Calcareous Genus. 



Stalactites^ Sinter Calcareum^ Stma, 



Thefe are found fufpended from vaults, 

 being formed by the oozing of water charged 

 with calcareous particles, and gradually eva- 

 porating, leaving thofe particles behind; this 

 depofition can fcarce be called a chryftaliza- 

 tion, as the calcareous particles do not ap- 

 pear to have been diffolved, nor even very 

 minutely divided, though this fometimes 

 happens, whereas tranfparent fpars appear 

 to have been formed from a folution in water, 

 by means of the aerial acid. Stalactites are 

 of a lamellar or granular texture, and either 

 in a branchy form, or in that of perforated 

 cones, or globular, and then called Jlalag- 

 mites, oolitheS) pifolites, &c. Moft of thefe 

 ftones contain a flight mixture of argill and 

 calx of iron. And hence are of a grey, 

 brown, yellow, or blackifh colour. 



Tophi, Duckftein of the Germans, Port. 



Thefe differ from the former, not only in 

 fhape, but principally in this, that they have 

 been formed by a gradual depofition of 

 Earths, chiefly of the calcareous kind, barely 

 diffufed through water, within the water 

 itfelf and not in air. Hence they are of a 

 foft and porous texture, and of the fame 



colour 



