CHAP. II.Of the various Strata or Beds observable in the Earth.
Of the various Strata or Beds observable in the Earth.
The variousStrataorBeds, although but little different from the last, yet will deserve a distinct Consideration.
By theStrataorBeds, I mean those Layers of Minerals[a], Metals[b], Earth, and Stone[c], lying under that upperStratum, or Tegumentof the Earth last spoken of, all of a prodigious Use to Mankind: Some being of great Use for Building; some serving for Ornament; some furnishing us with commodious Machines, and Tools to prepare our Food, and for Vessels and Utensils, and for multitudes of other Uses; some serving for Firing to dress our Food, and to guard us against the Insults of Cold and Weather; some being of great Use in Physick, in Exchange and Commerce, in manuring and fertilizing our Lands, in dying and colouring, and ten thousand other Conveniences, too many to be particularly spoken of: Only there is one grand Use of one of these Strata orBeds, that cannot easily be omitted, and that is, those subterraneous Strata of Sand, Gravel, and laxer Earth that admit of, and facilitate the Passage of the sweet Waters[d], and may probably be the Colanders whereby they are sweetened, and then at the same time also convey’d to all Parts of the habitable World, not only through the temperate and torrid Zones, but even the farthest Regions of the frozen Poles.
That these Strata are theprincipal Passagesof the sweet Fountain-Waters, is, I think not to be doubted, considering that in them the Waters are well known to pass, and in them the Springs are found by those that seek for them. I say, the principal Passages, because there are other subterraneous Guts and Chanels, Fissures and Passages, through which many Times the Waters make their way.
Now that which in a particular manner doth seem to me to manifest a special Providence of God inthe repositing these watery Beds is, that they should be dispersed all the World over, into all Countries, and almost all Tracts of Land: That they should so entirely, or for the most part, consist of lax, incohering Earth, and be so seldom blended with other impervious Moulds, or if they are so, it is commonly but accidentally; and that they are interposed between the other impervious Beds, and so are as a Prop and Pillar to guard them off, and to prevent their sinking in and shutting up the Passages of the Waters.
The Time when those Strata were laid, was doubtless at the Creation, whenGod said(Gen. i. 9.)Let the Waters under the Heaven be gathered together unto one Place, and let the dry Land appear; or else at the Deluge, if, with some sagacious Naturalists, we suppose the Globe of Earth to have been dissolved by the Flood[e]. At that Time (whatever it was) when the terraqueous Globe was in a chaotick State, and the earthy Particles subsided, then those several Beds were in all Probability reposited in the Earth, in that commodious Order in which they now are found; and that, as is asserted, according to the Laws[f]of Gravity.
FOOTNOTES:[a]Altho’ Minerals, Metals and Stones lie in Beds, and have done so ever sinceNoah’s Flood, if not from the Creation; yet it is greatly probable that they have Power ofgrowingin their respective Beds: That as the Beds are robbed and emptied by Miners, so after a while they recruit again. ThusVitriol, Mr.Boylthinks, will grow by the Help of the Air. SoAlumdoth the same.We are assured(he saith)by the experiencedAgricola, That the Earth or Ore ofAlum, being robbed of its Salt, will in tract of Time recover it, by being exposed to the Air.Boyl’sSuspic. about some Hid. Qual. in the Air, p. 18.[b]As to the Growth ofMetals, there is great Reason to suspect that also, from what Mr.Boylhath alledged in hisObservations about the Growth of Metals: And in hisScept. Chym. Part 6. pag. 362.Compare alsoHakewil’sApol. pag. 164.And particularly as to the Growth ofIron, to the Instances he gives fromPliny,Fallopius,Cæsalpinus, and others; we may add, what is well known in theForest of DeaninGloucestershire: That the best Iron, and most in Quantity, that is found there, is in the old Cinders, which they melt over again. This is the Author of theAdditions to Gloucestershire in Cambd. Brit.of the last Edition,p. 245.attributes to the Remissness of the former Melters, in not exhausting the Ore: But in all Probability it is rather to be attributed to the new Impregnations of the old Ore, or Cinders, from the Air, or from some seminal Principle, or plastick Quality in the Ore it self.[c]As for the Growth ofStone, Mr.Boylgives two Instances. One is that famous Place inFrance, calledLes Caves Goutieres: Where the Water falling from the upper Parts of the Cave to the Ground, doth presently there condense into little Stones, of such Figures as the Drops, falling either severally, or upon one another, and coagulating presently into Stones, chance to exhibit. Vid. Scept. Chym. pag. 360.Such like Caves as these I have my self met with inEngland; particularly on the very Top ofBredon-HillinWorcestershire, near thePrecipice, facingPershore, in or near the old Fortress, calledBembsbury-Camp; I saw some Years ago such a Cave, which (if I mis-remember not) was lined with thoseStalactical Stoneson the Top and Sides. On the Top they hung like Icicles great and small, and many lay on the Ground. They seemed manifestly to be made by an Exsudation, or Exstillation of some petrifying Juices out of the rocky Earth there. On the Spot, I thought it might be from the Rains soaking through, and carrying with it Impregnations from the Stone, the Hill being there all rocky. Hard by the Cave is one or more vast Stones, which (if I mistake not) are incrustated with this Sparry, Stalactical Substance, if not wholly made of it. But it is so many Years ago since I was at the Place, and not being able to find my Notes about it, I cannot say whether the whole Stone is (in all Probability) Spar, (as I think it is,) or whether I found it only cased over with it, notwithstanding I was very nice in examining it then, and have now some of the Fragments by me, consisting, among other shining Parts, of some transparent angular ones.The other Instance of Mr.Boyl, is fromLinschoten, who saith, that in theEast-Indies, when they have cleared the Diamond Mines of all the Diamonds,In a few Years Time they find in the same Place new Diamonds produced.Boyl. Ibid.[d]It is not only agreeable to Reason, but I am told by Persons conversant in digging of Wells throughout this County ofEssex, where I live, that the surest Beds in which they find Water, areGravel, and a coarse, dark colouredSand; which Beds seldom fail to yield Plenty of sweet Water: But forClay, they never find Water therein, if it be a strong, stiffClay; but if it be lax and sandy, sometimes Springs are found in it; yet so weak, that they will scarcely serve the Uses of the smallest Family. And sometimes they meet with those Beds lying next, under a loose, black Mould, (which, by their Description, I judged to be a sort of oazy, or to have the Resemblance of an ancient, rushy Ground,) and in that Case the Water is always naught, and stinks. And lastly, Another sort of Bed they find inEssex, in the clayie-Lands, particularly that part called theRodings, which yields Plenty of sweet Water, and that is a Bed of white Earth, as though made of Chalk and white Sand. This they find, after they have dug through forty, or more Feet of Clay; and it is so tender and moist, that it will not lie upon the Spade, but they are forced to throw it into their Bucket with their Hands, or with Bowls; but when it comes up into the Air, it soon becomes an hard white Stone.Thus much for the Variety of Beds wherein the Waters are found. That it is in these Beds only or chiefly the Springs run, is farther manifest from the forcible Eruption of the Waters sometimes out of those watery Beds. Of which seeChap. 4. Note (k).This Eruption shews, that the Waters come from some Eminence or other, lying at a Distance, and being closely pent up within thewatery Stratum, by the clayie Strata, the Waters with force mount up, when the Strata above are opened.[e]V.Dr.Woodward’s Essay, Part 2.Steno’s Prodr.&c.[f]Id. ib.pag. 28.and74.But Dr.Leighin hisNat. History of Lancashire, speaking of the Coal-pits, denies the Strata to lie according to the Laws of Gravitation, saying the Strata are a Bed ofMarle, afterwardsFree-Stone, nextIron-Stone, thenCoal, orKennel-Mine, then some other Strata, and againCoal,&c.But upon a stricter Enquiry into the Matter, finding I had reason to suspect that few, if any, actually had tried the Experiment, I was minded to bring the Thing to the Test of Experiment my self; and having an Opportunity, onApril 11. 1712.I caused divers Places to be bored, laying the severalStrataby themselves; which afterwards I weighed with all Strictness, first in Air, then in Water, taking Care that no Air-bubbles,&c.might obstruct the Accuracy of the Experiment. The Result was, that in my Yard, the Strata were gradually specifically heavier and heavier, the lower and lower they went; and the upper which was Clay, was considerably specifically lighter than the lowerStratum; which was first a loose Sand, then a Gravel. In whichStratumprincipally the Springs run that supply my Well.But in my Fields, where three Places were bored (to no great Depth) I found below the upper (superficialStratum) a deep Bed of Sand only, which was of different Colours and Consistence, which I weighed as before, together with the Virgin-Mould; but they were all of the same, or nearly the same specifick Gravity, both out of the same Hole, and out of different Holes, although the Sand was at last so gravelly, that it hinder’d our boring any deeper.Upon this, fearing lest some Error might be in the former Experiments, I try’d them over again; and that with the same Success.After this, I made some Experiments in some deep Chalk-Pits, with the Flints, Chalk,&c.above and below; but the Success was not so uniform as before.Acquainting our justly renownedR. S.with these Experiments, they ordered their Operator to experiment theStrataof a Coal-Pit; the Success whereof may be seen inPhilos. Trans. Nr. 336.
[a]Altho’ Minerals, Metals and Stones lie in Beds, and have done so ever sinceNoah’s Flood, if not from the Creation; yet it is greatly probable that they have Power ofgrowingin their respective Beds: That as the Beds are robbed and emptied by Miners, so after a while they recruit again. ThusVitriol, Mr.Boylthinks, will grow by the Help of the Air. SoAlumdoth the same.We are assured(he saith)by the experiencedAgricola, That the Earth or Ore ofAlum, being robbed of its Salt, will in tract of Time recover it, by being exposed to the Air.Boyl’sSuspic. about some Hid. Qual. in the Air, p. 18.
[a]Altho’ Minerals, Metals and Stones lie in Beds, and have done so ever sinceNoah’s Flood, if not from the Creation; yet it is greatly probable that they have Power ofgrowingin their respective Beds: That as the Beds are robbed and emptied by Miners, so after a while they recruit again. ThusVitriol, Mr.Boylthinks, will grow by the Help of the Air. SoAlumdoth the same.We are assured(he saith)by the experiencedAgricola, That the Earth or Ore ofAlum, being robbed of its Salt, will in tract of Time recover it, by being exposed to the Air.Boyl’sSuspic. about some Hid. Qual. in the Air, p. 18.
[b]As to the Growth ofMetals, there is great Reason to suspect that also, from what Mr.Boylhath alledged in hisObservations about the Growth of Metals: And in hisScept. Chym. Part 6. pag. 362.Compare alsoHakewil’sApol. pag. 164.And particularly as to the Growth ofIron, to the Instances he gives fromPliny,Fallopius,Cæsalpinus, and others; we may add, what is well known in theForest of DeaninGloucestershire: That the best Iron, and most in Quantity, that is found there, is in the old Cinders, which they melt over again. This is the Author of theAdditions to Gloucestershire in Cambd. Brit.of the last Edition,p. 245.attributes to the Remissness of the former Melters, in not exhausting the Ore: But in all Probability it is rather to be attributed to the new Impregnations of the old Ore, or Cinders, from the Air, or from some seminal Principle, or plastick Quality in the Ore it self.
[b]As to the Growth ofMetals, there is great Reason to suspect that also, from what Mr.Boylhath alledged in hisObservations about the Growth of Metals: And in hisScept. Chym. Part 6. pag. 362.Compare alsoHakewil’sApol. pag. 164.
And particularly as to the Growth ofIron, to the Instances he gives fromPliny,Fallopius,Cæsalpinus, and others; we may add, what is well known in theForest of DeaninGloucestershire: That the best Iron, and most in Quantity, that is found there, is in the old Cinders, which they melt over again. This is the Author of theAdditions to Gloucestershire in Cambd. Brit.of the last Edition,p. 245.attributes to the Remissness of the former Melters, in not exhausting the Ore: But in all Probability it is rather to be attributed to the new Impregnations of the old Ore, or Cinders, from the Air, or from some seminal Principle, or plastick Quality in the Ore it self.
[c]As for the Growth ofStone, Mr.Boylgives two Instances. One is that famous Place inFrance, calledLes Caves Goutieres: Where the Water falling from the upper Parts of the Cave to the Ground, doth presently there condense into little Stones, of such Figures as the Drops, falling either severally, or upon one another, and coagulating presently into Stones, chance to exhibit. Vid. Scept. Chym. pag. 360.Such like Caves as these I have my self met with inEngland; particularly on the very Top ofBredon-HillinWorcestershire, near thePrecipice, facingPershore, in or near the old Fortress, calledBembsbury-Camp; I saw some Years ago such a Cave, which (if I mis-remember not) was lined with thoseStalactical Stoneson the Top and Sides. On the Top they hung like Icicles great and small, and many lay on the Ground. They seemed manifestly to be made by an Exsudation, or Exstillation of some petrifying Juices out of the rocky Earth there. On the Spot, I thought it might be from the Rains soaking through, and carrying with it Impregnations from the Stone, the Hill being there all rocky. Hard by the Cave is one or more vast Stones, which (if I mistake not) are incrustated with this Sparry, Stalactical Substance, if not wholly made of it. But it is so many Years ago since I was at the Place, and not being able to find my Notes about it, I cannot say whether the whole Stone is (in all Probability) Spar, (as I think it is,) or whether I found it only cased over with it, notwithstanding I was very nice in examining it then, and have now some of the Fragments by me, consisting, among other shining Parts, of some transparent angular ones.The other Instance of Mr.Boyl, is fromLinschoten, who saith, that in theEast-Indies, when they have cleared the Diamond Mines of all the Diamonds,In a few Years Time they find in the same Place new Diamonds produced.Boyl. Ibid.
[c]As for the Growth ofStone, Mr.Boylgives two Instances. One is that famous Place inFrance, calledLes Caves Goutieres: Where the Water falling from the upper Parts of the Cave to the Ground, doth presently there condense into little Stones, of such Figures as the Drops, falling either severally, or upon one another, and coagulating presently into Stones, chance to exhibit. Vid. Scept. Chym. pag. 360.
Such like Caves as these I have my self met with inEngland; particularly on the very Top ofBredon-HillinWorcestershire, near thePrecipice, facingPershore, in or near the old Fortress, calledBembsbury-Camp; I saw some Years ago such a Cave, which (if I mis-remember not) was lined with thoseStalactical Stoneson the Top and Sides. On the Top they hung like Icicles great and small, and many lay on the Ground. They seemed manifestly to be made by an Exsudation, or Exstillation of some petrifying Juices out of the rocky Earth there. On the Spot, I thought it might be from the Rains soaking through, and carrying with it Impregnations from the Stone, the Hill being there all rocky. Hard by the Cave is one or more vast Stones, which (if I mistake not) are incrustated with this Sparry, Stalactical Substance, if not wholly made of it. But it is so many Years ago since I was at the Place, and not being able to find my Notes about it, I cannot say whether the whole Stone is (in all Probability) Spar, (as I think it is,) or whether I found it only cased over with it, notwithstanding I was very nice in examining it then, and have now some of the Fragments by me, consisting, among other shining Parts, of some transparent angular ones.
The other Instance of Mr.Boyl, is fromLinschoten, who saith, that in theEast-Indies, when they have cleared the Diamond Mines of all the Diamonds,In a few Years Time they find in the same Place new Diamonds produced.Boyl. Ibid.
[d]It is not only agreeable to Reason, but I am told by Persons conversant in digging of Wells throughout this County ofEssex, where I live, that the surest Beds in which they find Water, areGravel, and a coarse, dark colouredSand; which Beds seldom fail to yield Plenty of sweet Water: But forClay, they never find Water therein, if it be a strong, stiffClay; but if it be lax and sandy, sometimes Springs are found in it; yet so weak, that they will scarcely serve the Uses of the smallest Family. And sometimes they meet with those Beds lying next, under a loose, black Mould, (which, by their Description, I judged to be a sort of oazy, or to have the Resemblance of an ancient, rushy Ground,) and in that Case the Water is always naught, and stinks. And lastly, Another sort of Bed they find inEssex, in the clayie-Lands, particularly that part called theRodings, which yields Plenty of sweet Water, and that is a Bed of white Earth, as though made of Chalk and white Sand. This they find, after they have dug through forty, or more Feet of Clay; and it is so tender and moist, that it will not lie upon the Spade, but they are forced to throw it into their Bucket with their Hands, or with Bowls; but when it comes up into the Air, it soon becomes an hard white Stone.Thus much for the Variety of Beds wherein the Waters are found. That it is in these Beds only or chiefly the Springs run, is farther manifest from the forcible Eruption of the Waters sometimes out of those watery Beds. Of which seeChap. 4. Note (k).This Eruption shews, that the Waters come from some Eminence or other, lying at a Distance, and being closely pent up within thewatery Stratum, by the clayie Strata, the Waters with force mount up, when the Strata above are opened.
[d]It is not only agreeable to Reason, but I am told by Persons conversant in digging of Wells throughout this County ofEssex, where I live, that the surest Beds in which they find Water, areGravel, and a coarse, dark colouredSand; which Beds seldom fail to yield Plenty of sweet Water: But forClay, they never find Water therein, if it be a strong, stiffClay; but if it be lax and sandy, sometimes Springs are found in it; yet so weak, that they will scarcely serve the Uses of the smallest Family. And sometimes they meet with those Beds lying next, under a loose, black Mould, (which, by their Description, I judged to be a sort of oazy, or to have the Resemblance of an ancient, rushy Ground,) and in that Case the Water is always naught, and stinks. And lastly, Another sort of Bed they find inEssex, in the clayie-Lands, particularly that part called theRodings, which yields Plenty of sweet Water, and that is a Bed of white Earth, as though made of Chalk and white Sand. This they find, after they have dug through forty, or more Feet of Clay; and it is so tender and moist, that it will not lie upon the Spade, but they are forced to throw it into their Bucket with their Hands, or with Bowls; but when it comes up into the Air, it soon becomes an hard white Stone.
Thus much for the Variety of Beds wherein the Waters are found. That it is in these Beds only or chiefly the Springs run, is farther manifest from the forcible Eruption of the Waters sometimes out of those watery Beds. Of which seeChap. 4. Note (k).This Eruption shews, that the Waters come from some Eminence or other, lying at a Distance, and being closely pent up within thewatery Stratum, by the clayie Strata, the Waters with force mount up, when the Strata above are opened.
[e]V.Dr.Woodward’s Essay, Part 2.Steno’s Prodr.&c.
[e]V.Dr.Woodward’s Essay, Part 2.Steno’s Prodr.&c.
[f]Id. ib.pag. 28.and74.But Dr.Leighin hisNat. History of Lancashire, speaking of the Coal-pits, denies the Strata to lie according to the Laws of Gravitation, saying the Strata are a Bed ofMarle, afterwardsFree-Stone, nextIron-Stone, thenCoal, orKennel-Mine, then some other Strata, and againCoal,&c.But upon a stricter Enquiry into the Matter, finding I had reason to suspect that few, if any, actually had tried the Experiment, I was minded to bring the Thing to the Test of Experiment my self; and having an Opportunity, onApril 11. 1712.I caused divers Places to be bored, laying the severalStrataby themselves; which afterwards I weighed with all Strictness, first in Air, then in Water, taking Care that no Air-bubbles,&c.might obstruct the Accuracy of the Experiment. The Result was, that in my Yard, the Strata were gradually specifically heavier and heavier, the lower and lower they went; and the upper which was Clay, was considerably specifically lighter than the lowerStratum; which was first a loose Sand, then a Gravel. In whichStratumprincipally the Springs run that supply my Well.But in my Fields, where three Places were bored (to no great Depth) I found below the upper (superficialStratum) a deep Bed of Sand only, which was of different Colours and Consistence, which I weighed as before, together with the Virgin-Mould; but they were all of the same, or nearly the same specifick Gravity, both out of the same Hole, and out of different Holes, although the Sand was at last so gravelly, that it hinder’d our boring any deeper.Upon this, fearing lest some Error might be in the former Experiments, I try’d them over again; and that with the same Success.After this, I made some Experiments in some deep Chalk-Pits, with the Flints, Chalk,&c.above and below; but the Success was not so uniform as before.Acquainting our justly renownedR. S.with these Experiments, they ordered their Operator to experiment theStrataof a Coal-Pit; the Success whereof may be seen inPhilos. Trans. Nr. 336.
[f]Id. ib.pag. 28.and74.But Dr.Leighin hisNat. History of Lancashire, speaking of the Coal-pits, denies the Strata to lie according to the Laws of Gravitation, saying the Strata are a Bed ofMarle, afterwardsFree-Stone, nextIron-Stone, thenCoal, orKennel-Mine, then some other Strata, and againCoal,&c.
But upon a stricter Enquiry into the Matter, finding I had reason to suspect that few, if any, actually had tried the Experiment, I was minded to bring the Thing to the Test of Experiment my self; and having an Opportunity, onApril 11. 1712.I caused divers Places to be bored, laying the severalStrataby themselves; which afterwards I weighed with all Strictness, first in Air, then in Water, taking Care that no Air-bubbles,&c.might obstruct the Accuracy of the Experiment. The Result was, that in my Yard, the Strata were gradually specifically heavier and heavier, the lower and lower they went; and the upper which was Clay, was considerably specifically lighter than the lowerStratum; which was first a loose Sand, then a Gravel. In whichStratumprincipally the Springs run that supply my Well.
But in my Fields, where three Places were bored (to no great Depth) I found below the upper (superficialStratum) a deep Bed of Sand only, which was of different Colours and Consistence, which I weighed as before, together with the Virgin-Mould; but they were all of the same, or nearly the same specifick Gravity, both out of the same Hole, and out of different Holes, although the Sand was at last so gravelly, that it hinder’d our boring any deeper.
Upon this, fearing lest some Error might be in the former Experiments, I try’d them over again; and that with the same Success.
After this, I made some Experiments in some deep Chalk-Pits, with the Flints, Chalk,&c.above and below; but the Success was not so uniform as before.
Acquainting our justly renownedR. S.with these Experiments, they ordered their Operator to experiment theStrataof a Coal-Pit; the Success whereof may be seen inPhilos. Trans. Nr. 336.