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The Earth's Shifting Crust by Charles Hapgood - wire of information

The Earth's Shifting Crust by Charles Hapgood - wire of information

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112<br />

EARTH'S SHIFTING CRUST<br />

the earth's surface has as yet received an acceptable explanation.<br />

As in the case <strong>of</strong> other unsolved problems, the absence<br />

<strong>of</strong> certainty has led to a multiplicity <strong>of</strong> theories. Jaggar, one<br />

<strong>of</strong> the best field observers <strong>of</strong> volcanoes, refers to the two<br />

leading<br />

theories thus:<br />

It would be hard to imagine any more completely different ex-<br />

doctrine <strong>of</strong><br />

planations for the same phenomenon than is R. A. Daly's<br />

the causes <strong>of</strong> volcanic action, as compared with the crystallization<br />

theory <strong>of</strong> A. L. Day (235:150).<br />

Dr. A. L. Day was formerly director <strong>of</strong> the Geophysical<br />

Laboratory in Washington; his theory is based upon geophysical<br />

experiments conducted in the laboratory. He observed<br />

that the crystallization <strong>of</strong> rock from the molten state<br />

resulted in some increase in volume. He assumed that the<br />

whole crust was once molten, and that as it cooled it continued<br />

to contain, here and there, comparatively small pockets<br />

<strong>of</strong> molten rock. When such pockets <strong>of</strong> molten rock finally<br />

were cooled to the crystallization point, then expansion<br />

would occur, and great pressures would be set up, which<br />

might lead to eruption at the surface. This theory is based<br />

upon the assumption <strong>of</strong> the molten origin <strong>of</strong> the earth, and<br />

carries with it the corollary that volcanic eruptions are essen-<br />

tially local phenomena. Dr. Day insisted that volcanoes were<br />

not connected with a molten layer under the crust, and were<br />

not related to events occurring over large areas.<br />

Pr<strong>of</strong>essor R. A. Daly based his opposed theory on his ob-<br />

servations <strong>of</strong> the field evidence <strong>of</strong> geology. He insisted that<br />

only the assumption <strong>of</strong> a molten layer under the crust could<br />

account for the countless facts <strong>of</strong> igneous geology. His theory<br />

is reconcilable either with the assumption <strong>of</strong> the molten ori-<br />

gin <strong>of</strong> the globe or with the theory <strong>of</strong> a growing and heating<br />

earth.<br />

Jaggar objects to Day's view that volcanoes are purely lo-<br />

cal. He says:<br />

<strong>The</strong>re is some reason to think that a very long crack in the bottom<br />

<strong>of</strong> the Pacific Ocean, with interruptions <strong>by</strong> very deep water, extends

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