394 Scientific Intelligence. [Nov. 



IV. New Volcanic Island. 



A very singular phenomenon has occurred in the Russian pro- 

 vince of Tschernemerk, in the vicinity of Alteruzruk, immediately 

 opposite the salt-works. On the 10th of May, at two p. m. the 

 weather being calm and serene, a noise was suddenly heard from 

 the sea, about 200 toises from the shore. Flames issued forth, 

 accompanied with explosions resembling those of cannon ; thick 

 clouds of vapour rose at the same time ; and enormous masses of 

 earth and huge stones were hurled with force into the air. Ten 

 very violent eruptions took place successively within a quarter of an 

 hour. Those that followed were protracted till late in the evening. 

 Then an islet was seen to rise from the sea, pouring forth from 

 several mouths a bituminous matter, which subsequently assumed a 

 firmer consistency. While this phenomenon was operating, a par- 

 ticular smell spread about the distance of ten wersts around : this 

 smell had not any resemblance to that of sulphur. On the 20th 

 the examination of this islet was commenced ; it was thought to be 

 inaccessible, being surrounded on every side by hardened bitumen ; 

 at last they succeeded in penetrating to the interior ; its elevation is 

 a toise and a half above the level of the sea, and its surface entirely 

 covered with a stony whitish mass. 



V. Sulphate of Strontian. 



Sulphate of strontian has been lately discovered at Suntel, in 

 Hanover, by Professor Hausmann, who has published a particular 

 description, together with a chemical analysis of it by Professor 

 Strcmeyer. As it is the first example of the occurrence of this 

 mineral in Germany, it has excited the attention of the mineral- 

 ogists of that country. It constitutes a bed about one fourth of a 

 fathom thick in a coal-mine, and seems to be connected with the 

 shell limestone in the north of Germany. It lies above a bed of 

 greyish coloured floetz limestone, and is covered by a very thick 

 bed" of clay marl. Its colour is partly white and partly grey. It 

 occurs both amorphous and crystallized. Hausmann discovered in 

 it the various kinds of crystals described by Haiiy and two new 

 species, namely, rectangular, four-sided tables levelled on two or 

 on all the edges. Their symbols, according to Haiiy's method, 



2 1 1 



are A E P and 'H i E P. The specific gravity is between 3*8190 

 3-90fJ4. According to the analysis of Stromeyer, this mineral is 

 composed as follows : — 



Sulphate of strontian 9/-208 



Sulphate of barytes 2-222 



Silica 0-254 



Black oxide of iron 0:116 



Water and a little petroleum 0-190 



99-990 



