REPORT OF ACTING ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 61 



emerald crystal in a geode of calcite from Muso mine, United States of 

 Colombia, and two cut tonrmalines from Paris, Maine, the latter being 

 tlie gift of Eev. Dr. L. T. Chamberlain. A specimen of crystallized cin- 

 uabar, collected by J. E. Spnrr, at Mercur, Utah, was transmitted by 

 the U. S. Geological Snrvey. Mr. Wirt Tassin collected li44 specimens 

 illnstrating the mineralogy of the zinc regions of New Jersey. A col- 

 lection of 84 minerals, exhibited by the U. S. (xeological Survey at the 

 Cotton States and International Exposition, was turned over to the 

 Museum, and from the same source were received 81 specimens of 

 covellite from Gray Rock mine, Butte, Montana. A specimen of wire 

 silver from Asi)en, Colorado, was presented by Dr. A. S. Eakle, and 

 34 specimens of minerals, chiefly from Connecticut, were obtained in 

 exchange from Wesleyan University, at Middletown. 



There has been no radical change in the exhibition series during the 

 year. Two additional cases have been provided lor the gem collection, 

 and all of the gems and precious stones have been remounted. A case 

 of specimens illustrating the mineralogy of Sussex County, New Jer- 

 sey, has been installed. 



The progress made in caring for the collections is shown in the fol- 

 lowing paragrai^hs, quoted from the curator's report: 



The material stored in the armory sheds has been removed to those on Ninth 

 street, giving an opportnnity of examining a large number of boxes wliose contents 

 ■were unknown. The greater part of this material was worthless, and the work of 

 assorting and making final disposition of it is still going on. 



Work is progressing, though slowly, on the card catalogue of the collections. 



The gems have all been weighed, measured, examined with the microscoj)e, and 

 catalogued, and the manuscrii)t for tlie labels is now in the hands of the priuter. 



The series sent to Nashville has been enlarged by models and Mclditioiuil speci- 

 mens, so that upon its return a series defining and illustrating :ill the properties of 

 minerals, including their optical jiroperties, will be ready for installation. 



Some 800 specimens belonging to the old collection, but not catalogued, have been 

 entered and supplied with numbers. 



The assistant curator has completed a crystallographic examination 

 of the minerals of Italian Peak, Gunnison County, Colorado, an under- 

 taking requiring over 200 measurements of crystals. He is also meas- 

 uring or describing crystallographically the specimens in the systematic 

 series, and has already finished tlie sulphides. A catalogue of the 

 series illustrating the properties of minerals is nearly completed, and a 

 synoptic arrangement of minerals has been prepared and submitted for 

 publication. Mr. Tassin has also investigated the use of iodine in the 

 rapid determination of minerals. 



Dr. A. S. Eakle was engaged for a time in the study of the topaz 

 crystals in the collection. 



The lack of proper facilities for analytical work is seriously felt, and 

 the equipment of a suitable laboratory would go far toward increasing 

 the value of the collection, which at present contains a large amount 

 of undescribed material. 



