MODE IV. STEATITE. 



The softer steatite chiefly occurs in veins in 

 serpentine, and in nodules in basaltin* and 

 Saussurite : but the harder forms rocky masses, 

 else the substance could not have appeared with 

 propriety in the present treatise. The rock of 

 hard steatite, described by Saussure, may serve 

 as an example: he discovered it on his journey 

 between Nice and Genoa, on the sea-shore, of 

 the height of 15 or 20 feet. The exterior surface 

 is shining: here reddish, there of a silvery hue, 

 and rather soft to the toucli. 



" It splits in irregular fragments, rather ap- 

 proaching to the rhomboidal. Its fracture is 

 schistose, irregular, and otherwise very like its 

 exterior surface: it gives a grey streak- is soft, 

 and rather heavy ; odour earthy ; easily melts 

 into a grey glass, which sinks on the support; 

 it has no effect on the magnet. 



<c The rock composed of this stone is divided 

 by veins of spar and quartz ; and this last con- 

 tains, in places, pieces of green hornblende. 



" Some parts of this rock are of a bright deep- 

 brown violet colour. The fracture presents schis- 

 tose laminae, irregular, small, and often con- 

 choidal ; the streak is of a reddish grey ; like 



* Fine specimens of this kind are brought from the isle of Rach- 

 lin, on the north of Ireland, celebrated as the retreat of Robert I. 

 king of Scotland from the English power. 



Y 2 



