486 Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



Bucklandite. This mineral, considered hitherto as black sphene, 

 is met with at Achmatowsk, in isolated crystals in calcareous spar, 

 accompanied with garnet and dionside ; density, 3'51. M. Auerbach 

 determined the measures, which coincide perfectly with the form of 

 other epidotes. 



It yielded by M. Hermann's analysis, — 



Silica 36-97 



Alumina 21*84 



Lime 21 -14 



Peroxide of iron 10- 19 



Protoxide of iron 9 - 19 



Carbonic acid 0'32 



Water 0'68 



100-33 

 Orthite or ceriferous epidote. Tschewkinite is often confounded 

 with the orthite of Miask, but the former is much the denser (4 50). 

 Several trials gave M. Hermann numbers varying between 3 "4 and 

 3-6 for the density of the orthite of Miask. By analysis orthite 

 yielded — 



Silica 34-47 



Alumina 14-36 



Lime 1020 



Magnesia 1*08 



Peroxide of iron 7 '66 



Protoxide of iron 8 - 24 



Oxide of cerium 14*79 



Oxide of lantanium 7*66 



Water 1-56 



100-02 

 Journ. de Ph. et de Ch., Sept. 1848. 



ON THE PREPARATION OF BLACK SULPHURET OF MERCURY. 



M. C. Vogler remarks, that the usual method of preparing Ethiops' 

 mineral consists in triturating pure metallic mercury with washed 

 flowers of sulphur in a porcelain or marble mortar. The mixture is 

 sprinkled occasionally either with water or spirit of wine, and the 

 trituration is continued until globules of mercury are no longer dis- 

 coverable by the glass. Such a process ought not, however, to be 

 recommended ; for when the mixture ceases to be moistened suffi- 

 ciently, part of it rises in dust, which not only occasions loss of 

 material, but exposes the operator to the inconvenience of respiring 

 mercurial vapour. 



To remedy these inconveniences the author proposes the following 

 plan : — Take a thick glass vessel, capable of holding twelve to sixteen 

 ounces, put into it four ounces of mercury and one ounce of finely- 

 powdered flowers of sulphur ; shake them continually for about two 

 hours, then add another ounce of sulphur, removing the cork of the 

 vessel occasionally ; shake again until globules are no longer visible 

 with the naked eye ; lastly, add two more ounces of sulphur and 



