Page:The Journal of geology (IA journalofgeology11893univ).pdf/372

Iron and manganese are frequent constituents of sedimentary rocks, in some places occurring finely disseminated through sandstones and shales, or forming a part of limestones, in other places forming the mass of the deposit in which they occur. They are both derived primarily from similar, and often from the same sources, and are in many respects alike in their chemical behavior in nature. For these reasons it is to be expected that they would frequently, if not generally, be deposited in intimate association. Such is found to be the case, and iron and manganese are often closely associated in the same deposits. Very often, however, iron and manganese deposits occur close together, but distinctly separated, while sometimes extensive deposits of iron, and less commonly of manganese, occur with little or almost no association with each other.

It is the object of the present paper to discuss the agencies which are instrumental in causing these substances to be deposited sometimes together and at other times separately. The subject is of interest as showing how slight differences in the chemical behavior of their salts may cause the almost complete separation of metals once intimately associated.

A few words concerning the relation of manganese to iron in nature will perhaps make the following discussion clearer. One of the most common modes of occurrence of manganese is with iron, though extensive deposits containing manganese more or less free from iron often occur. When associated with iron, manganese occurs with it in various ways. Sometimes the two are intimately mixed, so that they have the appearance of a homoge-