gradual manner; that air was first converted into water, and lastly,
after a lapse of some thousand years, the latter again into earth,
without with the one element the principles conducting to the others
being already and necessarily imparted. No, everything has been granted
and determined at _one_ stroke, even as with the impregnation of the
ovum all the organs of the future embryo are determined, although they
first develop themselves gradually. The same agent, which creates the
air solicits also its two principles unto combustion in the water; and
the same act, which separates the oxygen gas out of the air as water,
separates also the carbon from it to constitute earth. Not one can be
posited, without the other being codetermined.
578. The analysing principle cannot be a something internal residing
in the planet itself. But all that it is, it is through antagonism
with the sun. This antagonism is light. This it is that divorces or
separates the elements from their matrix; it is light, which has
sundered the æther into the twofold air, and the air again into the
denser elements, water and earth, separating the oxygen from the
nitrogen and later on from the carbon, which must be taken up in water
as an oxide.
579. At the commencement of the separation the fluid must be the first
to emerge, because the cohesion or fixation of the poles is possible
only in a successive manner, yet not as if water were according to its
determination to be the first and the Earthy the second in the order
of production. As the oxygen separated from the air to create water,
so also must the carbon that was left have been precipitated from the
water and metamorphosed into earth. Thence and thence only may we
venture to say, that the earths originated out of water; for, properly
speaking, they arose as absolutely for themselves as air and water; but
as air succeeded æther, and water air, so did the earth the water.
580. Whatever be the bulk of the mass of water, to the same extent is
the Earthy, or the germ of the Earthy, diffused throughout it. The
whole is a fluid mass of earth. Light, however, penetrates the mass of
water as a transparent body. As translucency is not a mechanical but a
dynamic act, or process of differentialization in matter; so does this
earth-water become separated into a mass of oxygen and carbon, or into
ordinary water and into the earth-element.
581. The genesis of the earths is a process of conduction of light. All
transparency is a formation of earth; for it is a separation of the
Aqueous from the body of gravity. Where non-transparency exists, there
has earth been already formed.
582. As the conducting process of light is an act of deoxydation, so
are the earths at the same time also deoxydized by precipitation, and
this in four stages which indicate the elements whereby light operates
upon the Basic in water; or it might be said, by the four colours
of, or by coloured, light. We already know that the earth, which
presents in itself the most dismembered character is the calcareous
earth; but that those which have preserved a more identical character
in themselves are the silicious, argillaceous, and talcose earths.
These earths may be viewed as those in which the lime has absorbed a
proportion of oxygen, which has in it become carbonic acid. There is
indeed only _one_ earth-substance in water. In this substance, which
is neither silex nor calx, the polar principle has distributed itself,
and that very portion, which has obtained the most thereof, has become
calcareous earth.
583. The calcareous earth has originated in the upper parts of the
aqueous globe, the other earths, however, in the depths, in the middle
of that globe; for in the upper regions of the water, the light can
exert a greater polarizing influence, and therefore that very earth
is generated which stands nearest to the æther or to the light, viz.
the different calcareous earth. But in the depths of the water, the
light loses its energy, and is no longer in a condition to elicit
the Oxygenous in the Basic; thereby identical and more fixed earths
originate.
GRANULAR ROCK OR GRANITE.
584. The differenced calcareous earth has been associated with the
differential water, remained for a longer period identical with and
dissolved in it, and was therefore the last to be precipitated from
it. The silicious earth with its neighbours must necessarily have been
the first to separate from the water, as it is in a proper sense,
that earth from which all water has been withdrawn. Two periods of
precipitation exist therefore in geogeny, one that of the identical or
fundamental earths, and one of the internally subdivided calcareous
earths.
585. The silicious, argillaceous, and talcose earths must occupy, from
their having been first precipitated, the middle of the planet. The
water being earthy everywhere, had everywhere the capacity to become
earth; but different earths originated, where the light was different
in the fluid mass of earth. In pure light, or that upon the surface,
the Earthy dualized itself into calcareous earth; in situations, where
the light exercised less influence, the Earthy became talcose, still
deeper argillaceous earth; lastly, at such a depth where the light
could scarcely reach, the Earthy became a pure Earthy or silicious
earth.
586. Precipitation, both upon a large and small scale, is a process of
crystallization; the integral parts of the planet originate, like the
nucleus and the perfected crystal, through central action and polar
action. The integral forms of the planet impart the crystalline granule
or its joints.
587. The integral forms of the three fundamental earths crystallized
with and through each other into _one_ mass, or, in other words, the
nucleus of the earth consists of a crystalline mass of the three
fundamental earths. The solid nucleus of the earth consists of crystals
upon a small scale of silex, clay, and talc.
588. As, however, no pole is produced of perfect purity in nature, so
are the integral forms not perfectly pure fundamental earths, but other
and later factors enter also into their composition, e. g. calcareous
earth, with even ores and salts. The silicious earth is crystallized as
quartz, the argillaceous as feldspar, the talc as mica.
589. The mixture of the three crystallized fundamental earths, which
composes the nucleus of the earth, and upon which the polarized masses
of soil have been supported, is therefore a definite species of rock,
which has all the properties of _Granite_, although that which has been
extruded from the earth may have been altered by heat.
590. As the mass of the earth is about five times denser than water; so
must the planet, before the Earthy was separated, have been much denser
than at present. With its separation the fluid must have suddenly
diminished, and moved towards the middle point of the planet. During
the descent of water for many miles in extent, it must separate in
drops. The separation of the earths was combined with rain.
591. In every falling drop the three fundamental earths, which are
insoluble in water, crystallized. The first crystals therefore are
only of the size of drops. It is only by this mode of origin that the
crystallization into one another of the three constituent parts of
granite without any cementing substance can be comprehended. Granite is
an earthy hail-storm. The hail-stones crystallized during their fall in
a similar manner with each other.
592. Upon the whole the silicious character predominates in granite,
as the primary formation of the planet, and must do so, for silicious
earth is the primary earth, the principal earth of this precipitation,
and one from which clay and talc subsequently proceed, being higher
heterogynisms produced by light. Properly speaking only two perfectly
different characters of earth exist, the silicious earth as the pure
separation of the Earthy, and the calcareous earth, as the last
separation of the water from the Earthy. It may also be said that
in the calcareous earth fire, in the talcose earths the air, in the
argillaceous earth water has exercised its influence and displaced
the Earthy. Not only quartz is silicious earth, but feldspar and mica
consist in a great measure of the same. Still, however, these last
two constituent forms are wholly different from quartz, and very far
removed from the nature of silex; the feldspar obviously forming the
transition to clay by its resolution into porcellanic earths, but the
mica passing over into talc.
593. There does not exist in nature an order of silex, clay, or talc,
so soon as we take up these earths in a simply chemical manner. Nature
instead of silex produces quartz, instead of clay feldspar, instead of
talc mica; and these must be the earths, that determine this part of
the mineral system; they are the characters of orders; there is thus
properly no order of silex but of quartz, none of clay but of feldspar,
none of talc but of mica, at least according to their signification.
594. The points of origin for this division of the mineral system
or that formed by the fundamental earths are the three fundamental
crystallizations, and upon these _everything_ that does not belong
to the calcareous earth must and does naturally arrange itself. The
mineral system is only the developed and separated granite. The fact
cannot rest unobserved, that mica has only one laminar cleavage,
feldspar two, quartz three, this being for the first time a perfect
crystal, a double tetrahedron with one column.
595. With granite and with it alone the solidity, the body and form of
the earth has been given; it is the homogeneous fundamental mass of the
planet, and is therefore crystallized throughout to the finest degree
in its three constituent forms.
GNEISS AND MICA-SCHIST.
596. If, in addition to granite, several formations are displayed
which bear traces of the same mode of origin, of the same component
parts and the same aggregation, it may be inferred that they are only
metamorphoses of the same precipitate. Granite is the basis of geogeny.
597. Granite is a totality for the earth, it is a representation of the
three terrestrial elements under the form of identical earth; it is the
earth represented in silex, water in clay, and air in talc; it is an
universe represented individually in the earth-elements.
598. The granite can undergo metamorphosis in only three ways; for its
essence is indeed only trinity. Nothing can individualize itself from
granite but quartz, feldspar, and mica. All the formations of this
period are thus _quartz_, _feldspar_, or _mica formations_. The granite
appears under a threefold form as quartz, feldspar, and mica-granite.
599. The first quartz formation is properly the granite itself, and
its character will be also the determinant for all the metamorphoses of
quartz--quartz-granite.
600. The first structure, in which the character of feldspar as regards
its laminated form and its more argillaceous nature obtains the
preponderance, is _Gneiss_--Feldspar-granite.
601. The first structure in which mica is the predominant character, is
the _Mica-schist_--Mica-granite.
602. All rocks that do not belong to the calcareous formation come
under these three forms. The progressive formation of the earth takes a
threefold course, since it begins in a threefold and yet single manner
in granite.
603. The gneiss and mica-schist precipitations followed subsequently to
the completion of granite. For all precipitation is a true process, in
which water has a certain tension peculiar to this process, by virtue
of which this form of earth and no other has been produced.
604. By granite the silicious principally came out of water, but what
was argillaceous and talcose remained behind.
605. Gneiss and mica-schist are indeed subdivided granite, but not in
the sense of the already perfected granite having been again stirred up
and dissolved, but as already separated in principles, in the primary
water.
606. Gneiss and mica-schists are products of a more mighty operation of
light than granite. They are nearer to the upper layers of water.
607. After the granitic rain, or after the formation of granite, the
sphere of water was no longer perfectly transparent; but water was
now found also in the primary valleys, in which the light had more
power, and thus greater capacity for splitting. During the formation
of granite the water has only become polar by light; but, as it was
there wholly transparent without opposition, it could never attain to a
perfect dualization. In the second earth-rain and in the valleys, the
light on the contrary produces dualization of the fundamental earths,
since the sides of the mountains afford opposition to the light, become
themselves polar against the water, and at the same time heat is
produced.
608. Gneiss and mica-schist enter into a polar relation with gravity,
and that indeed as a Different to an Identical, as periphery to centre
or as light to gravity.
609. Now the falling granite had in part lost its quartz and obtained
a predominance of feldspar. Furthermore as the water-globe was already
greatly collapsed, the crystals thus originated in larger drops, and
occurred besides in water already stagnant or flowing. The schistose
gefüge must have emerged as well through the preponderance of the
laminar felspar, as by the flowing of water and the attraction of the
granite-walls. This schistose granite is _gneiss_.
610. When the gneiss was thrown down the talc predominated in the
water; it now fell in the same manner with less quartz and feldspar,
and was deposited in a still more schistose form than mica-schist.
611. Granite, gneiss and mica-schist are the first that together form
a Whole, each factor whereof has been evolved in an equally perfect
manner.
LAMINATION.
612. By this active antagonism of granite to gneiss and mica-schist
the _Lamination_ of the latter is determined. Every particle of gneiss
is attracted from the granite-wall and placed in a definite direction,
corresponding to the polar operation of granite; the particles of
gneiss already deposited attract the coming ones, and so on. The parts
of the gneiss and mica-schist are not deposited upon the granite by
virtue of their dead or inert gravity, but by virtue of living polar
attraction. They are not therefore deposited in the depth of the
primary valleys, nor do they fill up the latter; but they are attracted
by the granite-walls and deposited to a greater or less extent like
laminæ of crystallization, in large perpendicular layers.
613. By these two precipitations the primary valleys were in part
filled up, and partly narrowed by the polar attraction of the walls.
The primary valleys therefore are no longer present upon the earth,
unless everything be called a primary valley that has not arisen or
been excavated by the current of water.
614. Gneiss and mica-schist have indeed taken part in the primary
crystallization, yet are, however, only its last movements, as the
water had already met with resistance, and was partly stagnant; their
mass therefore is not so purely crystallized as granite. They are not
parts of the earth's nucleus, but lie only like a crust upon it like
hollow crystals.
615. It may be said that gneiss and mica-schist originated only because
there were fathomless valleys in the granite, in which the dissevering
actions were inclosed, and extended themselves from one mountain-wall
to another, while the light could be reflected in them and heat the
earth.
616. So long as the granite was devoid of valleys, so long also did no
other formation originate. This is proved by the fact that upon the
highest mountains the granite is bare and uncovered, while this is not
the case upon its lateral walls. It is therefore the second and third
earth-rain that first originated, after the earth was heated. Gneiss
and mica-schist are, so to speak, precipitated by reflected light.
617. The principal valleys of gneiss and mica-schist have not
originated by themselves, but have been modelled according to the form
of the granitic valleys. The valleys of those earth-precipitates are
properly only subsequent valleys.
618. The lamination is not everywhere a mechanical phenomenon,
but without doubt also a polar. It is exactly the same law, which
determines the lamination of crystals, that does that of the strata of
the earth, and operates also in producing their lamination.
PRIMARY LIMESTONE.
619. The earths must be viewed as _one_ mass, the component parts of
which observe a mutual relation. Now, after the silex, clay and talc
had been precipitated, a proportionate abundance of lime became free,
which was then thrown down at the end of this period of precipitation,
as _Primary limestone_.
620. The calcareous mass may be viewed as corrosive earth, from which
a certain quantity of carbon has been set free. As such, and combined
with the oxygen developed out of the water by the influence of light to
form carbonic acid, the lime was insoluble and was precipitated.
621. The primary limestone has also not been mechanically deposited.
It has a crystalline texture, is a calcareous granite, and generally
succeeds the mica-schist formation.
b. _Water-Formation--Transition-Rocks._
METAMORPHOSIS OF THE PRIMARY PRECIPITATIONS.
622. The metamorphosis of the granite did not terminate with
these precipitations. They are only the starting points for the
metamorphosis, in which the effort was first manifested to free
themselves from the primary combination. In the metamorphosis of
earths, the fundamental earths, or the constituent parts of granite,
strove to become each for itself a particular rock. They were all
identified in quartz; in granite they for the first time parted company
with each other, yet still formed a common sphere; lastly, in gneiss
and mica-schist they all separated into three spheres, but which still
did not differ in mass from granite.
623. Individualization had not yet been attained. The gneiss had still
all the constituent parts of the granite, as well as the mica-schist;
both are only a more peripheric, slaty granite, the one having a
preponderance of the Argillaceous, the other of the Talcose. With these
formations, however, Geogeny cannot remain stationary; for verily the
law of the development of the world is individualization. Instead of
granite, simply quartz, instead of gneiss simply clay, instead of
mica-schist simply talc must be separated; and then the termination
of this period is attained, the trinity of the simple earths has been
completely represented.
624. All the Earthy could not have been separated from the water by
the first storm of precipitation. For the water now rested very much
collapsed upon the earth's nucleus, and could no longer therefore
assume the form of rain. That therefore which was now precipitated
could no longer be thoroughly crystallized, but must follow the current
and disquietude of the water, and thus emerge from it in a slaty or
massive condition.
625. The quartz of the granite endeavours to set itself free from the
clay and talc, or it becomes freed by the latter removing from it in
virtue of its polar behaviour. There is therefore one series of rocks,
in which the granite is constantly rejecting the feldspar and mica
more and more, and at last subsists as quartz simply, which _quartzose
rocks_ as forming entire mountains are for intelligible reasons not of
frequent occurrence.
626. The completion of the gneiss in its entire separation from the
granite, and the evolution of feldspar upon a large scale constitutes
the _clay-slate_, and finally clay-stone and clay-porphyry. This yields
us a new series of formations, in which the gneiss gradually attains to
being divested of quartz and mica and to a pure position as feldspar.
The clay-slate is a true gneiss, that has lost the definite particles
of quartz and mica.
627. The position of mica-schist constitutes in its purity the
talc-formation, talc-slate, chlorite-slate, hornblende-slate.
628. After these several precipitations, the calcareous mass
remains behind in the water, and now, as in the first periods of
crystallization, is charged with carbonic acid, and is precipitated as
transitionary calx under the form of _mountain limestone_.
629. These formations are found upon the whole to be arranged on the
earth, in the order of time at which they were precipitated from the
water. In the middle of the loftiest mountains is granite, then gneiss
and mica-schist; then follow quartzose rocks, clay-slate or porphyry,
talcose rocks, and lastly on the edge of all these runs the chain
of alpine or mountain limestone. In the last of these formations
are found fossil remains of corals and molluscous animals. For these
formations fell first of all after the water had a solid bottom, and
the granitic mountains projected above it.
SEDIMENTARY OR STRATIFIED ROCKS.
630. The period had now arrived in which the fundamental earths,
being upon the whole completed, predominate. That which was separated
in a chemical way from the Earthy out of water, has been in great
part precipitated. This period, however, although the first and most
extensive, indicates but the half of Geogeny, or as yet only one pole
in the genesis, which requires the other. In the beginning both poles
were in the water, that of the fundamental earths as well as that
of the calcareous earth; the light shone upon, dissevered them, and
earths, the most heterogeneous in respect to water, were first of all
precipitated.
631. While the fundamental earths were precipitated, the calcareous
earth was repelled and retained, on account of its homogeneity, in
water, because the acid half continued longer fluid than the basic.
The water was thus after its separation from these substances a true
limewater.
632. Through this separation, however, the great antagonism in the
water ceased; and subordinate antagonisms now made their appearance,
which were kept united by the former. The calcareous earth is now
occupied no more as one pole, but is the whole water itself, upon
which, as it is less deep, the light acts anew and with greater force.
633. The dispersions of earths began just at this period to
multiply themselves, from the only fettering agent, namely gravity,
having betaken itself to rest; every earthy now emerges from its
connexions, the factors falling wholly asunder into alkalies and acids,
which combine in a multifarious manner.
634. These dispersions associated with the torrents of water that
were now everywhere present prevented crystallization from taking
place upon a large scale; they moreover mingled with the mechanically
water-borne and crumbling débris of the earlier species of rocks; their
laminations therefore resemble rather a mechanical deposit from water.
They are the _Stratified rocks_.
635. As the first period must include the calcareous earth, so also
in the period of strata or in the dualized period this earth is not
without a slight antagonism of the fundamental earths; and this it
is which for the first time becomes distinct, but always with a
preponderance of the calcareous over the fundamental earths, while in
the primary periods this relative proportion of the two was the reverse.
636. The primary period repeats itself again in the second, and thus
strata consisting of the fundamental earths originate, as we have seen
exemplified in the primary and transition formations of limestone. The
precipitation of strata is divided also into four formations, into
silicious, argillaceous, talcose and calcareous strata, close to which
range also the strata of ores, Inflammables and salts.
637. In other respects the chemical deposits of this period are so
blended with the mechanical, that their mode of origin seems for the
most part to have happened in both ways.
638. The silicious formation returning in the stratified periods is
chiefly under the condition of _sandstone_. Apart from that, which has
originated through the detritus of the older kinds of rocks, it may be
assumed, that the prevailing lime still held some silicious earth in a
state of moisture within itself, and that this during its separation
was precipitated as a fine alcohol, namely, as sand. If, however, sand
fell, so also must a proportionate quantity of lime fall, by combining
itself with an acid. Sand and lime therefore usually accompany each
other. If the two be regarded also as only floated freely and suspended
in water, still the chemical antagonism manifests itself between them
as if they were in a mortar, and they have been precipitated in layers
alternating with each other. The sandstone is as a rule therefore
imbedded in the lime; it is a mortar containing but little lime. The
mechanical silicious deposits are exemplified in the Nagelfluh, old red
sandstone, Grauwacke, sandstone and drift-sand.
639. The stratified clay appears to have been deposited as clay-stone;
it passes over into slate and potters' clay. The talcose strata pass by
serpentine and potters' stone into steatite and meerschaum.
STRATIFIED LIMESTONE.
640. The pole which had operated continuously from the fundamental
earths contained in the Earthy has now separated from it, and the
tension is again extinguished. The Earthy is now contained in a pure
state in water without continuance of the silicious pole; the influx
of water has now obtained the preponderance. So soon, however, as the
antagonism of this water to the stratified silex, clay and talc ceases,
the more internal, hitherto restrained by the feebler antagonism,
becomes awakened, as it did after the precipitation of the fundamental
earths.
641. The principles are necessarily combined more firmly in the
fundamental than in the calcareous earths. In this both the oxygenic
and basic earth-principle must each attain for itself completion, and
represent the two primary bodies in the earth with the same capacity
for separation and activity.
642. The production of earths results from a constant antagonism
subsisting between them and water. The more the Basic is thrown down,
by so much does the Oxygenous preponderate to a greater degree in
water. The water becomes oxydized and seeks to divide into its two
principles, into oxygen and hydrogen.
643. By this contest tension is also excited in the earth-principles,
namely, oxygen and carbon, and they begin in themselves to separate.
The metallic basis of the earths strives to become free. During the
separation, however, the oxygen snatches as it were some carbon along
with it and appears as carbonic acid; but the carbon of the earthy lays
claim to some of the hydrogen and oxygen to combine with it and appears
as corrosive or calcareous earth.
644. The acid is therefore a half of the earth, which passes over into
water, and the corrosive earth is also a half of the earth that has
lost its Aqueous. The former is the Aqueous in the earths, the latter
the Earthy itself separated from the former.
645. The corrosive force is therefore no peculiar action in nature, but
only the effort made by the earths to complete themselves and imbibe
water or acid. The corrosive force is no synthesis, but a moiety.
646. A total earth may be therefore regarded as a combination of acid
and corrosive body. These two component parts are separable in the
calcareous and talcose earths; but in the argillaceous and silicious
earths they are so intimately dissolved, that they can not be separated
from each other.
647. Carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen, but not oxygen, fall or range upon
the corrosive side of the earth in question.
648. Regarded in this general manner the corrosive principle stands
opposite to the principle of combustion, and what is combustible, is
in idea corrosive. The corrosive power is, however, but feeble in the
gaseous nitrogen, stronger in hydrogen and finally strongest in the
body of earth. The earthy carbon is the proper corrosive principle.
The direct antagonism is not therefore between the corrosive body and
oxygen, but between it and the carbonic acid, and therefore between it
and all the acids, or acidity generally. The last earthy antagonism is
that between the corrosive body and acid.
649. The corrosive body regarded specially as simply a pure earthy
body, must stand opposite to the two moveable elements. The corrodent
is therefore constantly striving to draw water and air into itself, and
upon this depend also the effects produced by the corroding matters.
The corrosive calcareous earth acts in a destructive manner, it
abstracts water and air from bodies. The action of the corrosive body
is a deprivation of water and air, and hence the elevated temperature
of burnt lime in water. If again the corrosive lime be full of water
and air, it is neutralized. It is now forsooth again a total earth, in
a mechanical sense being again provided with water and acid. All earths
are an equal or identical mixture. Acids and alkalies are thus to be
regarded in this respect as moieties, and thereupon their chemical
relation appears to depend. The elemental bodies are desirous to
complete themselves. If therefore a base stands in corresponding import
with a certain acid, it will thus have a greater affinity for the
latter, tending to separate it from some other combination. Upon this
principle, which has indeed been hitherto unknown to exist, the grades
of affinity appear to depend.
650. As regards the mode of occurrence of the calcareous earth, it
also is not of so mechanical a nature as is generally supposed. Its
legitimate relation to sandstone and other precipitations, speak
against that. But crystallization has for the most part disappeared in
it; and it is only in cavities that crystals shoot out, like the ores
in metallic veins. In granite the commencement is crystal, but in lime
it is the termination; crystallization determines the character in
granite, in calx or lime, however, the crystals are only blossoms.
651. The calcareous earth multiplies itself as a reduction of the earth
of gravity and that indeed three times. There exists, so to speak, a
corrosive silicious as also argillaceous and talcose earth. The three
corrosive earths are calcareous earth, strontian and baryta, or it may
be said that the first would be salt, the second Inflammable, and the
third, metal.
652. Still a polar separation emerges in the stratified calx, while
the two earth-principles become more individualized. The carbonate of
lime ranks on the lowest stage. In this, however, the differencing
process of light had not remained stationary, but elevated the carbon
to a higher grade; carburetted hydrogen and sulphur originate in the
calcareous earth combined as gypsum, with oxygen.
653. It may be said, that calx were decomposed into alkali and carbon;
water into oxygen and acid. Carbon and oxygen become carbonic acid in
limestone. Carbons and hydrogen become sulphur, combined with oxygen
sulphuric acid in gypsum. Hydrogen and oxygen become hydrochloric acid
in common salt.
654. Gypsum is to be regarded as a calcareous earth, which is
inflammable in character, as the fundamental earths were metallic.
The philosophical essence of gypsum consists not in its oxydation
by sulphuric acid, but in the combination of calcareous earth with
sulphur, as occurs in that of iron-spar with iron; in this combination,
however, the carbonic acid has still remained, whereby the sulphur
became acid. The gypsum was therefore a carbonaceo-sulphate of lime, an
oxydized metal with a very large proportion of calcareous earth.
655. Gypsum and chalk are related polarwise to each other, separate
during the general precipitation, and are deposited opposite to, or
alternately upon, each other.
656. In fluor-spar, apatite and boracite the last differentialization
of lime and carbonic acid is lost. The principal masses are the
carbonate and sulphate of lime.
657. The strata of the Inflammables, such as of pit-coal, and of the
ores, as of iron, calamine, appear to have originated in simply a
mechanical manner.
REPEATED SEDIMENTARY PRECIPITATIONS.
658. The precipitating process is a process of polarization, which
comprises several stages. In it there are moments of time.
659. If the fluid mass be large, this polarization will then require
considerable time to penetrate throughout it.
660. The polarizing process will issue from a definite point, which
is different from water, and thus form the point upon which the light
operates with greatest force.
661. This is solid ground. During the calcareous precipitation, there
was no other ground present save that of the mountain tops. It was
thus from these that the calcareous precipitation set out.
662. With each precipitation a greater number of mountain tops made
their appearance, because the water sank; for the calcareous earth is
about three times denser than water.
663. Such being the conditions belonging to the sedimentary periods,
several consecutive centuries characterized by precipitations with
repeated recessions and elevations of the water, elapsed and have left
evidence of the time thus consumed.
664. The recession of the water was not always an ebbing or sinking
in, but a diminution or disappearance of the same, like the water in
a glass lessens in quantity, or becomes thoroughly solid, if salt
crystallizes therein.
665. By such precipitations whole basins of land became dry or freed
from sea-water. Streams therefore of fresh water originated, and with
them corresponding organizations.
666. These streams gradually filled the basins and formed seas. As the
seas coalesced by the constantly descending water, an inland sea arose.
667. This inland sea became again salidified, and that indeed of itself
by the influence of light and the dissolution of the salt-banks, which
were not overflown. Such is still the Caspian sea and others of that
kind. In these marine plants and animals could again originate.
668. Thereupon new precipitations of salt succeeded, the gypsum and
calx being again dissolved, and consequently diminutions also of water,
whereby rivers again originated. One and the same basin of land was
alternately covered with fresh and saline water.
669. Marine and fresh-water animals could therefore originate and
perish alternately. And this is the explanation of the fact why banks
inclosing both kinds of animals are found above and below each other.
670. An alternating ingress of the sea is not therefore necessary in
all cases to explain the occurrence of marine fossil remains. Such an
assumption is also wholly inconceivable. Nor is alternating elevation
and depression of the soil necessary to the explanation of this
phenomenon.
671. During the time of precipitation the temperature of the water and
consequently of the earth and air also was necessarily raised. All
creatures, which then originated, must correspond therefore to those of
warmer climates.
672. The fossil remains do not require the assumption of a change
having taken place in the inclination or bearing of the earth's axis;
nor of a heating of the surface by a fiery interior.
673. With every later precipitation other animals and plants must
originate, because the temperature and also the mixture of water was
changed. The fossils therefore indicate the age of the sedimentary
strata.
674. During the last precipitations the creatures of colder climates
must have originated.
675. Land animals cannot, or but rarely, be found in the sedimentary
strata, if even they had already been in existence prior to their
formation. For the inundations did not break in suddenly, but the water
rose by degrees. They had time therefore to retire to the high grounds.
676. Land plants may, on the contrary, lie in the sedimentary strata,
because of their inability to escape.
677. The bones of birds and men must be found least of all fossilized,
because a retreat by them was most easily effected. It does not follow,
from our not finding them, that they have not existed.
678. The different fossil remains have therefore not simply lived,
where they are found, but originated there also. Some of course may
have been floated also to these localities.
679. The inundations of water were in general necessary, because basins
of land and precipitations were everywhere present; but not all on that
account at the same time.
680. In this sense there was a general flood, a deluge, namely, for
every land.
c. _Air-formation._
TRAP-ROCKS.
681. Vapours and gases of different kinds may be contained in the
interior of the earth in two ways, either chemically combined as
carbonic acid, or mechanically inclosed in cavities of the earth.
Both may be developed, or expanded by calefaction, and the latter by
diminution of pressure.
682. If those that are chemically combined be developed by calefaction,
they then form vesicular spaces in the masses of earth whereby the
latter are extended and raised above the surface; such as amygdaloid,
basalt and others of this kind.
683. Warm springs may originate by subterraneous processes, chemical or
volcanic; probably, too, by the compression of air that has forced its
way into these situations.
684. Earthquakes may indeed originate in different ways; as in addition
to the falling in of cavities, by the chemical development also of
gases, by their subjection to heat, by aqueous vapours, and also by the
sudden diminution of pressure upon these incarcerated gases.
685. This diminution of pressure proceeds from sudden rarefaction
of the atmosphere--due probably to the disappearance of air in a
particular place, or resulting from a change of the wind, or the
formation of heavy rain. Earthquakes can therefore extend through many
countries, without requiring to depend upon each other or on a common
focus of action.
686. The silicious trap is silicious sinter, tripoli and polierschiefer.
687. The argillaceous trap, amygdaloid, clinkstone, several porphyries.
688. The talcose trap, basalt.
689. The calcareous trap, probably chalk.
d. _Fire-formation._
VOLCANIC-ROCKS.
690. Volcanoes are secondary combustions of masses that have originated
through the primary combustion, and are therefore only of local
occurrence. Such combustible masses are without doubt bodies belonging
to the class of Inflammables, and thus carbons, sulphur, sulphuretted
metals. Simply burning gases would throw up on high the masses of
earth, but not heat them to the degree of fusion.
691. By the heat of these combustions the masses of earth have been
fused, forming lavas. The silicious lavas are obsidian, pitch-stone.
The argillaceous lavas are the kinds usually met with. Next come the
talcose lavas. The calcareous lavas are probably dolomite.
B.--_METALLIC ORES AND INFLAMMABLES._
692. Metallic-ores and Inflammables are products of the planet, when
completed, and have not originated along with the origin of the latter,
like the earths. The question accordingly arises, what have been the
forces by which the metals and Inflammables were produced.
a. _METALLIC VEINS._
693. Fissures in rocks, so narrow that they cannot be illuminated by
the sun, are called passages or _veins_. They are rarely found in
granite, appear generally for the first time in gneiss, more rarely
in the later kinds of rocks, and almost cease to be met with in the
stratified chain of mountains. They are found principally in mountains,
and thus in masses of earth which project above the level land. We must
thus arrive at the conclusion that they have there originated by actual
fissure, and that indeed for this reason, that masses which project
or stand freely out would admit of yielding asunder more easily than
the masses of the plains. This fissure may take place by mechanical
disruption, by land-slips, or even also by desiccation.
694. The veins are not prolonged into the kind of rock that underlies
them, as e. g. gneiss veins into granite, and so on; they have hence
originated from above.
695. They are open and wider above and strike out below; they have not
therefore originated by a force acting from beneath.
696. In the schistose rock they form generally transverse fissures.
697. There was a time in which the veins stood empty, as well as a time
in which the primary valleys were empty, namely unreplenished with
gneiss, mica-schist, and such like minerals.
b. PRODUCTION OF ORE.
698. Geogeny takes two directions; the one passes upon the periphery
into the splitting action of light, the other into the abyss, where
darkness reigns.
699. The valleys were the condition that conduced to the
differentialization of the earths, because in them light had power
to produce the highest polarity. By the valleys the Earthy has been
separated into its principles; silex has separated into clay and talc,
to which finally carbonate calcareous earths and salts succeeded.
700. The Earthy cannot subsist in its identity in the broad valleys;
the earth cannot be represented as the pure symbol of gravity. All
bodies that have originated upon the _surface_ of the planet are oxydes
or salts.
701. If the earth-difference be generated in the illumined valleys, so
must the earth-identity be produced in the dark valleys; for it is the
absence of light alone that allows the purely Basic to subsist. This
earth generated out of gravity is the ore.
702. The ore is a child and a treasure of darkness; where light is, it
must vanish; it cannot endure its gaze. Metal when exposed to day is
given up to annihilation, to oxydation.
703. Darkness is, however, no power, and can consequently be only the
opportunity, not the cause of anything's happening. Other forces,
instead of that of light, must have therefore operated in the
production of ores. In order to discover these forces the relations of
the ores must be carefully weighed or considered.
704. The ore is in a philosophic sense a reduced earth, and so reduced
indeed that the basic principle has obtained the preponderance over the
oxygenic or supporter of combustion, and attained unto substantiality.
705. In light, in the water forsooth when illuminated, the two
earth-principles were already divided internally, but not completely
separated; salt only originated, namely an acid and alkali.
706. The ore is, however, a salt wholly reduced, and indeed the reduced
alkali has become metal, the reduced acid with the basis of hydrogen,
Inflammable, namely, coal or sulphur.
707. Now as light was not able to produce such a separation in the free
or full sense of the term, forces must thus have been present in the
dark passages, which completed this separation.
708. Ore and Inflammable are the total salt dissevered, and this is the
dissolution of the two; the former are blue and yellow, the latter is
the compound green.
709. The processes of the formation of salt and of ore are both indeed
processes of separation, but yet they stand opposite to, or rather
transcend each other. Both mutually conditionate each other.
710. While the earths submitted to the action of light upon the surface
of the planet are converted into salt, the process of the formation
of ore takes place in the dark or under the earth; or while above the
oxygen is predominant, the basic body is that below. The ore imparts
upon a large scale its oxygen to the salt, and the salt bestows its
basic body on the ores.
711. No ores could originate in the middle of the earth were light even
to have no access thereunto. For not merely do earth and darkness
belong to the genesis of the ore, but earthy water like as unto salt.
712. The ore is not a conversion of earths that have already existed,
or been actually separated; but it originates first of all during the
process of separation. Where ore is, fluid has thus been, and polarity,
which is not directly derived from light. The ore is a mere child of
the planet, a pure terrestrial essence generated without the joint
assistance of the heaven, and therefore the highest substantiality of
the planet, the spirit of the earth.
713. What gneiss and mica-schist, calx and salt, are in the bright
valleys, such is the ore in the dark valleys; the former are the
differenced ore, and this is their identification.
714. There is no peculiar metallic body or seed, which had already
existed in the primary creation as something special or peculiar,
and which by one process only, as perhaps even by its gravity,
was precipitated or posited from the fluid mass. One and the same
substance, if found exposed in a valley to the light, becomes earth;
but ore when it is in a dark passage.
715. Of a certainty neither clay, sand, talc, or calx become metal.
For these are at once definitions of the spirit, words that have been
already completed and expressed, and cannot be recalled; so also the
ore will not again become clay, even if it be submitted to light. The
indeterminate substance only, which under other conditions might have
become clay, becomes in the darkness ore.
716. What is not in idea, prior to the adjustment or fixation of a
pole, reduced to ore, can on no account become that out of an already
finished mass of earth. Conversions of earth into ore by chemical arts
are labours bestowed in vain.
717. Yet if ores do originate, they originate only out of the
indefinite Basic, which is still in the water, just as trap stones
originate not from a stony dust that pre-existed, but out of the pure
indifferent substance of the air.
718. The veins and the formation of ore are one, as are the valleys
with the calcareous and salt formations; and he who asks how has the
ore originated, must forthwith inquire as to what is the essence of the
veins.
719. The ore has not originated externally to the veins and been at
some time or other conducted into them by means of water. For how
should it thus originate? The reply is, a specific action must have
been at work in the fluid, which determined it to separate ore and
nothing else. But where is this ore-forming action in the free space
of water? Nowhere. And if also the ore had been separated or diffused
throughout the whole mass of water, what a world-wonder is it that
it merely flowed into the veins and some stockworks? What prevented
it from filling in large masses the broader valleys? The mechanical
theorist upon metallic veins must assume an attraction on the part of
the veins for the ore-particles in water; but how could this attraction
have drawn these particles for miles in extent out of the water? and
were this action strong enough, it must still be gifted with greater
power to produce or at least separate the ore out of the water, that is
found in the empty spaces formed by the veins.
720. Since ore has on a large scale separated from the calcareous and
salt formations like the Identical from the Different, it has done
so also upon a small scale in the veins. There the same process of
separation has preceded it.
721. Now, however, nothing can be separated, i. e. nothing be reduced,
without the oxygen accumulating upon something else. The Earthy must
therefore separate during the formation of metal into the Reduced and
Peroxydized.
722. The reduced earthy is the metal or inflammable; the peroxydized,
however, an earth proper. This earth is called _vein-stone_.
723. The ore has _only_ originated in opposition to the vein-stone,
and when this has taken the Different of the Earthy into itself.
Therefore the vein-stones are also different from the kind of rock in
which they occur, and that through greater differentialization; they
have even receded for the most part into acid and alkaline poles, as
calc-spar, fluor-spar, heavy-spar, which are the usual vein-stones.
All vein-stones are oxyds and as a rule, those in which the oxygen is
freely manifested, namely as acid. The vein-stones were the sheath of
the ore, which could first appear when this sheath had withdrawn itself.
724. The metal stands in relation to the vein-stone. Thus in
argillaceous vein-stones we commonly meet with iron, manganese; in the
quartzoze with gold; in the calcareous with lead, &c. There are here
also extremes. There are vein-stones, called sterile veins, in whose
antagonism no metal has been formed; and there are veins, that are
merely filled with metal, such as the Stockwerke, Lager.
725. Since the ore and the vein-stones thus originate together, and in
such a manner that they conditionate each other; their fundamental mass
must have been one, and a separating force, which is not light, must
have operated upon them.
726. Moreover, as the ores occur only in narrow spaces with their
vein-stones and both form alternating tables upon the walls of the
veins, they must have been attracted by the latter.
727. The walls of the vein consequently exert a polar influence upon
the ore and vein-stone. Now, if this be their mode of action, they must
be in a condition to separate the fundamental mass.
728. It is thus the vein themselves, which, by a vital force, produce
the metals; they are thus a living womb, or matrix as it has been
emphatically termed.
729. Two walls in close juxtaposition are requisite for the production
of metal. Upon a freely exposed wall or face of rock no metals are
found.
730. By this separation, however, two kinds of minerals originate,
Inflammables, and ores proper or metals. The action of the walls must
be therefore of a twofold nature.
731. But two cases also are conceivable, in accordance wherewith this
polarity of the vein admits of being divided. It subsists either quite
alone between the two walls, as surface-polarity or electricity; or
it subsists between the mediate point of the earth and the walls,
constituting centroperipheric polarity or magnetism.
732. The product of the surface polarity are the Inflammables, of the
radial polarity the metals.
733. Since no more metals and Inflammables originate at the present
day, although magnetism and electricity are in continual operation;
a third influence moreover must have been in constant activity. Now
this cannot be thought of as any other than _heat_. The metals must
thus have originated while the earth was still in a glowing state, and
when thus also magnetism and electricity could operate more powerfully
towards effecting a reduction of the mass. By heat the mass in the
veins was probably converted into gas, through which its separation
by means of magnetism and electricity into ore and transition earth
could more easily take place. The metals are thus sublimations, which
were first deposited, when the earths or rather the mountain-stock
began to cool. Thus also zeolithic crystals were deposited in the upper
stores of mines. Metals are thus the children of heat, of magnetism
and electricity; the heat renders the mass in a fit state for being
separated in the next place by the polar forces.
734. Metal is carbon completely reduced, which contains nothing more
of the other elements in itself, namely, neither hydrogen nor oxygen.
It is consequently the Basic of the earth-element without material
admixture, and thus is earth with the properties of its prototype, of
fire or of gravity, of light and of heat.
735. In accordance with this interpretation metal can be produced by no
other process than the centro-peripheric. Its occurrence in fissures of
the earth that are mostly perpendicular likewise proves this.
736. In the deeply situated veins, therefore, the more identical or
purer formations of ore must occur; while, on the contrary, in those
situated higher up or exposed to the day, i. e. in closer proximity to
the water, air and light, the more different or compound formations of
ore must be produced.
737. The four classes of ores occupy a position in the veins tolerably
accordant with these relations; an additional proof that they have
originated in the vein and not been floated into it by the action of
water.
738. The production of ore which occurs in the _upper_ parts of the
veins, furnishes us with the saline ores; for here the water, air
and earth are principally active. In the upper depths are found most
frequently the oxygenized metals, or as they are called mineral spars,
as spathic-iron, malachite, calamine, lead-spar, pyromorphite, &c.
Finally, the metallic or ore-spars actually pass over into salts, and
by the horn-silver ores into the vitriols. They are for the most part
crystallized.
739. The salt-formation of the ores has always decreased in proportion
to the light having less access to it, and hence in greater depths,
or in wholly mountainous masses. There the ore has not been deposited
as a light-difference, but only as a Terrestrial, just as the earths,
especially the calcareous earth, have obtained the same. It has not
attained to a complete evolution of the polar body so as to constitute
an acid, but the two principles have only emerged opposite to each
other. They are oxydized ores, consequently those among the ores,
that represent the character of earths, namely, the ochres. They are
frequently uncrystallized.
740. So far the appearance of these ores is thoroughly earthy and
devoid for the most part of metallic lustre; finally, the genesis of
the ore turns upon the side of the identity, the principle of gravity
having secured itself wholly in the depths, previous to the adverse
accession of water and light. In such situations nothing more than
heat and the centro-peripheric polarity of the vein-wall operates. The
Metallic recedes wholly from the salt and from the earth. The oxygen
disappears, but in its place comes sulphur, and the sulphuretted ores
originate, e. g. the bi-sulphurets of iron, blendes, glance-ores.
741. Lastly, every combination or influence of the other elements and
mineral-classes vanishes; acids, oxygen and sulphur are no longer
generated in the perfectly dark depths, and the ore stands there in its
entire identity, homogeneous, resplendent and heavy as the sterling
metal. The same results from sublimation. The heavier metals remain
below, the lighter ones and the sulphur ascend.
742. As the orders of earth are placed in the veins, so also are the
different metals themselves; for the cause of genesis is alike in both.
743. The earth-like metals, as iron, manganese, &c. which occur
constantly oxydized, are usually found upon the surface of the planet;
the hydroid or water-like, as lead, tin, lie usually deeper; the aeroid
or air-like, as arsenic, zinc, exhibit pretty nearly the same relations
as the sulphur metals; lastly, the pyroid or fire-like, e. g. the noble
metals such as gold and silver occur frequently in great depths and not
unfrequently in granite; the two preceding metals generally occur in
gneiss, but the first even in younger or more recently formed rocks.
744. As a certain regularity prevails in the arrangements of ores and
of metals in the veins, so also does this hold good in respect to their
distribution over the planet.
745. The more the polar earths are separated and deposited in the
broad valleys exposed to light, by so much the more in quantity and
of greater purity is the ore produced in its own valleys of darkness.
The first effect, however, happens through the power of the sun; the
more powerful therefore its influence, although indirect, so much the
greater in quantity and purity is ore produced in the depths. The
greatest quantity of ore and that of the noblest kind was inevitably
generated beneath the equator. There also more lime as well as more
salt are probably found upon the surface of the water; towards the
north the oxydized metals, or the whole series of iron-metals, were
produced. In the Temperate Zones we find more lead, zinc, bismuth and
arsenic.
746. Thus the theory itself of ores furnishes us with a proof, such as
the theory of the earth that has been hitherto entertained could not
afford, that the equator forsooth has since the formation of the metals
not been displaced. The metals formed themselves cotemporaneously
with the gneiss, and have thus begun to form prior to the existence
of the organic world. It is therefore a vague opinion, devoid also of
foundation, that since the earth has been inhabited by animals, even by
the higher or hair-clothed vertebrata, its axis has been changed.
747. No earthly phenomenon speaks so clearly and loudly against the
mechanical theories in the natural sciences as ore. Not only has the
whole planet been included in the ore, but also the whole of science,
the whole of philosophy.
748. The first transition of the Earthy into the metallic character
is indicated by iron. Iron ranks next to earth, especially to the
argillaceous earth, is everywhere associated with it and is most
generally distributed, being mixed with almost every earth and even all
organic bodies, to their very elements.
749. The whole series of metals has but _one_ root. What the primary
earth is for the metamorphosis of earths, that is iron for the metals:
it is their silicious earth.
750. The iron as being the first transition from the Earthy into
the Metallic has the highest grade of fusion, and all metals which
approximate to this, belong to the retinue of iron. This grade may be
set down as 20,000F.
751. As iron is the root of all metals, so every division or group of
ore has a principal metal, which occurs in more considerable quantity
than the rest and characterizes the division. Among the saline ores,
copper under the form of malachite is the principal metal. Its fusing
point is 6000F. Among the sulphurous ores, _lead_ is the chief metal;
it has with its neighbours the lowest grade of fusion, which may be
set down in round numbers as 600F. Among the volatile, arsenic is the
principal metal.
752. Among the standard metals, silver is the principal metal; it has
with its affinities a fusing point, which ranges midway between that of
iron and lead, being probably about 5000F.
753. There are four grades of fusion of the metals, which are removed
from each other by very wide intervals, between which no metal is
situated. Quicksilver is fluid at the temperature of the air and
becomes volatile like arsenic. Moreover the artificial metals are
associated with the alkalies and acids. Lead, with its congeners, melts
at 500F.; silver with gold and copper at 5000; iron, platinum and such
like at 20,000.
754. There are four metallic characters, which are shown to be peculiar
in all their relations, in their affinities for oxygen, acid, and
sulphur, in respect to specific gravity, fusibility, extensibility, in
their electric relation, in mode of fracture, in occurrence, age, and
geographical distribution, &c.
c. POISON.
755. It is a remarkable fact that the principal metal of the elemental
metals, obtains mostly by oxydation or acidification poisonous
properties, while the proper earth-metal, iron, acts beneficially upon
the animal organization. Among the water-metals lead becomes poisonous
by acidification; among the fire-metals mercury. Among the air-metals
arsenic ranks highest, becoming poisonous by mere oxydation. Among the
earth-metals, only one among the salt-metals is poisonous, and that is
copper.
756. The metals thus appear to become poisonous, when they enter into
or put on the character of salt, or of water.
757. The above are also those very metals, which unite most readily
with the others, to form alloys, amalgams or metallic compounds. Copper
is very readily alloyed; lead almost always contains silver; mercury is
susceptible of amalgamation; arsenic metallizes the others almost like
sulphur.
758. The air-metals appear to have lost for the most part the metallic
character; arsenic therefore destroys also magnetism.
759. The essence of metallic poison thus appears to reside in the
endeavour on the part of the metals to suppress the metallic character
and convert themselves into the formless elements. The metallic poison
is the direct opponent of the metals themselves, and through this, of
everything that has form, and thus of the Organic also.
d. MAGNETISM.
760. Two actions are necessarily manifested in iron, one clearing or
dividing in so far as it is earth, and one to be identifying, in so
far as it is metal. Iron is the fluctuation between oxydation and
reduction, between light and gravity, and this conflict of the two
latter is _Magnetism_. Magnetism is the spiritual function of the
metals.
761. Magnetism belongs essentially to the metals only. What is not
metal, is magnetic only according to idea or signification; it may be
therefore aptly said, that such a body hath no magnetism, and that what
has it, were metallic.
762. Magnetism is the direct property only of iron; this alone is the
hybrid or heterogynous metal.
763. Magnetism appertains only to the other metals in as far as they
are positions of iron; and is the more powerful, the nearer they stand
in relation to iron. All metals are magnetic in idea, whether magnetism
be manifested in them or not.
764. All metals have originated through magnetism, through the radial
polarity, or the conflict of light and gravity. Magnetism is the
action betwixt light and darkness, periphery and centre. Magnetism as
being a metalgenerating action tends towards the centre of darkness
of gravity. What in the earths and salts is the duplex tendency of
crystallization, is in the metals the identifying magnetism, as an
everlasting operation of attraction.
765. Magnetism is still, however, not identical with gravity. Gravity
is the centre abstractedly from the periphery; but magnetism is the
centre only in relation to the periphery or light.
766. Polarity belongs to the essence as well as the genesis of
magnetism; the metal subsists only through a constant resistance
against the universal process of oxydation, against the developmental
process of the earth-principles, which the metal is always striving to
conceal. The metal is altogether the most mysterious essence of the
planet. This resistance to the disclosure of the Innermost of the earth
is magnetism. Where magnetism has wholly attained this concealment, it
renders the metal perfectly free and disappears, because it has become
completely embodied. In the noble metals it has attained what it is
still seeking in iron.
767. Magnetism is a linear action with two different extremities,
like the primary radius. By one extremity magnetism runs towards
the identical centre, by the other towards the partite, electrical
periphery, towards the oxydized earths. One extremity will reduce, the
other oxydize; one will become metal, the other earth. This is the
difference between north and south pole, the former centre, the latter
periphery.
768. There is no peculiar magnetic fluid, any more than there is a
matter of light, heat and electricity. In magnetism the spirit only of
the earth appears, as in light the spirit of heaven.
769. Magnetism is a constant process of excitation. This process of
excitement is the process of imparting and of propagation. Magnetism
has not been given, but excited. It breathes life into the iron bar,
whereby the latter awakes, and that is magnetism.
770. Every action, which induces differences in a line of iron,
renders it therefore magnetic; thus electricity, unequal calefaction
and a blow, whereby it is thrown into a state of vibration. An iron bar
planted perpendicularly becomes magnetic, because it is then a radius
to the earth. From the same reason it becomes magnetic, if placed in
the magnetic meridian.
e. TERRESTRIAL MAGNETISM.
771. If all metals are in idea magnetic; so must the metallic veins, as
products of magnetism, be magnetic lines. Every vein has a north and a
south pole.
772. As every vein is a magnetic line or magnetic needle upon a large
scale; so must two veins abutting against each other represent likewise
a magnetic tension. A mountain of ores is a net of numerous magnets
interlacing each other. As one vein is related to the other, so must
one metalliferous mountain be related to the other; and thus two
mountains of this character stand in magnetic polarity with each other.
The whole earth is surrounded by a magnetic net.
773. As every metal, every vein, every rock is in miniature a
magnet, so must the earth be a magnet upon a large scale. There is a
_Terrestrial magnetism_.
774. This magnetism belongs only to the earth only in so far as it
possesses a metallic quality, for magnetism is only the spirit of
the metals, not of the other terrestrial bodies, as the earths,
Inflammables, and salts.
775. Magnetism is no general character of the earth, still less of the
whole solar system, except in so far as the metallic principle lies at
the basis of every thing earthy. Magnetism does not operate outwardly
over the earth.
776. The determinants of terrestrial magnetism are the _metallic
veins_, or the metallic beds in the crust of the earth.
777. Terrestrial magnetism has not been produced or determined by
a magnetic nucleus; since a metal in the middle of the earth is a
contradiction. All determinations of terrestrial magnetism depend
upon the nature, character, distribution, number and direction of the
metallic veins or beds.
778. Thus the direction of the magnetic axis of the earth, its
mutability, the declination of the magnetic meridian, the inclination
or dip of the needle, in short every phenomenon without distinction
that concerns magnetism, must be derived from the nature of the
metallic veins. Another momentum does not indeed exist for magnetism.
779. Terrestrial magnetism can only be based upon the polarity of
metallic veins, and this upon the ores they contain. It must therefore
accommodate itself to the distribution of the chief masses of metals,
especially of the idiomagnetic metal. Now it has been ascertained,
that the noble metals are accumulated about the equator, such as gold,
silver, copper, which may be regarded as non-magnetic. In the northern
temperate zones, the mountains contain for the most part metals that
are non-magnetic and semi-noble, as lead, zinc, antimony, which are
usually combined as ores with sulphur. Iron, on the contrary, being the
only magnetic metal, (a fact which is also determined chiefly by the
magnetic needle in terrestrial magnetism) is accumulated in greater
quantity towards the north-pole and becomes always rarer in occurrence
towards the equator. The southern hemisphere of the earth, is indeed
less known in this respect; but, that towards the south-pole iron
reincreases in quantity, is rendered evident by the magnetic needle
when conveyed beyond the equator, inclining to the south-pole. If the
cause of the inclination upon the northern hemisphere be sought for in
the presence of iron, the same must be done in regard to the southern.
The arrangement of the metallic groups from north-to south-pole is
thus; iron, lead, silver, lead, iron.
780. Iron has been deposited at both poles and this in accordance with
the genesis of metals, for iron is a half reduced metal, and must
consequently be subjected to the demi-action only of light. At or
beneath the equator the Ferrogeneous is wholly reduced, and becomes
noble.
781. There is obviously, however, less iron at the south-than the
north-pole, because the greatest part of the planet is there covered
with water, and thus in general with less earth less metal also is to
be found. From this alone it may be explained why the magnetic needle
conveyed beyond the equator still remains horizontal and first inclines
about the tenth degree of southern latitude towards the south-pole.
782. The north-pole is thus more energetic than the south-pole, so that
the two poles must be also inversely related to each other. It is only
from this antagonism of the two poles of the earth that we comprehend,
why upon the southern hemisphere the south-pole of the needle dips
towards the earth, and why the needle does not turn completely round.
For if there was an equal quantity of iron in both hemispheres of the
earth, the southern must have the same magnetic pole, and thus attract
the north-pole of the needle; and under the equator the needle must
have actually no direction. The cause of the direction and dip of the
needle rests thus in the antagonism of the two poles of the earth, and
this again in the unequal masses of iron.
783. The action of terrestrial magnetism does not reside in the iron
formation alone, but in its antagonism to the reduced ores. The
terrestrial magnetism is a tension between iron and silver. The lead
imparts the poles.
784. As the earth is a globe, so are the two masses of iron situated
nearer to its axis than the masses of silver and lead. If therefore
the latter exert also any influence upon the direction of the magnetic
needle, yet nevertheless the poles of magnetism must coincide nearly
with the poles of the earth's axis, because the exciters of magnetism
operate in this direction.
785. The magnetic meridian runs indeed in general from pole to pole,
but as it is not the earth's axis, which determines the magnetism, but
the metallic masses, so the direction of the meridian deviates from
the earth's axis in accordance with these masses.
786. The magnetic needle can therefore assume a different direction on
every part of the earth, according as its relative position is varied
between two principal masses of metals, and even as is indicated by the
movement of the compass with the change of geographical longitudes,
it is removed from one metallic mass, approaches another, and by
this becomes more powerfully attracted. Upon the whole, however,
the direction must tend toward the poles. Such are the phenomena of
_declination_ of the magnetic needle; and we can now comprehend why
this is present.
787. But there must be also spots upon the earth, where the needle
points straight to the north, probably, when it is between two metallic
masses, or stands at a certain angle to them. These are the _lines
without declination_, of which there are many as is well known, but
which have not as yet been reduced to any law. Nor can they ever be so,
because we shall never become acquainted with the metallic beds.
788. As the solid land, so far as it projects out of the water, forms
a horse-shoe figure, of which the two Americas represent one leg,
Europe with Asia and Africa the other leg, the sea being interposed
between them; so must the lines without declination fall principally
in the ocean, between the earth's crura. Moreover as both these crura
of the earth are unequal in size, so must the one influence the needle
more than the other, and in this respect also there can be therefore
no regularity in the lines without declination. Thus everything
co-operates, to the effect of rendering the direction of the magnetic
needle unequal; such as the distribution of metalliferous mountains, of
masses of iron, of the earth's hemispheres, of the earth's crura, and
inversely the earth has probably obtained this horse-shoe form through
magnetism. The cavities of the earth probably do not fall in there,
because the ground, namely the mountains, is supported by metallic
plates. On this account the earth probably maintains an oblique
position in her course. In accordance with this the earth's axis had
first changed, when the metals were generated. According to this also,
the sea had rushed in first, when the metallic veins were present.
Lastly, in accordance with this, the metals would be generated, when
the whole earth was still covered, and the veins filled with water.
Unto such conclusions the philosophy of nature can alone conduct us.
The cause of a horse-shoe magnet acting more powerfully than any other
shaped instrument, resides probably in the form of the earth's crura.
789. The magnetic meridian varies, however, not only according to
places, but times also. This is explicable from the mutation of metals
under the poles, as well as under the equator and in the temperate
zones. Processes of oxydation and reduction are always occurring, the
more too if the water recedes and tracts of land become dry. To this,
culture, the clearing of woods, the draining of swamps and probably
mining operations themselves conduce.
790. It must besides be clear to every one, who has learnt to look upon
nature as a whole, that the numerous metallic masses of metal upon the
earth are not indifferent to the genesis of metal, that they are not
foreign to iron; but that they stand invariably in one relation to it,
which can only be magnetic; for therein only are they metals.
791. Magnetism is an infinity of tensions spread over the whole earth,
of which the tension towards the axis is but the principal, not the
sole, tension. The expression hereof is the net of metallic veins.
792. Every magnetic line consists of an endless number of shifting
poles; for every magnetic line can be but the metatype of terrestrial
magnetism.
C.--_INFLAMMABLES._
_Electrism._
793. Coal and sulphur may be regarded as the representatives of the
Inflammables, making their appearance in the carbonic acid of lime, and
the sulphuric acid of gypsum, just as the metals did among the alkalies.
794. The Inflammables are accordingly associated with the acids or the
salts, the ores with the earths. It may be said that the former are
reduced acids, the latter reduced earths.
795. The Inflammables are consequently those that succeed next to the
salts or water-minerals. Their determining element is in this respect
also the air; that of the ores is therefore the fire.
796. The Inflammable, as being the reduced acid, must have the
strongest affinity for oxygen. A body, which by its own force, attracts
the oxygen from the air, so that it appears luminous, is called
combustible.
797. The generating spirit of the Inflammables coincides with the
spirit of air, and thus with electricity. The generating spirit of
metals coincides with the light; it is the radial action in the
Massive, or magnetism.
798. Electricity has become embodied in the Inflammable, i. e.
idioelectric; in metal, light has become embodied, i. e. idiomagnetic.
799. Now, as the Inflammable exists under two forms, with the
preponderance of the earth-nature as coal, and with that of the
air-nature as sulphur, so must the electricity appear fixed chiefly in
the latter. This fixation is the idioelectricity.
800. As electricity is in its essence a constantly dualized agent, so
can only one pole belonging to it become fixed. In sulphur this is what
has been called the _negative_ pole.
a. SULPHUR.
801. As the air stands opposed to the earth, so must sulphur to coal.
The latter is thus endowed with positive electricity.
802. Coal is, however, the fundamental body of the metals. The metals
are consequently related as positive electrics to sulphur. Sulphur is
air-metal or idio-negative; metal is earth-or idiopositive sulphur.
Sulphur therefore occurs almost solely with metals, as iron, pyrites,
glance; yet frequently with arsenic, the metal that resembles it, e. g.
in realgar.
803. Sulphur is the basis of all idioelectrism, and this property
occurs only in bodies, in so far as they are positions of sulphur.
804. Magnetism and electrism are correlated, as iron and sulphur, as
gravity and light, as centre and periphery. The same spirit, which when
ruling in the dark, exhibits itself as magnetic, is manifested when it
has attained to light in sulphur as electrical. Magnetism is only the
electricity identified.
805. We may therefore speak of idiomagnetic metals as well as
idioelectric bodies.
806. Magnetism therefore stands in accordance with these relations in
opposition to electrism; they mutually change or annihilate each other.
807. Electrism has, in accordance with its signification, the power
of manifesting itself with one pole accumulated or set free from the
other, as e. g. the negative in a cake of resin; in magnetism, on the
contrary, both poles are always together and inseparable. The radius is
divided into two in every part of its length.
808. As the functions of metal and of sulphur are correlated, so also
are their substances; they are opposed, and hence the metallization by
means of sulphur with all its results. This antagonism is, however,
dormant or concealed; that of the functions manifests itself much more
clearly.
809. The metals, as being dense, central, and linear masses, must
fall into a state of tension with electricity as with heat; this is
called conduction. The metals are therefore conductors of electrism. In
antagonism to the conducting power of the metals sulphur is naturally
an _isolator_; for what is idioactive is virtually also isolating.
Iron may be likewise called an isolator of magnetism. There is only
_one_ series of bodies in nature, belonging to the peripheric and
expansive functions, that conducts; the metals only are conductors.
Isolation belongs to the essence of electricity. _Isolating action_ and
_Electricity are one_; for electricity is the surface-function, wherein
the line, which is the only conductor, disappears.
810. Electrism does not tend towards the metals, and can therefore
have no definite direction in the earth; there is neither an electric
meridian, nor an electric equator. There is only an electrical surface
to the earth, and this is alike in all regions of the world.
811. The metals must accordingly stand opposed to sulphur as positive
bodies, if not as idiopositive, yet as such when brought into collision
with sulphur. The metals, when rubbed with sulphur, constantly become
positive, and the sulphur remains negative.
812. The earths also become positive when rubbed with sulphur; in
short, everything which, in the genesis of the earth, ranks below
sulphur, is positive. Heated bodies rubbed with cold, and rough bodies
with smooth, must become negative.
813. Bodies become positive with sulphur, simply because the essence
of sulphur is of a negative character, or because, in other words, it
is nothing else but negativity; the persistency of one pole and the
counter-resistance to every other, is called _isolation_. The metals
are conductors, because they stand opposed to sulphur.
814. Positive isolation only is evolved opposite to sulphur, in zinc,
probably because this belongs to the air-metals.
815. What sulphur is in its series, that is _zinc_ in the metallic
series; the isolating electric rod, with which the other bodies are
associated; the one the positive, the other the negative isolator; in
so far forsooth as one can isolate bodies that have arisen through
linear action. With zinc the other metals become negative, because it
can be nothing else than positive, as sulphur can be none other than
negative. (That this does not hold good absolutely, we need scarcely be
reminded).
816. Two fixations of electricity thus exist, and from these the
electric phenomena must be derived. So long as we imagine that
electrical proportions run in a continuous line, so long shall we never
be able to avoid contradictions. Two rods stand firmly, and from out
and around these two heaps of bodies form, which in reference to their
electrical relation (according to the experiments hitherto performed)
are naturally exhibited as only _one_ series.
817. Sulphur does not stand alone, but is associated with a series,
especially of the higher Inflammables, bitumens or mineral-resins,
ætherial oils and hydrogen gas. The higher the inflammability ascends,
by so much the more energetic is the negative character, so that,
finally, the sulphur itself becomes positive towards such matters.
818. If in every polar action it can be proved, that each polar line
consists of infinitely numerous poles, and that each point in it
can be alternately changing both polarities, in accordance with the
mutation of the principal poles that exert their influence; so is it in
electricity. There is scarcely a single body which cannot be positive
as well as negative, if it only becomes displaced in its own series, or
is transported into the other.
b. COAL.
819. During the electrical separation of the Basic of the earth, or
during the communication of the aerial character to the Earthy, a body
remains behind with positive character, or the _Coal_.
820. Coal may be regarded as volatilized metal, as a metal which can
change by the action of water or acid upon it into air. Black-lead is a
coal, which is directly associated with the metals.
821. Coal appears therefore less in particular places, than as
expanded into entire rocky masses, as e. g. in the clay-slate and as
carbonic-acid in lime.
822. The coal was, during the earth-formation, separated from the sea,
yet not, or only rarely, by itself, but along with other masses of
earth, while the sulphur rather accompanies the metals. Coal passes
over into the earths, the sulphur into the metals.
823. The volatilized earth or coal, i. e. the earth that has ascended
through water or salt unto air, is associated with a higher kingdom,
and that indeed the general mass of the vegetable kingdom, as is the
case in the pit-coals, which are reversions of plants.
824. As the earths and metals extend into pit-coals, so does sulphur
lose itself in idioelectric, inflammable substances, which are likewise
reversions of a sulphur that has escaped into a higher kingdom. Here
belong the amber, mineral resins and naphthas.
825. There are thus two ways, by which the reduced earthy seeks to
mount aloft; by the carbon, as belonging to the more inert earth;
and the Resinous, as belonging to the more active air. The vegetable
kingdom has its root in the simple earths, especially the hydroid
argillaceous earths; the animal kingdom in the divided calcareous
earths.
826. Sulphur is yellow, because it is the earthy that has come to
light, the carbon is black, because it is sulphur volatilized,
moistened in the gloom or darkness of the earth.
D.--_SALTS_.
_Salt-periods._
827. So long as the basis of the acid is an earthy, such as carbon
or sulphur in the carbonic and sulphuric acids, does the earthy also
obtain the preponderance, and the lime as well as the gypsum or
sulphate of lime are precipitated as insoluble bodies.
828. It is only through the influence of light constantly becoming
more powerful by reason of the solid land under the water that the
oxydation of water rises to the highest degree, so that this element
finally converts itself into an acid, or hydro-oxide. This process
must be regarded as a decomposition of water, whereby a portion of the
hydrogen forms sulphur with the carbon, the rest with the oxygen an
hydro-oxide.
829. The hydro-oxide is hydrochloric acid. This acid must be regarded
as peroxydized hydrogen. Its signification is thus that of being water
itself, or a whole element with a preponderance of oxygen. It attains
this rank by its constituent parts, namely, the two general gaseous
primary bodies, by its distribution as a whole element around the
earth; by its occurrence as an earth-formation in rock-salt; finally,
by its presence in all vegetable and animal juices. Hydrochloric acid
is the type of all acids, as the iron is of all metals. All acids are
but imitations of the hydrochloric. All abide by the signification of
water, or are conversions of elements or earths by oxydation into an
hydroid condition.
830. Between the acidified water and the Earthy a higher antagonism now
emerges. The Earthy separates a part of its carbon from the carbonic
acid and sulphur, so that the rest remains behind peroxydized, and
makes its appearance as an alkali.
831. The alkali is to be regarded as the last conversion of calcareous
earth in respect to water. It is an earth, whose oxygen has converted
itself with a portion of its carbon into acid and been set free; a salt
halved upon the basic side. This general alkali, that has originated in
water, is _soda_ or natrom.
832. Alkali and acid are the last antagonism in the earthy, moieties,
which can never subsist without each other.
833. The alkali is corrosive, because it seeks water and acid, in order
to perfect itself; acid is pungent to the taste, because it seeks earth
or alkali.
834. Their antagonism is the highest antagonism between water and
earth; it is also the representation of the antagonism between fire
and the terrestrial elements, or also between light and gravity.
Therefore this antagonism has a cosmic or universal signification.
835. The combination of this antagonism is the _sea_-or _common salt_.
836. Sea-salt is the universal salt. All other salts are to be regarded
only as metamorphoses of it, as well as the acids only conversions of
the acid of common salt, and the alkalies of soda.
837. The sea-salt is essential to water. It is the product of geogeny,
has not entered the water from without, but been generated in it, and
is constantly being regenerated, so long as light shines upon the sea.
Properly speaking, sea-salt has been in the water from the beginning;
but it was previously shrouded in the other earths, and could act
substantially for the first time, when they had been separated from it.
It has become salt, or water and earth-element by the agency of light.
838. The sea-salt has also been generated in opposition to the
calcareous earths, and during its separation been rendered polar
towards the latter. The salt mines are therefore associated with
the last calcareous formation, the gypsum, and this it is also that
determines their lamination.
839. As it may be said, that the metals separate into coal and
sulphur, namely, pass over at their iron-extremity into coal, at their
arsenical, into sulphur; so may it be said, that the earths separate
into acids and alkalies; the one by the conversion of silica into
fluoric acid, the other by that of calcareous earth into soda. Carbonic
and sulphuric acid take possession of the calcareous earth; the
hydro-oxide of the alkali.
840. The sea-salt has been the last to be separated from, because it
was last generated in, the water. The salt beds belong to the last
precipitation, by not having been mechanically thrown down, but as
already observed and as their occurrence proves, by an alternating
process of separation from the acidified lime. It is absurd to wish to
explain the presence of common salt in the sea by a solution of saline
beds. For where have the latter come from?
841. With the separation of the ore and the Inflammable out of the
primary water and the confluence of the Earthy into marine salt, its
metamorphosis upon the surface or when exposed to light is at an
end. All forms of the planet have been successively developed out of
the earth-element. It can attain no further to anything new, and if
nature had not yet been concluded, that which in the sequel is still
dynamically developed upon our earth, must be thus a product, which
extends beyond the mineral kingdom.
842. As the fundamental earths lose themselves in pure carbon, in
resin, and so in the vegetable world, so the series of corrosive earths
resolves itself likewise in remnants of an organic, and that indeed
the animal, kingdom. As the pit-coals and resins are associated with
the metals and Inflammables, so are the fossil animal remains with
the calcareous earth; and thus the voice of the organic world speaks
already with force and clearness to those that hearken, from out the
stones.
843. For the metamorphosis of the earths, nature has twice prepared
herself, has planted at the same time two great points of origin,
according to which all her action is directed, and which remain in
constant correspondence with each other.
844. The main pole is granite. It is at once the primary pole, to which
the second main pole, the lime, is directed. The granite brings the
series through gneiss and mica-schist down to clay-and talc-slate, then
makes a sudden transition to the ores, and terminates at a boundary,
where pit-coals and resins conduct us into a new kingdom.
845. The lime rejects from itself the sand and sedimentary clay,
progresses through barytes and strontian up to gypsum, makes a sudden
bound or transition from thence to the salts, and terminates at a
limit, where corals and molluscous animals conduct us into a new
kingdom.
846. Salt concludes the growth of the earths; it is the eruption
or breaking out of the soul, as the metal was the body of earths
completed. Both finally pass into a higher world, the metal into the
_corporeal_, the salt into the _psychical_.
CHEMISM.
847. The spiritual activity, the soul of the earth has declared itself
in crystallization, the spirit of the metals in magnetism, that of
the Inflammables in electrism. The calcareous epoch is also the
manifestation of a peculiar activity, whose ultimate product is salt.
It has been already shown what the functions of the latter are, but the
signification of its acts has not yet been mentioned.
848. By the influence of light the water becomes elevated in its
oxygen-action, enters thus into tension with itself, and this
constitutes the tendency to solution which is the function of water.
The oxygenous water solicits the basic principle in the earth; this
issues forth, but still combined with its oxygen that has become free;
the formerly identical earth is a calcareous earth in a state of
tension with itself. What does not admit of being brought into a state
of tension, is thrown down as fundamental earth. Hitherto this process
was a mere process of solution, i. e. it had attained in the solid and
fluid only to tension, not to disseverment of the poles.
849. But the light always renders the water more oxygenous, and
therefore the earth always more basic; finally, the one portion of the
basic in the water, namely the hydrogen, separates itself, and becomes
peroxydized or the hydrochloric acid. A portion of the Basic in the
Earthy, namely the metallic body or carbon, separates itself also, and
the remainder becomes peroxydized or soda. As the calcareous earth
was at first dissolved in, and therefore one mass with, water, so at
present is the alkali also combined with the acid water; while both
dissolved in each other constitute salt.
850. In this process therefore _whole_ elements have been taken only
as _one_ primary body, and they have combined with each other like
the two primary bodies. The water has no longer become an element or
Equiponderant, but an Oxygenous, a true light-body; the earth has
no longer continued a total earth of equal specific gravity, but by
relative peroxydation has become an Aqueous, a Soluble. The salt has
thus from the union of the two lower elements, seeing that each was of
no more value than one primary body, become a _new_ element.
851. This process converts the elements again into their primary
condition, creates new elements and thus actually new matters. It
is therefore a struggle of the elements with their primary bodies,
a separation and interchange of the same. Such a process is called
_Chemism_. This is the essence or interpretation of chemism, viz. the
creation of new elements out of the old, by the reduction of these to
the nature of the primary bodies.
852. Chemism, which separates or combines, ranks a step higher than the
process of solution, which has the power only of heterogynizing, but
not of separating. Thus the electrical spark separates and combines
in combustion, while the tension of air enforces only evaporation.
Chemistry drives the elements to their utmost. In water the oxygen is
the predominating; it becomes, however, perfect first in the acid of
salt. In the earth the body of gravity prevails; but it becomes first
of all predominant in soda.
853. The opposition of the two primary bodies has been represented in
the two inferior elements as chemical tension, and the combination of
these primary elements is a chemical product.
854. Chemism is moreover a process of combustion, in which, however,
a whole element supplies the place of oxygen, and a whole element the
place of the base. It is an elementary process of combustion.
855. Chemism is the metatype of primary creation, both from its being
a material process of combustion, as from its creating new elements.
It is the union of the antagonism between æther and terrestrial matter
occurring within the circle of the terrestrial elements. Chemism is a
true conversion of substances according to their fixation.
856. All chemism takes place only in water; not only because the
particles can move therein, but because chemism is a process of
combustion of the elements themselves. The inferior elements, however,
such as water and earth, can only undergo combustion with each other,
because the two are moreover related to each other as æther and mass;
or as oxygen and base, for the two, so to speak, have become unipolar.
Without Fluid and Solid we cannot think of chemism.
857. The chemism of air is in the beginning electricity and then
the true process of combustion; both are similar, but different in
position. In the process of combustion both elements are unipolar in
the air, thus moieties; but in chemism two elements unite so as to
constitute a Whole. The product of air-chemism is water, as the product
of earth-chemism is salt. Water and salt fall into one position, but
transcend each other, even as the process of combustion invades the
province of chemism. The relation of electrism to chemism has now been
expressed in the clearest manner. The one is chemical tension of air,
but chemism is the electrical tension of earth and water.
858. Chemism is related to magnetism, as salt is to metal, as the
sedimentary to the primary periods. The whole sedimentary period
is a product of chemism, as the whole primary period is a product
of magnetism; salt and metal are only the last evolution of these
periods, and the products for whose sake all the preceding actions and
formations have taken place; granite and lime with their ramifications,
are but the stems, upon which metal and salt are borne as blossoms.
859. Magnetism and chemism are thus the creating agents for the solid
nucleus of the earth, and through both is it completed. The process of
earth-formation is a magneto-chemism.
860. Regarding the earth as an entire crystal, magnetism is the
Determinant of its polar axes and polar radii, while chemism is the
same in respect to its integral parts.
861. All terrestrial action is an interchange of these two functions
or souls, which are none other than the living gravity and the living
light upon the planet. The electricity, like the heat, only maintains
them in eternal tension or extension.
862. Chemism is the process of space, density, quiescent heat;
therefore the latent heat or the temperature must change in every
chemical process. Chemism is related to magnetism, as heat is to
gravity, to electricity like as to light. Crystallization is point,
magnetism line, electrism surface, chemism cube, or expressed according
to their powers: O⁰, O¹, O², O³.
863. Nothing can become solid without taking water into admixture with
it. This water is the water of admixture. Nothing also can assume form,
without taking water into itself--water of crystallization.
864. In so far as magnetism is active in crystallization, it renders
the water identical, basic, and this therefore becomes solid; the water
is not as water in a crystal, but it first becomes so by separation.
865. All chemical processes are based on the union of bodies, which are
elements, but which, like acids and alkalies, have assumed the nature
of the primary bodies.
866. The elective affinities are based upon the polarizibility or
transmutability of the Fluid and the Solid into the primary bodies.
That is decomposed and combined, which during admixture maintains the
animation in the strongest degree unto the origin. What cannot be so
reduced, is precipitated, as is silex. The chemism is a bin-elementary
process, and therefore constitutes the termination of this period
of creation, or of the mineral kingdom. So soon as a tri-elementary
process originates, the products pass over into a new kingdom.