Intelligence and Miscellanies, 377 
18. Group f crystals of common salt.—Mr. Henry Silli- 
man, of New York, has forwarded to us, a mass of crystals 
of common salt of uncommon size and beauty, It is from 
the island of Curracoa, and was formed around a branch of 
wood, suspended in the cistern from which the salt water 
was evaporated ; the cavity left by the branch is very dis- 
tinct, and is two inches deep and three fourths of an inch 
wide e mass of crystals is from six to seven inches in 
diamlence ; it is of a snowy whiteness, with considerable lus- 
tre, and presents about fifty distinct cubes, the largest of 
which are three and a half inches long. They are grouped, 
with salient and seater angles, and the assemblage of 
crystals has an appearance not unlike that of the large 
groups of the (so called) crystallized sandstone of Fontain- 
eau, or, more still, like the richest masses of crystals of 
fluor spar. The increments and decrements of crystalliza- 
tion are singularly distinct, and the whole forms a specimen 
well worthy of a place in a cabinet of crystals. 
19. Fibrous gypsum of Onondago County, New York.— 
Some specimens of gypsum, recently transmitted to the edi- 
tor, by an unknown hand, are thus labelled: “ Found in dig- 
ging a salt well, in Liverpool, Onondago County, N. Y. 
twelve feet below the surface, in na of black mud, inter- 
mixed with slate stone: both above and below the strata, 
was found soft red rock or indurated clay, full of seams, 
through which the salt water passes.’ 
“hese specimens are fibrous, foliated and crystallized, 
blended more or less. The fibrous has evidently formed 
thin strata or veins between layers of loose incoherent slate 
or slaty clay. In one of the specimens these layers alter- 
nate, in their natural connexion with the eypsum, which be- 
ing white and brilliant forms a pleasing contra 
“One ne spec imen, ofa foliated structure, is ended: and still, 
Vor. XVI —No. 
