486 Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



The plisenomena to which I have just referred are so varied, that 

 it is indispensable, before formulating genei"al principles, to multiply 

 experiments in a place serving as a permanent observatory, then in 

 flat countries and amongst mountains, on the margins of rivers and 

 ■water-courses, and on the sea- shore, in countries like Holland, 

 where there are large alluvial tracts, in salt-marshes, &c. Then, 

 and then only shall we be able to judge of the importance of the 

 subject with which I am occupied, and which is connected with one 

 of the greatest questions in terrestrial physics. — Comptes Re?idus, 

 April 14, 1856, p. 661. 



ON THE BORONATROCALCITE OF SOUTH AMEKICA, 

 BY C. RAMMELSBERG. 



This mineral has lateljr been frequently referred to. It forms 

 larger or smaller roundish lumps, coated with a yellowish-gray earth, 

 and consisting internally of an aggregation of fine silky needles, 

 amongstwhich yellowish crystals of Glauberite (NaO, SO^ + CaO, SO') 

 sometimes occur. In other respects the substance is quite i)ure and 

 homogeneous. 



The powder dissolves with difficulty in boiling water, and the 

 solution has an alkaline reaction. It is soluble in acids, even in the 

 cold. Analyses gave, — 



Chloride of sodium, ..... 3" 17 



Sulphate of soda 0'41 



Sulphate of lime 0"39 



Boracic acid 41-82 = 43-70 



Lime 12-61 13-13 



Soda 6-40 667 



Potash 0-80 0-83 



Water 34-40 35-67 



As the oxygen of the soda (potash) and lime =1:2, and that of 

 the acid is equal to that of the water, and nine times that of the 

 lime, the mineral consists of 1 atom soda, 2 at.ms lime, 6 atoms 

 boracic acid, and 18 atoms water, and must be regarded as a com- 

 pound of 1 atom of bicarbonate of soda, 2 atoms of hiborate of lime, 

 and 18 atoms of water. 



The formula NaO, 2B03 + 2(CaO, 2BO^) + 18HO requires— 

 6 atoms boracic acid = 2617-2 = 45-63 



2 atoms lime = 703-3 = 1226 



1 atom soda = 389-7 = 679 



18 atoms water = 2025-0 = 3532 



15735-2 10000 



The properties of this mineral agree with the description given by 



Hayes ; but his analyses led him to the formula CaO, 2B0'-f 6H0, 



which is that of borocalcite. Earlier analyses by Ulex and Dick 



gave less simple formulae. — Poggendorff's Annalen, vol. xcvii. p. 302. 



ON A COPROLITIC DEPOSIT IN BOHEMIA. BY PROF. REUSS*. 

 Prof. Reuss of Prague communicated to the Vienna Imperial 

 Academy of Sciences, November 9, ) 855, a note on Fossil Excre- 

 ments of Fishes in the bituminous marl-slate of the Old Red Sand- 

 * Communicated by Count Marschell. 



