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Notice of Minerals trom Palesiane. 23 
ihree of those pebbles from Cedron or Gethsemane, pray 
gratify them. I shall probably mention to them that I have 
sent them, Aboutthe Verd Antique, 1 may be mistaken. I 
have not a distinct idea of that kind of marble, how it differs 
from the specimens of green marble I send you. 
The labels where there are any, are first given, and then 
such remarks as may tend to illustrate the specimens. 
1. ‘* Many fragments of this are scattered about the Mul- 
berry gardens of Beyroot.” 
Perd Antique Porphyry. 
Among Mr. Bird’sspecimens, are three taken from the ruins 
of Tyre, which are the verd antique porphyry, not the verd 
antique marble. It is well known to imineralogists, that the 
verd antique porphyry is characterized by a very dark green 
basis of uniform appearance, containing distinct imbedded 
crystals of feldspar of a much lighter green. This porphyry 
oes not effervesce with acids, and is so hardas not to be ea- 
sily impressed by the steel. It is believed to have come from 
Upper Egypt, and its localily seems to be described by 
Bruce in his travels, under the name of green marble, where- 
as it is obvious from the properties which he ascribes to it, 
that it could not have been marble, but the verd antique por- 
phyry, which we see among the ruins of many ancient cities, 
upon and near the Mediterranean, and which appears to have 
been much valued by the ancient Romans. The verd an- 
tique marble, on the contrary, is soft enough to be very easily 
scratched by steel, it effervesces with acids, not a 
homogeneous ground and imbedded crystals, but its beauty is 
produced by blended clouds of green, white, black, &c. mix- 
ed without any regularity. It is often a mixture of serpen- 
tine and primitive granular limestone ; frequently, however, 
the green colour appears to arise from a combination of the 
oxide of chrome, with the substance of the marble. We must 
presume that the verd antique porphyry found at Beyroot 
came, like that of Rome, from Egypt. 
2. “ Shore of the dead sea.” 
This is an ovoidal pebble of (apparently for I did not 
break it) compact limestone about 2} inches long by 1 or} 
wide ; it is worn perfectly smooth by attrition. 
3. “ From the high craggy cliff, bounding the dead sea on 
the west.” 
