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eftefts : we alfo learn from undeniable
fads, that new iilands have been produced
by volcanos in many places.
But all this proves not any thing more
than that the moft dreadful effeds
have been produced by iiery eruptions
in Iceland.
T o determine this queftion, it
Avould be indifpenfably neceffary that
a naturalift iliould thoroughly examine
all Iceland. I f a granite, or any other
ftone or berg-art, was found in folid
rocks, and not feparate or in loofe
fragments, which may have been
brought thither from diftant parts,
I iliould entirely diflent from your
opinion. But beiore theie and the
like difcoveries were made, I believe
no concluiions could be drawn.
I may venture to maintain with
more certainty, that your colledion
confirms what I before concluded
from other reafons, viz. that in all
volcanos pyrites are found, which on
decompofmg produce heat and fire ;
and likewife ftate that, penetrated with
bitumen, ferves to feed the fire.
1 2. The flate which you hâve
brought from Iceland fplits into thin
plates, that difcover many forts o f
impreffions, particularly o f leaves ;
the colour is black, and it is exadly
o f the fame nature as the common aluminous
ilate.
I 3. The two pieces o f furturbrand,
or foilil wood, which you brought
with you, bear evident marks o f a
vegetable compoiition; and I may ah
moft affirm, with perfed certainty,
that the largeft is a kind o f pinus
abies ; on the outfide are barks and
branches, and in the infide all the
rings o f the fap appear : the leifer is a
piece o f rind without wood ; both
are black, quite foft, eafily take fire,
and flame in burning. After the
flame is extinguiflied, one hundred
parts afford forty-two parts o f coals,
which after being only calcined yield
two parts o f yellowiili-brown earth,
that is attraded by the magnet, and
partly diifolves with acids : it makes
fome effervefcence with borax and
fufible urinous fait ; the fal fodæ alfo
Zr 2 caufes
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