'56 Prof. Naumann on Mineralugical ClasA^calion. 



greater differences stand in intimate connection with the im- 

 portant distinction of Iieavy and light metals. 



Tenacity and the quality of the coherence are certainly pro- 

 perties which belong to the very essence of the masses. As, 

 however, the differences in regard to these properties are 

 distributed in very unequal proportions throughout the species 

 of minerals ; as malleability and even sectility are rare, in com- 

 parison with the very predominating brittleness; and as, more- 

 over, the determination of these properties is more or less 

 dependent on the state of aggregation of the mineral ; the 

 importance of these characters for classification is diminish- 

 ed, without, however, being entirely neutralized. 



Magnetism, i. e., the power of acting on the magnetic needle, 

 is a singular character, but occurs in too few species to ad- 

 mit of its being employed in classilication. The same may 

 be said of the electrical phenomena of minerals, although the 

 conducting power, at least, is not altogether to be rejected. 



The chemical properties, and particularly the chemical 

 constitution of mineral species, must occupy a very promi- 

 nent position in a classification which has for its object essen- 

 tially the formless masses. They represent the very material 

 itself; that substratum which forms the basis of all mor- 

 phological and physical phenomena, and which is scientifically 

 expressed by the formula of chemical constitution. How 

 would it then be possible to produce an arrangement of 

 minerals consonant with nature, without especial regard 

 being paid to this foundation of their very being, this really 

 causal portion of their whole phenomena \ If we test some 

 of our mineral systems founded nominally on mere extei*nal 

 characters, we soon arrive at the conviction, that many of their 

 groups have been formed only by means of an involimtary 

 consideration of the results of chemical analysis ; while some 

 of the other groups in which this was not the case, and in 

 whose formation evei-y exertion has actually been made to re- 

 nounce all chemical reminiscences, the most strange and un- 

 natural unions are presented. 



It has always been my conviction that mineralogy robs 

 itself of its most beautiful and interesting portion, and that 

 it of itself obtrudes a testimonium paupertatis which it ought 



