Minerals of aarp and America. 309 
tals, are not in their ied state, but are detached from their 
matrix by submitting them to the action of nitric acid, which 
dissolves the carbonate of lime, in which they are imbedded, 
without acting on the scapolite 
7. Epidote. Thisis a mineral so generally diffused in na- 
ture, that it is not confined to any class of rocks. It has 
lately been discovered at Arendal, in Norway ; ; but those 
fine crystalized specimens which we often receive from that 
country, are generally detached from their matrix by acids, 
in the same manner as the scapolite, when imbedded in lime- 
stone. In this state their value is greatly enhanced when in 
the hands of the mineral dealers. Specimens of epidote, 
however, equally beautifal and well crystalized, have been 
found in Rhode-Island and Pennsylvania. In general, these 
in exposing eeu imbedded in such a matrix. 
It will be observed, that in the above sketch, I have con- 
fined myself io a detail of those minerals only, which have 
been found in a particular district of the North of Europe, 
in order to point out the striking resembiance between 
_ Specimens and such as found, under similiar circumstances 
and associations, in Nor merica, without any reference to 
a number of minerals which have been discovered, not onl 
in the same formation, but in other parts of the United 
States, such as the red oxyd of zine of Sparta, the spinelle of 
Warwick, and a great variety of minerals, which are either 
rare in Europe, or have never been discovered there. These 
are sufficiently uncommon and in serena to require a sepa- 
rate notice on some future occasion. 
1 is found of any interest at present, these ob 
servations are perfectly at your service. 
W. MEADE. 
