Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 February 1896 — WHY IS THE SEA SALT? [ARTICLE]

WHY IS THE SEA SALT?

It Haa Bean So Ever Since the Croatian of th a World. The sea at present contains 90,000.OOO.Ottu.OOaOOO tons of Milt. If thia salt could be gathered in a solid form and compressed into the shais* of a culs*. it would contain 10.173.000 cubic miles. Each -slgc of Hindi a cube would measure somewhat more than iwo lmndn*d miles. This is enough y> corer all the laud on this globe with a uniform layer of salt to a depth of one thousand feet. This statement ns to the saltiness of the sea is interesting enough in itself, but it is also suggestive. The questions may well Im* a ski'd, where did all this salt come from, and what is the use of it'. Several scieutltie gentlemen have attempted to give an idea of the chemical conditions of tin* atmosphere which surrounded this planet in the co-.i’se of its formation, ami describe an early period in the existence of tile earth us follows: “The surface of the earth was covered with lumps of molten rock (probably resembling furnace slag). The depressed parts of the surface wen* tilled witli highly h<*ated solutions of hydrochloric and sulphuric acids, which ate into the surface and decomposed it. In this way the silicates were changed to pure silica, taking tin* form of quartz, as the atmosphere cooled, and the condensation of the vaporous atmosphere products! sea water, holding in solution phates of sodium, calcium and magnesium, and salts of ammonium. The atmosphere, thus freed of its noxious elements. became pun* and tit for man.” It is therefore evident that tin* sea has boon salty from tin* creation of tin* world. Tin* salt does not conn*, ns is generally supposed, from friction of the water against salt "rocks" In tin* bed of the ocean. This, then, answers the first question. When* did tin* salt come from - .' 'i'he second qm*stion Is pretty well answered by Mr. <i. W. Littlehales in Popular Science Monthly. “It seems.” he says, “that the sea was made salt in the beginning as a part of the grand design of the Creator to provide for the system of evolution which has been going on since the creation. Many distinct species of living organisms exist in Die sea as a result of Its salinity, and their remains have largely contributed to the growth of continents." 'The minute creatures that have lived In the sea for ages past have left enduring monuments In the shape of islands ro *ks and continents. If the sea had not been salty these marine animals could not have existed and secreted hard substance known as a “calcareous skeleton." which has largely contributed Io the growth of continents. Among these earlier Inhabitants of the sea were corals, crlnoids. sea urchins and star fishes. The saltiness tin* sea lias also much to do with the ocean currents, which distribute the heat of the tropics over the colder regions of the earth. Currents are largely duo to the difference between the spocltlc gravity of sea water and the fresh water of nilas. Thus when rain falls on a certain part of the iM'can the effort of the heavier salt water of the oceati to establish tin equilibrium causes a current.