2. Foliated lime-stone is likewise of two kinds, granular lime-stone, and calc spar. The former is commonly whitish, but presents many varieties of that colour; is massive, occurs almost always in granular distinct concretions, is more or less translucent, semi-hard, brittle, easily frangible, is peculiar to the primitive and transitive mountains, and is chiefly found in Italy, whence it is distributed over Europe, for the purpose of statuary. The white marble of Paros, or granular limestone, has long been celebrated. Scotland furnishes some beautiful varieties of marbles, whose uses are well known.

The latter, or calc spar, is principally white, but has many shades. It occurs massive, disseminated, and crystallized, either in six-sided prisms or three-sided prisms. The lustre alternates from splendent to shining and glistening, and is most commonly vitreous. The massive varieties are translucent, and sometimes even transparent. It is found venigenous in almost every rock from granite to the newest floetz trap, occurs in a great variety of mineral veins, and is very universally disseminated, but is found particularly beautiful in Derbyshire, in Ireland, Saxony, France, and Spain.

3. Fibrous lime-stone, is of two varieties, common fibrous lime-stone, and fibrous lime-stone, or calc sinter. The former is commonly greyish, reddish, or yellowish-white; massive, lustre glistening, fragments splintery, more or less translucent, semi-hard, and occurs only in small veins.

The latter, or cale sinter, is principally white, of which it exhibits several beautiful varieties; occurs massive, and also in many particular external forms; internally is glimmering and pearly. It is commonly found in curved lamellar distinct concretions, is more or less translucent, semihard, brittle, and easily frangible; it is discovered in almost every lime-stone country. The grotto of Antiparos, and similar situations, afford striking instances of calc sinter. It is the alabaster of the ancients, and is still used in statuary.

4. Pea-stone is commonly yellowish-white, massive, internally dull, opaque or translucent on the edges; soft, very easily frangible; and is found in great masses in the vicinity of the hot springs at Carlsbad in Bohemia. It is composed of spherically round distinct concretions. All the varieties of lime-stone effervesce with acids.

Fourth species. Schaum, or foaming earth,

Is principally of a light yellowish colour; occurs massive and disseminated; is intermediate between shining and glistening; presents large, coarse, small, and fine-grained distinct concretions; is generally opaque, soft, completely friable; feels fine, but not greasy, and cracks a little. It is found in cavities of the oldest floetz lime-stone

in Thuringia, and in the north of Ireland.

Fifth species. Slate spar.

Its colour milky, and greenish or reddish-white; occurs massive; lustre intermediate between shining and glistening, and completely pearly; fragments slaty, translucent, soft, and pretty easily rangible. It is found in lime-stone beds in primi

Sixth species. Brown spar.

This is divided into the following sub-species: 1. Foliated brown spar, is principally white and red, with several varieties of each. It occurs massive, globular, with tabular impressions, and frequently crystallized, externally shining, internally alternating from shining to splendent. It is found in granular distinct concretions of all magnitudes; is more or less translucent, semi-hard; a little difficultly frangible, and occurs in veins generally accompanied with cale spar, &c. in the mines of Norway, France, Germany, England, and other countries.

2. Fibrous brown spar is of a flesh-red, passing into rose-red; occurs massive, lustre glistening, fragments splintery, in other respects resembling the preceding. Hitherto it has been found only in Hungary and Transylvania.

Seventh species. Rhomb spar.

Its colours are yellowish and greyish-white, occurs only in regular middle-sized rhombs; lustre splendent, generally intermediate between brittle, easily frangible, and is found imbedded in translucent and semi-transparent; is semi-hard, rocks belonging to the tale genus in Switzerland, Sweden, and on the banks of the Loch-lomond in

Scotland.

Eighth species. Schaal-stone.

The most common colour is greyish-white; it occurs massive, is shining and nearly pearly, translucent, pretty hard, brittle, easily frangible, and has been hitherto found only in the Bannat of Tameswar, accompanied by copper ore.

Ninth species. Stink-stone.

Its colour is wood-brown, passing into various other shades. It occurs massive, and sometimes disseminated through gyps, is dull or glimmering internally, translucent on the edges, rather soft, easily frangible, and when rubbed, emits an urinous smell. It is found in considerable quantities in the district of Mansfield in Thuringia. Tenth species. Marle,

Which see.

Eleventh species. Bituminous marle slate. Its colour is intermediate between greyish and brownish-black; it is massive, from glimmering to shining, fragments slaty, usually soft, not very brittle, easily frangible, and streak shining. It is found in beds along with the oldest floetz limestone, and contains much copper intermixed with it, on account of which it is usually smelted in Thuringia.

Twelfth species. Calc tuff.

perforated or marked with the impressions of other The colour is yellowish-grey; it is generally substances, also amorphous, ramose, and corroded. Internally dull, substance opaque, soft, easily frangible, and approaching to swimming. It occurs in alluvial land, and is found in Thuringia, at Gotha, and other places in Germany.

Thirteenth species. Arragone.

The principal colours are greenish-grey, and irongrey. It occurs crystallized in perfect equiangular six-sided prisms; the lustre is glistening, passing into shining, and is vitreous ; it is semi-hard, brittle, not

particularly heavy, and plurpluresces a little. It was first discovered in the province of Arragon, whence its name, imbedded in gyps, but has since been found in some other countries of the continent.

Fourteenth species. Appatite.

The usual colours are white, green, blue, and red; it generally occurs crystallized, the radical form of which is the equiangular six-sided prism. Externally it is splendent, internally shining and resinons. It is commonly transparent, semi-hard, brittle, easily frangible, and occurs in tin veins in Saxony, Bohemia, and in Cornwall. It has been confounded with schorl, &c.

Fifteenth species. Asparagus or spargel stone. The principal colour is asparagus-green; it ocears only crystallized in equiangular six-sided prisms, is internally shining, most frequently translucent, semi-hard, easily frangible, and brittle. Hitherto it has been found only in Murcia in Spain, though supposed to be produced in Norway. it is nearly allied to appatite.

Sixteenth species. Boracite.

Its colours are yellowish, smoke and greyishwhite, passing to asparagus-green; it occurs in crystallized cubes, with the edges and angles truncated, internally shining, commonly semi-transpareat, semi-hard, brittle, and easily frangible. Hitherto it has been discovered only at Luneburg in Hanover.

Seventeenth species. Fluor,

Which see.

Eighteenth species. Gyps.

This is divided into the following sub-species: 1. Gyps earth is of a yellowish-white colour, passing into some allied shades, is intermediate between fine scaly and dusky, dull and feebly glimmering, soils a little, feels meagre but soft and fine, and is light. It is found, though rarely, in gyps countries, and is formed in the same manner as rock milk. It is used as a manure.

2. Compact gyps, is commonly ash-grey, passing into smoke and yellowish grey, is massive, internally dull, feebly translucent on the edges, very soft, frangible without great difficulty, and is employed in architecture, and sculpture, under the name of

alabaster.

3. Foliated gyps is commonly white, grey, or red, presenting spotted, striped, and veined colour delineations. It occurs massive, and in bluntedged pieces, but seldom in crystals. Internally it alternates from shining and glistening to glimmering, is translucent and duplicating, very soft, and not particularly difficultly frangible. It has been confounded with granular lime-stone.

4. Fibrous gyps is principally white, grey, and red, with various shades of each. It occurs massive and dentiform, the internal lustre is usually glistening and pearly, commonly semi-transparent and translucent, very soft, and easily frangible.

but not unfrequently crystallized in pretty oblique six-sided prisms, the crystals seldom large, but internally shining and splendent. Fig. 12.

Selenite is completely transparent, soft, somewhat flexible, not very frangible, and is found in the oldest gyps formation, in single crystals in clay beds in the newest formation, and in other situations. It is common in Thuringia, at Montmartre near Paris, Shotover near Oxford, and in the isle of Sheppy. It is employed in taking the most delicate impressions, for crayons and other purposes.

Twentieth species. Cube spar.

The colour is milk-white with various allied shades. It is massive, occurring in large, coarse, and small ground distinct concretions. The lustre is shining, passing into splendent, translucent, softish, very easily frangible, and not particularly heavy. It is found in salt rocks in Salzbourg.

To the calc genus are also referred phosphorite, which forms a great bed in Estremadura in Spain; and the anhydrite, found in the duchy of Wirtemberg.

SEVENTH GENUS.
BARYTE Genus.

First species. Witherite.

Is commonly of a light yellowish-grey colour generally massive, but sometimes crystallized in six-sided prisms, or double six-sided pyramids. The lustre of the principal fracture is shining; the fragments generally wedge-shaped. It is translucent, somewhat semi-hard, brittle, easily frangible, and pretty heavy. Fig. 13.

It melts, without addition, before the blowpipe, into a white enamel, and occurs in veins along with heavy spar, lead-glance, &c. at Anglesark in Lancashire. Combined with muriatic acid it may be used in medicine, though a very active poison of itself. Second species. Heavy spar or baryte. See BARYTES.

EIGHTH GENUS.
STRONTIAN Genus.

First species. Strontian.

The usual colour is intermediate between asparagus and apple-green; it occurs most commonly massive, but sometimes crystallized in a circular six-sided prism. The crystals are scopiformly and manipularly aggregated. The lustre of the principal fracture is shining, of the cross fracture glistening. It is translucent in a greater or less degree, soft, and semi-hard, brittle, easily frangible, dissolves in acids with effervescence, and occurs along with lead-glance, heavy spar, &c. at Strontian in Argyleshire, the only place where it has yet been' found.

Second species. Celestine

Is divided into two sub-species:

1. Fibrous celestine, is of an intermediate colour, between indigo-blue and blueish-grey; it occurs massive and in plates, and also crystallized, show

Gyps, when burnt, forms an excellent cement, and is used for many ornamental purposes.

Nineteenth species. Selenite.

Its principal colour is snow-white, passing into other neighbouring shades: is generally massive,

in France.

2. Foliated celestine, is of a milky-white colour, falling into blue; it occurs massive, and also crystallized in six-sided tables intersecting each other. It has a glistening lustre, is strongly translucent, softish, not particularly brittle, easily frangible, and hard. It occurs sometimes in sulphur beds, and is

CLASS II. FOSSIL SALTS.

The substances included in this class are confined to those which are found in a natural state only; and the greater part of them appear to be formed by the agency of water, air, &c.

The distinguishing characters of fossil salts are, their taste and easy solution. They resemble each other so closely, that the term saline consistence is used to express whatever relates to hardness, tenacity, and frangibility.

First species. Natron, or natural soda.

It may be divided into the two following subspecies:

1. Common natron, is of a yellowish or greyishwhite colour, occurs in fine flakes or in dusty particles, has a sharp alkaline taste, effervesces with nitric acid, is easily soluble in water, and strikes blue vegetable tinctures green. It occurs as an efflorescence in the surface of soil, or on the sides and bottoms of lakes that occasionally become dry. It is found in very large quantities in Hungary, Bohemia, and Egypt, and in many other countries of the Old World.

2. Radiated natron, or natural soda, is of a greyish or yellowish-white colour, occurs in crusts or crystallized in capillary or acicular crystals, is glistening and translucent, and is found in large quantities in the province of Sukana in Barbary, and in

Southern Africa.

Natron is principally employed in the manufacture of glass, soap, and for washing. It is also used as a flux after being purified.

Second species. Natural nitre.

The colour is greyish or yellowish-white, approaching to snow-white; it is flaky, sometimes verges to solid and massive, is of a saline consistence, and tastes saltly cooling. Placed on hot iron, it hisses and detonates; is usually found in thin crusts on the surface of the soil at particular seasons of the year, particularly in hot climates. It is also met with in various countries of Europe, and is much used in making gunpowder, in medicine, and the arts. The greatest part, however, employ ed for those purposes, is an artificial preparation from the refuse of animal and vegetable bodies undergoing putrefaction, and mixed with calcareous and other earth.

Third species. Natural Rock-salt

Is divided into two sub-species: 1. Rock or stone-salt, which is of two kinds, foliated and fibrous. The former is commonly of a white or grey colour, occurs massive and disseminated, and also crystallized in cubes; in general is strongly translucent, rather hard, easily frangible, and feels somewhat greasy. The latter is greyish, yellowish, and snow-white; occurs massive, is strongly translucent,verging to semi-transparent, decrepitates when laid on burning coals, and is found in beds lying over the first or oldest floetz trap formation. It forms whole hills at Cordova in Spain, is found also in Germany, and almost every country in the world. At Nantwich in Cheshire it has long been dug. Its use is as general as its dissemination. It is employed as a daily seasoning for our food, as a manure, in various manufactures, and for purposes too numerous to mention.

2. Lake-salt occurs either in thin plates, which

at their bottom. It is translucent, and of a saline consistence. It is found in Cyprus, near the Caspian Sea, and in various parts of Africa.

Fourth species. Natural sal ammoniac.

The colour is commonly greyish or yellowishwhite. It is of a saline consistence, and is flaky, with an urinous taste. It is sometimes found massive, stalactitic, tuberose, botryoidal, and crystallized. It is the product of volcanoes and pseudovolcanoes, and is found in Italy, Sicily, in the vici nity of inflamed beds of coal both in England and Scotland, and in several countries of Asia.

Fifth species. Natural Epsom salt. Colour a greyish-white. It occurs in capillary efflorescences, and is mealy or flaky, of a saline consistence, and taste saltly bitter. It is found as an efflorescence, on clayey stones or gyps rocks, at Sena, at Solsatara, in Hungary and Bohemia. It is also contained in many mineral springs, particularly those of Epsom, whence it derives its name. Epsom salts are much used as an easy purgative. Considerable quantities of magnesia may be obtained from them.

Sixth species. Natural Glauber salt.

white. It ocours in the form of mealy effloresThe colour is usually greyish and yellowishcular and in six-sided prismatic crystals. Intercences, in crusts, and sometimes crystallized in acinally it is shining, with a vitreous lustre, is soft, brittle,easily frangible, and has a cooling but a saltly

bitter taste.

moorish ground, on old and new-built walls in different countries of Europe, Asia, and Africa, and is used as a purgative medicine, and in some places as a substitute for soda in the manufacture of white

It is found on the borders of salt-lakes, on

glass.

Seventh species. Natural alum

Is of a yellowish or greyish-white colour; occurs crystals; has a sweetish astringent taste, and is proas a mealy efflorescence, or in delicate capillary duced in various situations in Scotland, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and in Egypt.

manufacture of leather, as a medicine, for preventAlum is employed as a mordant in dyeing, in the ing wood from catching fire, and for preserving animal substances from putrefaction.

Eighth species. Hair salt.

The principal colours are snow, yellowish, and greyish-white. It occurs in delicate capillary crystals; has a saline consistence, and a sweetish astringent taste.

Hair salt is found in different mine countries an

the continent, at Whitehaven in England, and near Paisley in Scotland, and bears a striking resem

blance to fibrous gyps.

Ninth species. Rock butter.

The colour is light-yellow or greyish-white. It occurs massive and tuberose, is translucent, has a saline consistence, or sweetish-sour astringent taste, and feels a little greasy. It oozes out of fissures of rocks of alum slate, and is found in Lusatia, Thuringia, Denmark, Siberia, and near Paisley in Scotland.

Tenth species. Natural vitriol

Is divided into the three following sub-species: 1. Iron vitriol, is commonly of an emerald and

ters.

3. Zing vitriol, is of a greyish, yellowish, reddish, and greenish-white colour. It occurs tuberose, stalactitic, and coralloidal, is translucent, of a saline consistence, and a styptic taste. It is produced most abundantly where much blende oceurs, and is found in Austria, Hungary, and Sweden.

Here it must be remarked, that borax, though so well known by name, is without a place in the Wernerian system, as it is uncertain whether or no it occurs in a solid state. It is most probable that it occurs only in solution in certain lakes. See BORAX.

The new genus stallite, of which only one species, cryolite, has been found in Greenland, seems properly to come under this head.

CLASS III.

INFLAMMABLE FOSSILS.

Fossils belonging to this class are light, brittle, mostly opaque, yellow, brown, or black, seldom crystallized, and never feel cold. They are more Dearly allied to the metallic than to the earthy or saline classes.

FIRST GENUS.
SULPHUR Genus.

First species. Natural sulphur.

It contains the two following sub-species: 1. Common natural sulphur, is of the colour the name expresses, but of dfferent degrees of intensity. It occurs massive, disseminated, and crystallized in octahedrons or double six-sided pyramids, is internally between shining and glistening, translucent, in crystals frequently transparent, very soft, easily frangible, and light.

It is found in masses in gyps, in veins that traverse primitive rocks, in nests of limestone, and in other situations, and is produced in every quarter of the world, though in the British dominions it seems to be confined to Ireland.

2. Volcanic natural sulphur is of the colour the Lame imports, but with a considerable tinge of green. It occurs corroded, vesicular, periorated, amorphous, and sometimes as a sublimate in dowers, is glistening and resinous, and translucent in a slight degree. It is found only in volcanic countries, and among lava, but is prodaced in great abundance; and is employed in medicine, in the composition of gunpowder, and as a vapour in whitening wool and silk.

SECOND GENUS.

BITUMINOUS Genus. See BITUMEN. First species. Brown coal. See COAL.

FOURTH GENUS.
GRAPHITE Genus.

First species. Glance coal.

This is divided into two sub-species:

1. Conchoidal glance coal, is of an iron-black colour, of different degrees of intensity, occurs massive and vesicular, interually shining, bordering sometimes on semihard, brittle, easily frangible, and light. It burns without flame or smell, and has hitherto been found only in the newest floetz mass formation, accompanied with other kinds of coal, at Meissner in Hessia. The fracture is conchoidal.

2. Slaty glance coal, is of a dark iron black colour, occurs massive, is shining and glistening, soft, very easily frangible, light, and intermediate between sectile and brittle. It is found imbedded in masses, beds, and veins, in primitive, transitive, and floetz rocks, and is produced in Spain, Savoy, Saxony, Bohemia, and in the isle of Arran in Scotland. Its principal fracture is more or less slaty.

Second species. Graphite.

This contains two sub-species:

1. Scaly graphite, is commonly of a dark steelgrey colour. It occurs massive and disseminated, is usually glistening, fracture scaly-foliated, is very soft, perfectly sectile, writes and soils, feels very greasy, and is rather difficultly frangible.

2. Compact graphite, is rather blacker than the preceding, is internally glimmering with a metallie lustre, fracture fine-grained, in other respects agreeing with the preceding. It usually occurs in beds, and is found near Keswick in England, in Ayrshire in Scotland, and in various other parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa. The finer kinds are first boiled in oil, and then cut into pencils. The coarser parts and sawings are melted with sulphur, and then cast into coarse pencils for the use of artificers. It is likewise applied to various other purposes, under the vulgar name of black lead.

Third species. Mineral barcoal.

The colour is a greyish-black. It occurs in stnall angular and somewhat cubical-shaped pieces, is glimmering, with a silky lustre, soils strongly, is soft, and light. It is found in thin layers in different kinds of coal, and is widely disseminated.

FIFTH GENUS.

RESIN Genus. See RESINS.

First species. Amber.

This is divided into the two following subspecies:

1. White amber, is of a straw-yellowish colour. It occurs massive, and sometimes associated with the following sub-species, is glistening with a resinous lustre, fracture conchoidal, and simply translucent.

2. Yellow amber, is of a wax-yellow colour, passing into several neighbouring shades. It occurs always in indetermiuately angular bluntedged pieces, is externally dull, internally splendeut, with a vitreous and resinous lustre. It is transparent, soft, rather brittle, pretty easily frangible, light, and swimming. It burns with a yellow-coloured flame, emitting an agreeable odour; when rubbed, it acquires a strong negative electrical virtue; is found in layers of bituminous wood, and a moor coal, ou sandy sca