354 Lopez. 
It scratches quariz, zircon, and emerald, slightly ; but is 
deratched by the oriental sapphire, corundum, and erysobery], 
easily, and by the spinelle ru 
‘It possesses the property of double ee in an equal 
degree with the topaz, as was indicated by several fragments, 
5 ao being too — to exhibit it in tle mass, 
ren 
3. Chemical Characters. 
Before Hare’s compound blowpipe; this mineral melts with 
ehaiities:i into a white enamel. 
- We put about 100 grains of it in powder, into a glass table; 
and poured upon it a quantity of hot blue cabbage liquor. In 
or five minutes, the liquor was changed to at 
On repeating the experiment with cold cabbage liquor, the 
change from blue to “siti ae as decided ; though it renee. 
one or two hours to effec 
_ We put a portion of re eal in powder, into a platina 
, and poured upon it a quantity of distilled —_ 
cid. On applying heat, the glass plate that covered the 
crucible was ia short time acted upon over sing in the ene. 
> ID 
ding gas, inc 
ime ew several times saanckeree same 
— the mineral was pure, 
of fluor was mingled with it 
) 
“To anaes ne still greater certainty ae nature of this 
bem we were desirous of ascertaining the principal ele- 
ments that enter into its composition. To effect this o object, 
did not 
we attempted the following analytical trials. We 
expect to obtain an accurate analysis; and nel” not 
pay that scrupulous attention to every part of the proce 
which exact analysis requires. We are likewise aware, 1 
some parts of the process are not so strictly scientific and 
direct as might have been pursued. 
¥et as it is notin our power at present to repeat the fol- 
lowing steps, we have put them down merely as a tentative 
process, in the belief that they may throw some light on the 
nature of this mineral. 
_ A. Fifty grains of the mineral were reduced to an impal- 
pable: powder in a porphyry mortar, and subjected to a full red 
eal, ina covered platina crucible, - one hour. Thema: 
ively green. 
