The hot springs of Arkansas, as they are : a history and guide / by Charles Cutter.

  • Cutter, Charles, 1837-1912.
Date:
1875
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The hot springs of Arkansas, as they are : a history and guide / by Charles Cutter. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    The quantity operated upon did not admit of estimating, with great exactitude, quantities of the saline matters existing in smaller proportions, as sulphates and chlorides of magnesia and soda, etc.; but the above approximate result is sufficient to show the notable quantity of silica and carbonate of potash present; the latter, the solvent of the silica, which is in a favorable condition to form crystals of quartz. This analysis gives confirmation to an opinion which I find preva- lent among many of the crystal-hunters, that crystals of quartz are in process of formation, even at the present day, in these singular districts of Arkansas; and I have little doubt but this peculiarity of its waters must, more or less, stamp its influence on the constitution of its inhab- itants. I The nearest crystalline rocks to the Hot Springs which have as yet come under my observation are on Tiga Creek, on the confines of the Magnet Cove. This cove, though the area is not very exten- sive, nor yet very elevated, seems to be the centre of the igneous action of Hot Spring county. [They have since been found in the mountains north and east of Hot Springs, within two and three miles, but not in any great quantity, and small in size.] The igneous rocks occupy the depressed portion only of the Cove and the lower, subordinate ridges. The higher ridges, by which the Cove is bounded on the north, are composed, in a great part, of the Novaculite rock. A continuation of this ridge extends, on the west side of the Cove, from section 8, through the southern part of section 7, township 3, south of range 17 west; and thence through the east portion of section 13, into section 24, township 3, south of range 18 west. A portion of this ridge seems to be composed of a greenish, coarse-textured rock, resembling clinkstone, known under the name of the ' Mountain Rock' ; but I believe, when this region is surveyed in detail, that the great body of the rock in this ridge will be found to be some modification of Novaculite or bluish-gray quartzite. South of the Cove, at Rockport, a great wall of true Novaculite runs into the river Ouachita on the east side, with an outline on the opposite side, form- ing as complete natural abutments for a bridge as could possibly be desired. Were it not for the fissured condition of the rock, a very fine quantity of honestone could be procured at this locality. This conspicuous wall of Ouachita honestone forms quite a pic-