156 Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



in acid. The greatest (juantity of organic matter was found in sta- 

 lactites of a deep yellow colour, liiglily crj'stalline and uniform in 

 character, and in the portions examined perfectly homogeneous and 

 free from layers, or intervening bands indicating different periods 

 and changes in deposition. As the presence of iron could not be 

 found in the acid solution, it is inferred that the colour of these 

 yellow stalactites must be owing in great part to combined organic 

 matter, existing as crenate of lime. In specimens like the spar or- 

 naments from the Rock of Gibraltar, with which all are familiar, 

 the colouring and delicate shading is also probably due to organic 

 matter. 



Dr. Hayes informs me, that he has also found organic matter in 

 arragonite in sufficient quantity to separate in flakes, while the spe- 

 cimen was dissolving in acid. 



From these statements, it must, I think, be inferred, contrary to 

 the view of Liebig, that organic matter does exist in stalactites 

 generally, as an acid combined with the lime, and imparting to them 

 their various colours. I would by no means call in question the 

 accuracy of the experiments of Prof. Liebig, further than that, as 

 far as my observations extend, crenic acid in the presence of lime, 

 and combined with it, passes over like oxalates, upon heating, into 

 carbonates, without perceptible blackening. 



It may here be added, that Prof. Johnston of England describes 

 a compound of alumina with crenic acid, occurring in caves of 

 granite upon the coast of Cornwall. This mineral has received the 

 name of t'igotite, and is observed in places where the surface-water 

 trickles down over the granite rocks. From this it may not be in- 

 appropriate to apply the term crenite to those lime formations in 

 which crenic acid occurs in considerable quantities. 



Results similar to those announced above have been obtained by 

 Dr. C. T. Jackson, as well as by Dr. Hayes of Boston. Dr. J. 

 Lawrence Smith informs me, that he has frequently met with crenic 

 acid in lime concretions from Asia Minor, and its existence in sta- 

 lactites was also announced by Dr. Emmons of Albany some years 

 since. My results can therefore be considered but as the verifica- 

 tion of those obtained by others. — Silliman's Journal, Jan. 1852. 



ON THE NEW METAL DONARIUM. 



A few months ago M. Bergemann discovered an oxide in a mineral 

 from Langesundfiord, near Brevig in Norway, which he considered to 

 be new. He gave the name Donarium to the metal, and that of 

 Orangite to the mineral*. 



Damour has since examined a specimen of orangite. Its specific 

 gravity was 5'19 ; Bergemann found 5'39. On comparing his ana- 

 lysis with that of Bergemann, and also the properties of the supposed 

 new oxide, M. Damour concludes that the oxide of donarium is 

 nothing Jess than impure thorina. Bergemann's analysis does not 

 enumerate oxide of lead and oxide of uranium among the constitu- 

 ents. M. Berlin of Lund has also found that the oxide of donarium 

 is thorina mixed with minute traces of oxide of uranium, o.\ide of 

 * See pp. 583 and 390 of vols. i. and ii. of the present Series. 



