Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia eBook

Philip Parker King
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 567 pages of information about Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia.

Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia eBook

Philip Parker King
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 567 pages of information about Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia.

For trimming specimens, smaller hammers may be employed (Sketch 6):  The form of the head, recommended for this purpose by Dr. MacCulloch,* is rectangular.  The dimensions of the face may be 1 inch by 3/4; the height 2 1/4.

(Footnote.  On the forms of Mineralogical Hammers, Quarterly Journal Royal Institution volume 11 1821 page 1 etc.)

It will be expedient to have always some hammers, of different sizes, in reserve.

A small miner’s pick is useful for cutting out, and splitting portions of slaty rocks; or for obtaining specimens of clays, etc.

A small stone-cutter’s chisel.  A chisel with a handle, of the form here represented, will often save the hand of an inexpert collector, and better enable him to direct his blow.

For packing the specimens.  A stock of strong paper.  Sealing-wax.  Writing-paper, cut into labels.  Thick gum-water, to cement the labels to the specimens.

For the Conveyance of specimens.  A large bag of leather, with straps for the shoulders.  Strong canvas bags, of smaller size, are very convenient for subdivision and arrangement.  For the protection of crystals, or delicate petrifactions, etc., wool or cotton are necessary; and small wooden boxes (like those used for holding wafers) are sometimes required.  For distant carriage, strong wooden boxes, casks, or baskets.

The following are either essential, or useful in various degrees, for obtaining and recording observations.

Pocket Memorandum-Books, of sufficient size to admit sketches. 
A Pocket Compass. 
A Measuring-Tape, of fifty feet, or more. 
A Telescope. 
A Camera Lucida. 
A Box of Colours.

The best maps should always be sought for:  And, the true economy to the traveller being that which saves time, it is best to mark, or even colour the map, in the field.  Notes inserted on imperfect maps, or deduced afterwards from memoranda, are less authentic; and the process is frequently neglected.

PORTABLE-BAROMETERS, with detached thermometers, are desirable; and the best instruments are ultimately the cheapest.  But, unfortunately, barometers of every construction are very easily damaged or deranged.  The accurate determination of heights, however, though very interesting to physical geography, is comparatively of little importance to the geologist.

If the collector be a surveyor, he will know best to what purpose a Pocket Sextant, or small Theodolite, is applicable:  the measurement of distances, of heights, and of the inclination of strata, etc.

...

CONTENTS OF APPENDIX C.

GENERAL SKETCH OF THE COAST.

GEOLOGICAL REMARKS. 1.  List of Rocks. 2.  Rocks identical with those of Europe. 3.  Aspect of the Shores. 4.  Information wanting respecting Diluvial deposits:  no Specimens of Limestone:  no Volcanoes. 5.  Recent calcareous breccia. 6.  Range of the Coastlines.

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Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.