4819.] Scientific Intelligence. 233 
“ Neither the alkaline phosphates nor arseniates occasion any 
precipitate, when dropped into a saturated solution of this metal 
m an acid: neither is any precipitate produced by the infusion of 
nutgalls. A plate of zinc throws down a black metallic powder 
from the solution of this metal in muriatic acid. Prussiate of 
potash throws down a pearl-grey precipitate, &c. 
“Nitric acid dissolves with facility both the metal and its 
oxide, and the solution yields colourless needle-form crystals, 
which readily dissolve in water. 
“« As the names of the planets have been already all applied to 
newly discovered metals, I have, in imitation of Berzelius, had 
recourse to the old German mythology, and give the metal the 
Prone! name of Wodan, or Wodanium. My worthy friend 
reithaupt classes the mineral that contains this new metal 
among the pyrites, and gives it the name of Wodan pyrites 
(Wodan-kies). He gives the following description of this 
mineral. 
“« Wodan pyrites has the metallic lustre, and is shining or glis- 
. tening. 
“ Its colour is dark tin-white, passing into grey, or into brown. 
“¢ Hitherto it has occurred only massive ; and in that state it 
is full of cavities. F : 
“The fracture is uneven, and either small or great granular. 
Fragments indeterminate angular, with edges not peculiarly 
sharp. 
“« Harder than fluor spar; but softer than apatite. 
“ Brittle. Easily frangible. 
“ Specific gravity, 5°192.” 
Lampadius informs us, in the letter of which the preceding 
— contain the translation, that he intends to publish a 
full account of the new metal and its ore in the Transactions of 
the Mineralogical Society of Dresden.—(Gilbert’s Annalen de 
Physik, lx. 99, for September, 1818.) 
XV. Potters’ Clay. 
Near the Halkin Hills, in Flintshire, and within four miles 
of the sea, some miners discovered, about two years ago, a 
vast bed, of a substance said to be adapted for the manufactur- 
ing of earthen ware without the addition of any other material. 
It lies immediately under a stiff red clay, and coals abound in the 
neighbourhood. The miners and Mr. Bishop, of Stafford, have 
taken a lease of the ground from the proprietor, Lord Grosvenor. 
A specimen of the substance has been brought to London, but 
has not yet been analyzed. A more full account of it will pro- 
bably be given in a future number. 
Near the same place also has been found a hollow siliceous 
rock, abounding in organic impressions, which has been sup- 
posed likely to become a substitute for burrstone, but it appears 
to be too brittle for this purpose. 
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