Lessons in Nature (Volume 1) (Paperback)

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1915. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... Pictured Rocks. There are many masses of rock to be found that have on them such fantastic carvings, or water- and wind-worn places, that their surfaces resemble pictures and peculiar forms. Some of the most noted "pictured rocks" are those rising over 300 feet in height and extending about 5 miles along the south shore of Lake Superior, 40 miles east of Marquette. They have a variety of colors and their curious formations have caused certain masses of rock to be named; such as "Satan's Pulpit," "Old Mother Goose," "Happy Old Man," etc., etc. There are masses of fine "pictured rocks" along the Columbia River, and most remarkable formations in the St. Croix River and the "Dalles" of the Wisconsin River. Glacier-formed Rocks. There are many huge round rocks to be found at out-of-the-way places, standing alone, and their peculiar weather-worn appearance shows that at some period they must have rolled and traveled, grinding against other rocks, in some great glacial stream. These are such rocks as the "Elephant's Rock" and the "Potato Rocks," in Iron County, Missouri. XXXVIII. THE METALS It has been difficult for scientists to give a general definition of Metals, covering all classes. One author says: "A metal is an element which, while uniting with oxygen and many of the non-metals, especially the halogens, does not unite with hydrogen or with another metal, to form a true chemical compound." Yet this is faulty. The metals form the greatest part of the chemical elements, and all have certain characteristics in different degrees. The Noble Metals.--There are nine metals usually called "Noble." They are: Mercury, Gold, Silver, Platinum, Palladium, Rhodium, Ruthenium, Osmium, and Iridium. Metals vary in color. Silver and Platinum are white; Lead and Tin, bluish; Iron and ...