A CURIOUS STONE.
. U , of the most curious stones iu the worhl ■ f lO'jnd in Finland, where it occurs in many I peaces. It is a natural baromeU r, and actually foretells probable changes in the weather. It is called semakuir, and turns black shortly before approaching rain, while in line weather it is mottled with spots of white For a long time this curious phenomenon was a mystery, but an analysis of Ihe stone shows it to be a fossil mixed with clay and containing a portion of rock salt and nitre. This fact being known, the explanation was easy. The salt, absorbing the moisture, turned black when the conditions were favourable for rain, while the dryness of the atmosphere brought the salt from the interior of the stone in white spots on the surface.
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Bibliographic details
Western Star, Issue 2218, 1 July 1898, Page 6
Word Count
136A CURIOUS STONE. Western Star, Issue 2218, 1 July 1898, Page 6
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