18S1.] 11* [Lewis. 



a larger amount of hydrogen than is expressed in the formulas of any- 

 similar substance.* 



The first printed notice of this substance was given by Mr. T. Cooper. f 

 A week later Mr. C. A. Ashburner, contributed to the same Journal the 

 following analysis made by jMr. J. M. Stinson : 



Water at 312° G6.7o8 



Volatile matter 9.826 



Fixed carbon 4.012 



Ash 19.404 



100. 



Mr. Stinson informs the writer that this analysis was made upon a 

 sample consisting of a mixture of peat, muck, and the jelly-like substance, 

 and that as no attempt was made to separate the latter, the analysis is 

 not of scientific value. 



Special interest is attached to the substance here described as being per- 

 haps an intermediate product between peat and coal. While the quater- 

 nary lignites illustrate the transformation of wood with coal, this substance 

 illustrates a similar change from peat. As by the investigations of Kauff- 

 man, it was shown that the formation of Dopplerite preceded that of any 

 of the varieties of coal, so in the present case we have perhaps a yet earlier 

 stage. 



The characters of the Scrauton mineral entitle it to a distinctive place 

 among the hydrocarbons of natural origin. It has been the custom among 

 mineralogists to regard these substances, as mineral species. In view, 

 however, of the objection to adding new mineral species whose distinctive 

 characters are made prominent only by analysis, the writer believes that 

 it would be more advisable to combine those already described under 

 generic names, and to regard the minerals included in such genera as va- 

 rieties. 



In the present case we have to do with a black jelly-like substance 

 derived from vegetable decomposition, which with a diiferent composition 

 and with somewhat different physical properties has been found in similar 

 geological conditions in several parts of Europe. It is therefore suggested 

 that all of these substances be combined under one generic name. Tlie 

 name " PliytocoUiU" {(poT<h, ■/.oAla') signifying "plant-jelly," would in- 

 clude all jelly-like substances formed by the decomposition of plant mat- 

 ter. Dopplerite would then be regarded as one of its varieties, the mineral 

 described by Diecke would be another, and the mineral from Scranton 

 yet another. 



* The formula of Dopplerite has been given as : 



C40 H25 O25 (Gmelin); 



C16 Hio Oio (Descloiseaux) ; 



Cio Ha O5 (Dana;. 



+ Engineering and Mining Journal, Aug. 13, 1881. 



