10 
Our Tertiary lignites are almost entirely Miocene, and of 
these there are large deposits at the far North—in Alaska, 
Greenland, ete. 
Pror. SEELY made some remarks on the various sources of 
error in the ordinary methods of analyzing coals, both as 
regards the amount of carbon and that of ash. 
Dr. H. C. Boiron presented some notes on the fluores- 
cence of uranium compounds, in regard to which Dr. Henry 
Morton and himself had been continuing their observations. 
Some sixty different salts containing this metal had lately been 
prepared and examined, chemically by himself, and physical- 
ly by Dr. Morton. Of these, several are new to chemistry ; 
they will be more fully reported upon hereafter. 
March 81st. 
President Newberry in the chair. Twenty persons present. 
Dr. FEUCHTWANGER made some remarks on the present 
state of the diamond market. 
The diamond cutters and polishers of Amsterdam and 
London are now under the control of a League; and it has 
lately been resolved to advance the price for cutting rough 
diamonds, from forty to a hundred per cent., particularly on 
small stones; 24 shillings per carat will now be charged, 
instead of from 12 to 14 shillings, as before. This state of 
affairs has seriously depressed the market for rough stones, 
both in London and at Cape Town. ‘The cleavage of the large 
African diamonds is a matter of great importance. The original 
size of the stone often has to be greatly reduced, in order to 
remove flaws, etc.; and the pieces removed by cleavage are 
much used, if of good quality, for cutting into small brilliants 
or rose diamonds. A skillful cleaver, therefor, commands far 
higher wages than a mere cutter or polisher; as on him 
depends the form and size of the stones. 
