impressions or moulds of the leaves of forest trees and 
other plants, the stems and roots of plants, or their moulds where they have decayed. It also 
frequently incrusts twigs and moss, which seem petrified ; and in some instances it replaces 
