109 



presented by Charles Cramer, Esq., committed to him at 

 the last meeting. 



He noticed the octahedrons of Rutile ; the account of the large, 

 well known slab of Labradorite in the possession of the Duke of 

 Devonshire ; mentioned the history of the Sancy diamond ; and ex- 

 plained the magnificent colored plates contained in this work, of 

 the Siberian Emeralds in the Cabinet of the Emperor of Russia, 

 and of the Siberian Chrysoberyl or Alexandrite. 



He made observations on the new minerals therein described, 

 viz. Cuboite, Perowskite, Volborthite, (a Vanadiate of Copper!) 

 Kammererite, Worthite, and Xenolite. Of this last he exhibited a 

 specimen from Mr. Alger's Cabinet, which he believed to agree, 

 both in external physical characters, and in chemical composition, 

 with Buchholzite, of which he also showed a small specimen, but 

 especially with the Buchholzite of Chester, Penn., the constituents 

 of which, according to Thompson's analysis, are : Alum : 52. 92 ; 

 silica, 46. 40, with a trace of iron. He also pointed out the new 

 localities mentioned in the works of Uwarowite, Malachite and Pyro- 

 phyllite. This last mineral he believed to be identical with the 

 Vermiculite from Millbury, of which he produced a specimen, and 

 exhibited its remarkable, and hitherto uninvestigated character of 

 sudden and enormous increase of bulk under the influence of heat. 

 Hermann's account of Pyrophyllite from its original locality 

 states the color to be a greenish hue. In the new locality men- 

 tioned in these Transactions, it is stated to be of a Tombac brown ; 

 consisting of shining, micaceous-like scales ; in which characters, 

 as well as in those before the blowpipe, it also completely coin- 

 cides with Vermiculite, which has not yet been analyzed. The 

 Pyrophyllite, being found in the Emerald district of the Ural moun- 

 tains, Mr. T. suggested the plausibility of this precious stone being 

 found in the Vermiculite locality of Millbury. 



He mentioned the account of the quantity of gold and platina 

 collected in Russia during sixteen years ; noticed the very interest- 

 ing paper on the gold and platina washings of the Ural chain, as 

 well as that of the mineralogical tour in this district ; the paper on 

 the various Manganesian Minerals, and on the Crustacean and other 

 Fossils found in the neighborhood of St. Petersburgh ; and finally 

 characterized these Transactions as being of exceeding interest 



