DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70301#0155
BOILING EOUNTAINS IN ICELAND. 135
ed. This fountain we immediately conjectured to be what
has been called, by Sir John Stanley, the New Geyser.
We were occupied this morning in examining the environs
of the Geysers, and at every step received some new gratifi-
cation. Following the channel which has been formed by
the water escaping from the great basin during the eruptions,
we found some beautiful and delicate petrifactions. The
leaves of birch and willow were seen converted into white
stone, and in the most perfect state of preservation, every
minute fibre being entire. Grass and rushes were in the same
state, and also masses of peat. In order to preserve speci-
mens so rare and elegant, we brought away large masses and
broke them up after our return to Britain; by which means
we have formed very rich collections ; though many fine spe-
cimens were destroyed in carrying them to Reikiavik. On
the outside of the mouth of the Geyser, the depositions, ow-
ing to the splashing of the water, are rough, and have been
justly compared to cauliflowers. They are of a yellowish
brown colour, and are arranged round the mount somewhat
like a circular flight of steps. The inside of the basin is
comparatively smooth ; and the matter forming it more com-
pact and dense than the circular crust; and when polished is
not devoid of beauty, being of a grey colour, mottled with
black and white spots and streaks. The white incrustations
formed by the water of the beautiful cavity before described,
had taken a very curious form at the edge of the water, very
much resembling the capital of a Gothic column. We were
so rapacious here, that we did not leave a single specimen
which we could reach; and even scalded our fingers in our
eagerness to obtain them. We found the process of petri-
faction in all its stages; and procured some specimens in
which the grass was yet alive and fresh, while the deposition
of the silicious matter was going on around it. These were
found in places at a little distance from the cavity, where the
water running from it had become cold.
ed. This fountain we immediately conjectured to be what
has been called, by Sir John Stanley, the New Geyser.
We were occupied this morning in examining the environs
of the Geysers, and at every step received some new gratifi-
cation. Following the channel which has been formed by
the water escaping from the great basin during the eruptions,
we found some beautiful and delicate petrifactions. The
leaves of birch and willow were seen converted into white
stone, and in the most perfect state of preservation, every
minute fibre being entire. Grass and rushes were in the same
state, and also masses of peat. In order to preserve speci-
mens so rare and elegant, we brought away large masses and
broke them up after our return to Britain; by which means
we have formed very rich collections ; though many fine spe-
cimens were destroyed in carrying them to Reikiavik. On
the outside of the mouth of the Geyser, the depositions, ow-
ing to the splashing of the water, are rough, and have been
justly compared to cauliflowers. They are of a yellowish
brown colour, and are arranged round the mount somewhat
like a circular flight of steps. The inside of the basin is
comparatively smooth ; and the matter forming it more com-
pact and dense than the circular crust; and when polished is
not devoid of beauty, being of a grey colour, mottled with
black and white spots and streaks. The white incrustations
formed by the water of the beautiful cavity before described,
had taken a very curious form at the edge of the water, very
much resembling the capital of a Gothic column. We were
so rapacious here, that we did not leave a single specimen
which we could reach; and even scalded our fingers in our
eagerness to obtain them. We found the process of petri-
faction in all its stages; and procured some specimens in
which the grass was yet alive and fresh, while the deposition
of the silicious matter was going on around it. These were
found in places at a little distance from the cavity, where the
water running from it had become cold.