350 On a MINERAL supposed to be 
Ir has not the fmalleft attraction for the magnet; it does 
not decrepitate and difperfe when expofed to the blow-pipe ; it 
is not in any fhape tran{parent. 
Tue Swedifh foflil occurs in roundifh amorphous mafles, im- 
bedded and diifeminated in a granitic rock, having the external 
furfaces covered with a flight whitith coating, perhaps from 
the attachment of micaceous particles. ‘There is no fuch ap- 
pearance on the furface of the cryftallifed gadolinite. 
Tue fituation which this mineral fhould hoid in the fyftem 
has been a matter of difficulty among mineralagifts. Haiy has 
placed it in the clafs of Earthy Foflils, immediately after his 
Anatafe and Dioptafe,—rather an unfortunate fituation, both 
thefe having been recognifed as ores of known metals, titanium 
and copper, fince the publication of his admirable treatife. 
. WERNER, On account of its weight, has claffled it among 
the metals; and from its natural alliances, and chemical com- 
pofition, has given it a place among the irons *. If weight en- 
titled it to be clafled among the metals, feveral other minerals 
have an equal claim to the fame fituation. Of its natural alli- 
ances we know very little, farther than that the Swedifh di- 
ftri& where it is found abounds in iron; and as to its chemi- 
cal compofition, if 174 per cent. of iron be fufficient to counter- 
balance 592ths of a new earth, it would be right to arrange it 
accordingly. The analyfes of fo many chemifts of known ce- 
lebrity, are certainly fufficient to juftify the conftitution of a 
new fpecies for its reception. WERNER, however, may feel 
himfelf licenfed in this arrangement, as he does not confider it 
neceflary that a mineral compound fhall preferve the charac- 
ters of its components ; but that any of the components may 
give to the compofition characters fufficiently marked, to de- 
termine its relations. It is upon this diftinction that he founds 
the difference between-the predominant and chara¢teriftic prin- 
ciples t. | 
THE 
* JAMESON, Vol. ii. p. 613. 
+ BrocHantT, vol. i. p. 44. 
