fielil. This mineral, until within the last few years, commanded a very 

 high jjrice ; even as much as .$4 per pound being paid for it. At pi'e- 

 sent it is scarcely saleable at any price. It was formerly used in the 

 production of a blue color for calico printing, which is now superseded 

 by the bright and less expensive aniline colors. 



Graphite or Plumbago. — This mineral bears 'a strong resemblance 

 to the above mentioned molybdenite, physically, although to the ac- 

 customed eye it presents some points of difference ; its lustre is scarcely 

 ever as bright, and does not give the peculiar greenish streak on porce- 

 lain. But I doubt whether those characters would bo conducive to its 

 ultimate recognition. And I think, perhaps, in all cases it would be 

 better, at least more reliable, to test it chemically. The disseminated 

 folia? of this mineral may almost be considered as a constant inclusion 

 in the various bands of limestone and i)egmatite that traverse these 

 townsl)i))S, in, however, as far as my observation goes, insufficient 

 cpiantity to be available for piactical purposes. On Lot 7, R. 1, of 

 Wakefield, lenticular masses of serpentine enclose this minei'ai in 

 foliated masses and disseminated folia\ On the same property a fine 

 granular variety, somewhat simihir to the Cumberland plumbago, oc- 

 curs in pockets of a crystalline limestone. 



Apatite. — The elucidation of all the characters, physical as well 

 as mechanical, that so conspicuously characterize this important min- 

 eral, must necessarily be attended with many theoretical ideas which 

 will ever present themselves to the practical observer. It is a stupid 

 idea, and yet rather a prevalent one, that the various i)roducts in nature 

 must conform to the formnhe laid down by man. As i>ractical observers 

 can we reject such chair.s of evidence, Jinked as they may be by actual 

 facts, because intricate nature will not divulge her secrets to an imagin- 

 ative mind, T say no. If the existing laws that govern the chemical 

 nature of minerals are not conformable with man's ideas, then all I can 

 say is, so much woi'se for the man. For assuredly, the various grada- 

 tions that mark the progress of alternation and dissemination of minerals 

 will ere long (assisted by the all powerful mieroscoi)e) crush out of ex- 

 istence many wild and exaggeiated theories. So leaving the origin of this 

 mineral (apatite) to the investigators of the near future, we will pass 

 on to some of its physical characters. No mineral in the Ottawa dis- 



