On the Oxi-hydregen Blow=pipe. TT! 
naces, in the solar focus, nor (with the exception of alumine, and 
possibly barytes,) even by a stream of oxygen gas directed upon 
burning charcoal. 
Platinum—was not only melted, but volatized with strong 
ebullition. 
VARIOUS MINERALS. 
Rock Crystal—transparent and colourless. This mineral was 
instantly melted into a beautiful white glass. It not only does 
not melt in the focus of the most powerful burning mirror, but 
it remains without fusion, at least when in the state of rock cry- 
stal, in the still more intense heat excited by a stream of oxygen 
gas directed on burning charcoal.” (Murray, ii. 261.) “It is 
even imperfectly softened by the intense heat, excited by a stream 
of oxygen gas, directed on the flame.” (of the blow-pipe lamp.) 
—(Ibid. iii. 513.) 
Common Quartz—fused immediately into a vitreous globule. 
Gun Flini—melted with equal rapidity: it first became white, 
and the fusion was attended with ebullition and a separation of 
numerous small ignited globules which seemed to burn away as 
they rolled out of the current of flame: the product of this fusion 
was a beautiful splendid enamel.—* It is infusible before the 
blow-pipe, but loses its colour.”— (Ibid. 518.) 
_Chalcedony—melted rapidly,and gave a beautiful blueish-white 
enamel resembling opal. “ It is infusible before the blow-pipe.”’ 
—(Ibid. 516.) 
Oriental Carnelian—fused with ebullition, and produced a 
semitransparent white globule with a fine lustre. 
Red Jasper—from the Grampians, was slowly fused with a 
sluggish effervescence ; it gave a grayish black slag, with white 
spots. 
*€ It is infusible before the blow-pipe, even when the flame is 
excited by a stream of oxygen gas.’’—(Ibid. 519.) 
smoky Quartz—or smoky topaz melted into a colourless glo - 
bule. 
Bery!—melted instantly into a perfect globule, and continued 
in a violent ebullition as long as the flame was applied; and 
when, after the globule became cold, it was heated again, the 
ebullition was equally renewed; the globule was ‘a glass of a 
beautiful blueish-milky white. 
“The beryl is melted with difficulty before the blow- pipe alone, 
but easily when borax is added.””—(Ibid. 511.) 
Emerald of Peru.—The same ; only the globule was greea, 
and perfectly transparent. 
Olivin—fused into a dark-brown globule, almost black. “ It 
can scarcely be melted by the blow-pipe without addition.” — 
(Ibid, 534.)--.. 0 « : “piacht 
Vesuvian 
