8 TRANSACTIONS OF THE [ocr. 15, 
had been unpacked and deposited in the fire-proof building of 
the American Museum of Natural History, where it is hoped 
that it may remain permanently, as the property of the New 
York Mineralogical Club, which will endeavor to purchase it. 
Mr. W. E. HippeEw spoke in a similar strain, referring espe- 
cially to his personal indebtedness to Mr. Chamberlin for stimu- 
lating and guiding his own interest in mineralogy, when a 
youthful beginner in the study. 
THE PRESIDENT confirmed the estimate placed on Mr. Cham- 
berlin as a member and ascientist, and dwelt further on the 
beauty of his private character. Rarely had he known a man 
so simple, so upright, so kindly, and so pure. From such as he, 
it is hard to part; and the world is richer for their lives, and 
poorer for their loss. 
Mr. H1vpeEN spoke regarding the large aquamarine exhibited 
by Mr. Kunz, and stated that the locality was highly promising. 
He also made a preliminary announcement of two new min- 
eral species—Auerlite, a silico-phosphate of thorium, and sul- 
phohalite, a combination of chloride and sulphate of sodium. 
The former, which he had named for Dr. Auer von Welsbach, 
occurs in minute orange-red tetragonal crystals, with density 
4.42 to 4.76, and is a hydrous silicate of thorium, with phos- 
phoric acid replacing part of the silica. It has been found 
only in Henderson County, N. C., at the Freeman mine, on 
Green River, and at a point three miles southwest. In both 
cases it occurs in the débris of crystalline rocks, closely associated 
with zircon crystals, and often implanted upon them. As it was 
discovered in connection with the mining of zircons, for use in 
the Welsbach process for electric lighting, it seemed appropriate 
to give it the name of the inventor of that process. 
The chemical interest of this species is very great. ‘There is 
nothing to indicate mixture of two minerals; and it seems to be 
not only a thorium phosphate, known for the first time in na- 
ture, but also an example of the very peculiar replacement. of 
silica in part by phosphoric acid. The formula seems to be 
Tho, 1G 2H,0 
