MODE IV. STEATITE. 313 



tween plates of quartz. It abounds in all the 

 primitive countries, but has not yet been distin- 

 guished from mica slate. 



Aspect 1. Micarel slate, from the bed of the 

 Ganges, near Sirinagur. 

 The same, from the Alps. 

 The same, from Scotland. 



Aspect 2. Dendritic, from Spain, 



MODE IV. STEATITE. 



This substance so much resembles fine soap, 

 that in Cornwall, where it abounds, it is com- 

 monly called soap-rock. 



Texture, compact, finely granular, and unc- Characters. 

 tuous. 



Hardness, cretic. Fracture, sometimes un- 

 even, sometimes conchoidal. Fragments, amor- 

 phous, blunt. 



Weight, carbonose. 



Lustre, dull, unctuous, sometimes glimmer- 

 ing, with particles of micarel. Translucent on 

 the edges. 



The most common colour is white, sometimes 

 delicately streaked with red, so as perfectly to 



