1 82 OF THE ASBESTINE EARTH. 



fore to throw fome light upon a fubjeft hitherto 

 not well undcrftood, we have inftitured many 

 and various experiments, which we fhall now 

 oiler to your attention. 



According to Cronftcdt, the Afbeftos is diflin- 

 guiflied by fcven different characters. Firft, 

 When pure, it is very difficult to be fufed. 

 Second, The flexibility of its fibres. Third, Its 

 furface. Fourth, It becomes brittle by ignition. 

 Filth, It is not fufliciently hard to flrike fire 

 with Heel. Sixth, Is infoliible in acids. And 

 Seventh, It melts cafily with borax. How far 

 we may trull to this ddciiption, relating almofl 

 to its external properties only, we fhall now pro- 

 ceed to determine. 



5 iv. Of the Tarcntaijlan AJleflos. 



THIS fpecies, called Tarentaifian, is the pro- 

 duce of Savoy in Italy. As to its outward cha- 

 racter, it is of a pure white colour, and can be 

 divided into the fuftcit threads of a tolerable 

 length, fhiningnnd opaque. 



When ex poled to the fire, it exhibits the fol- 

 lowing qualities : 



Ex P. I. By a long continued calcination, it 

 fcarcc lofes fome liundred parts of its weight. 

 In an intenfe heat it liquefies, and, when cool- 



