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The natural history of the mineral kingdom, relative to the strata of coal, mineral veins, and the prevailing strata of the globe / In two volumes. By John Williams.

  • John Williams
Date:
1810
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The natural history of the mineral kingdom, relative to the strata of coal, mineral veins, and the prevailing strata of the globe / In two volumes. By John Williams. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Tiy hundred fathoms perpendicular of solid rock. There are found some rake veins running in colla- teral lines between the two lines abovementioned; but as these are only inferior strings, brandling off from the capital south and north and east and west veins, they only continue their course or line of bearing to a short distance from the veins from which they branch out, and then they come to nothing; that is, the sides of this string, which for a while cut the strata in an oblique or diagonal direction, come close together at a short distance from the capital vein, and at last end in a mere crack in the strata; and a little further forward the strata are found solid, without the least symp- tom of any vein in the line of bearing. From this sketch of the history of mineral veins, it appears to me very evident, that the greatest quantities of volcanic fuel is lodged within the solid superficies of the earth, in veins and receptacles which have nearly a north and south bearing, from the mountain or other place where# the volcanic fire first broke out; and that the volcanic fire, and consequent excava- tions, will advance below ground in the same di- rection. Now, if this is found to be true, we shall be enabled to lay down such cautions and rules, as will be of general utility for the safety of the inhabitants in the neighbourhood of volcanoes. I write only from my own observation, and real knowledge of the interior structure of the super- ficies of our globe; and from my knowledge of
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