Page:Theophrastus - History of Stones - Hill (1774).djvu/29

 Parts of the Globe, made that almot infinite Variety to be found in the Subtance of the Strata.

This original Structure of the Earth, however, we are not now to expect to find: the univeral Deluge has made many and wonderful Alterations in it, which are now every where obvious to our Senes, and are everlating Records of that fatal Catatrophe, of which the Earth, in the Condition we now ee it, is but the Ruin.

There are many and incontetable Proofs, that the Surface of the Globe, to a Depth beyond what we ever dig, was, in the Time of that fatal Calamity, diolved and reduced nearly into the ame Condition it was in at the Time of its original Formation: the tony, mineral, and even metalline, as well as earthy Matter: floating in the Waters that then covered it, in eparate Particles. Thee, when the Tumult of that Immenity of Waters began to ceae, were by the ame Laws of Gravity again precipitated; and they ubided in Proportion to their different Weights; but this not in their original Purity, for the metalline and other heterogene Matter, nay and even extraneous Subtances, the Shells of Sea Fihes, &c. if of about equal Gravity, ubided among the tony Matter amidt which they were before upended, and made a Part of the Stratum that Precipitation formed: the lighter Matters, the Earths, Clays, &c. afterwards ubided into other Strata over thee: and with them other extraneous Particles and Subtances, of Gravities like theirs. Thus the preent Surface of the Globe was formed, in Strata of different Kinds, and that again according to their different Gravities; except where the Motion of the Waters prevented this Regularity, by lodging ometimes on lighter Strata already formed, other whole V. From the Differences of the contituent Matter; and of the Manner of its Coalecence, the Concrete aumes its various Qualities, as Smoothnes, Denity, Brightnes, Tranparency, and the like; and according as it is more pure and equal, the more does it partake, of thee.