Scientific Intelligence — Mineralogy and Geology. 193 



6. Platinum of California. — In a letter from J. E. Tesche- 

 niaoher, we are informed that he has detected a proportion of plati- 

 num among the grain gold of California, that will render it an im- 

 portant object of search in that region. In an ounce of the fine 

 grains, he found about 50 granules, which proved to be this metal. 

 He observes, that the proportion obtained is about as large as from 

 the South American mines. — American Journal of Science und 

 Arts, vol. X., No. 28. 



7. Discovery of a New Metal by Dr Bergemann. — In making 

 some experiments with the Woehlerite and Enkolite, from the Zirkon 

 syenite of Brevig in Norway, the author separated a substance which 

 both in its oxidized state as well as in its compounds, differed from all 

 the known simple bodies. The name of donarium has been assigned 

 to it, after the Teutonic god Donar, the northern Thor. — PhilosO' 

 phical Magazine. — This mineral was first noticed by Dr Krantz of 

 Bonn, who has published a description of it under the name of 

 Oiangite, from orange being its characteristic colour. 



8. Effect of Pressure on the Freezing o/^afer.— Professor Crenon 

 made some remarks upon the experiments of Professor Thomson, 

 and which Professor Thomson believes to shew that the temperature 

 of congelation of water and other bodies that expand, at the moment 

 of solidification, is raised proportionally to the increase of pressure 

 to which they are subjected, the ratio of temperature to pressure 

 being in water, I'lO of a degree of Fahrenheit's scale, in ten addi- 

 tional atmospheric pressures. 



Mr Crenon presented to the notice of the Society a speculation 

 into which he had been led on the subject, shewing the effect that 

 such a law might produce in causing water to retain the state of a 

 solid, at a very high temperature. For example, if a continuous 

 channel, admitting atmospheric communication, should exist in the 

 crust of the earth to the depth of seventy miles, the pressure of the 

 atmospheric column would exceed fifteen million pounds on the square 

 inch ; and, according to Professor Thomson, water would remain 

 solid at a temperature above 10,000° Fahrenheit, a heat far above 

 that of molten iron. — Proceedings of the American Phil. Soc.j vol. 

 T., No. 45, p. 168. 



9. M. Barrande on the Trilobites of Bohemia. — In bringing 

 together so vast a collection of materials, the author, a native of 

 France, depended entirely upon his own resources, and received no 

 government assistance. On inquiring of him what was his method 

 of collecting, he informed me that for ten consecutive years he had 

 systematically pursued the same plan, which is so characteristic of 

 his energy and perseverance, that the Society will not, I feel sure, 

 deem it unworthy of notice. M. Barrande first made a preliminary 

 survey of the region which he had resolved to explore, and having 

 determined the relative position and outcrop of the various beds, 

 engaged ten or twelve intelligent workmen, who were taught how to 



VOL. LI. NO. CI. — JULY 1851. N 



