sulphur deposits may itself, under proper conditions, form such deposits. This gas, although not affected by oxygen when dry is, under moist conditions, or in the presence of water containing oxygen in solution slowly oxidized, forming sulphur and water. In view of these facts, it seems probable that the sulphur mass found at Floral City was formed by the decomposition of hydrogen sulphide gas slowly escaping from the underground waters, the reaction taking place in the presence of a limited supply of oxygen. While only a small quantity of sulphur has been found in Florida, if the above suggestion as to the origin is correct, the presence of this mineral in workable quantities is not impossible and is indeed even probable. MINERAL WATERS. The springs of Florida are famous for their volume of flow as well as for the clearness and beauty of their water and the beautiful scenery about them. Many of these springs are used as health resorts. The United States Geological Survey volume on Mineral Resources reports the sale of mineral waters in Florida for 1907 as 43,430 gallons, valued at $12.378. The areas in which flowing artesian wells are obtained are indicated on the map which accompanies Bulletin No. 1 of the Florida Survey. The rocks of the earth's crust may be classed for convenience of a brief treatment as either igneous or sedimentary. The igneous rocks are those which appear with more or less certainty to have cooled from a molten condition, such as trap, basalt, obsidian, and the granites. The sedimentary rocks are those which are formed by the accumulation of sediments. The sediments may be of purely mechanical origin as in the case of sandstones, shales and clays; or of organic origin as in the case of the limestones. In a broad sense, the sedimentary rocks are made to include even those which are of chemical origin, such as bog iron ore formations. Should one attempt a minute and exhaustive classification of rocks these two main divisions would be found insufficient. Chemical changes are going on incessantly in the earth's crust and affect all rock formations. Chemical and physical forces have in many instances so profoundly altered formations that it is no longer possible to determine whether they were originally igneous or sedimentary. It has been found necessary to establish for these a third division known as metamorphic rocks. With regard to the Florida deposits, however, the classification is not greatly complicated. The following summary relates to the rock materials occurring within the State, and available for country roads at a slight expense. The more expensive products used in paving city streets are not included. No igneous formations occur in Florida. All of the rocks of this State are sedimentary. Two classifications are given below. In the first the rocks are classified according to origin; in the second according to chemical composition. |