Experiments at High Temperatures and Pressures ¹

Abstract

WITHIN a few miles of this lecture-room there is an unexplored region—to approach it we should have to ihove vertically downwards. It has been suggested by Mr. Parsons² that it would be worth while to make a short expedition in this direction, but the journey would be slow and the cost high—for instance, to bore a hole twelve miles deep was estimated to be a labour which would occupy eighty-five years and cost 5,000,000l. A well-to-do man desiring to benefit his fellow creatures could not do bettor than undertake this project, but until he comes forward we must perforce be content to try to imitate in our laboratories the temperature and pressure conditions which would be met with deep down in the earth.