a 



136 New Substance in Ironstone. [Feb. 



Article XII. 



Description of a new Substance found in Ironstone, 

 By the Rev. J. J. Conybeare. 



(To the Editor of the Annals of Philosophy.) 



MY DEAR SIR, Bat/i Easton, Jan. 17, 1821. 



During a visit to South Wales in the course of last summer, 

 a substance, found in the ironstone of Mezthyr Tydjfil, ".vas put 

 into my hands for examination. It appears to me to differ from 

 all the varieties of bituminous matter hitherto discovered, suffi- 

 ciently to form a separate species. Should my opinion be 

 correct, I would propose that it should be distinguished by the 

 name of Hatchetine, in reference to the eminent chemist, to 

 whom we are indebted for the most valuable contributions 

 towards the history and analysis of this class of natural sub- 

 >8tances. I remain. Sir, 



With much esteem, yours sincerely, 



J. J. Conybeare. 



The colour varies from yellowish-white to wax and greenish- 

 yellow. 



The texture is sometimes flaky (like that of spermaceti), 

 sometimes subgranular, hke that of bees' wax. 



The lustre is, in the flaky variety, slightly ghsteningand pearly; 

 in the other dull. 



The transparency is in the flaky (especially in thin laminae) con- 

 siderable : other specimens are opaque. 



It is very soft, not harder than soft tallow. 



It has no elasticity, and no odour. 



It is very fusible ; melts when placed in warm water under 

 170°. 



It is very light. 



The only analogous substances to which Hatchetine might 

 be compared are petroleum and elastic bitumen. From the 

 former, it differs in its consolidation ; from both, in the greater 

 part of its external character, and in its want of smell. It melts 

 under 170°, whereas thin bituraen does not melt even in boiling 

 water. Like elastic bitumen, it is readily soluble in ether ; and 

 each solution, by spontaneous evaporation, leaves a viscid oily 

 -matter in separate drops, but that from Hatchetine is still inodo- 

 rous ; while that from elastic bitumen retains strongly the pecu- 

 liar smell of that substance. Hatchetine distilled over the naked 

 flame of a spirit-lamp assumes the bituminous smell, and gives 

 'Over a butyraceous substance of a greenish-yellow, coaly matter 



