On the Application of Quantitative Methods to the Study of the Structure and History of Rocks

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Abstract
1. I ntroduction . In the case of nearly all branches of science a great advance was made when accurate quantitative methods were used instead of merely qualitative. One great advantage of this is that it necessitates more accurate thought, points out what remains to be learned, and sometimes small residual quantities, which otherwise would escape attention, indicate important facts. Since it applies to nearly all branches of geology, it is necessarily a wide subject, but so connected together that it seems undesirable to divide it. My object is to apply experimental physics to the study of rocks. At least six different kinds of physical questions are involved, some of which have been sufficiently studied, but others require experiments which would be very difficult to carry out, and all that I can now do is to endeavour to deduce plausible results from what is known. In doing this, it may be necessary to assume cases sufficiently simple for calculation, which may but imperfectly correspond to natural conditions, so that the results may be only approximately correct. In some cases, facts seem to show that there are important properties connected with subsiding material which cannot be explained in a satisfactory manner. Notwithstanding this, it appears desirable to do the best that I can with the material at my disposal, hoping to lead others to do what I intended to do, and correct such errors as are now unavoidable. In order to clear the way for subsequent detail, I describe a few general facts.

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