PHYSIOGRAPHY. 23 



Anhydrite. 



that of Tripe stone (Gekr&ssteiri) to the contorted compositions, consist- 

 ing of thin columnar individuals. Compact and fibrous Muriacite were 

 the denominations of compound varieties of very small individuals, the 

 one granular and impalpable, the other columnar. The Vulpinite of 

 Italy, so named from its locality, is composed of granular individuals, a 

 little longer in one direction, of a greyish white or grey color, and very 

 much resembling a coarse grained, primitive marble. 



2. When heated alone in a matrass, it yields no moisture. Before the 

 blow-pipe in platina forceps, it is converted, with difficulty, into a white 

 enamel, the heated mass affording when moistened an alkaline reaction. 

 With borax, it dissolves, accompanied by effervescence, into a transpa- 

 rent glass, which on cooling assumes a yellow or brownish yellow color. 

 3. Analysis. 



By KLAPROTH, 



a cleavable variety from Hall in the Tyrol. 

 Sulphuric acid .... 55-00 

 Lime .... 41-75 



Muriate of soda .... 1-00 



Except the muriate of soda, the other varieties which have been ana- 

 lyzed, have presented nearly the same proportions, 



By a peculiar process, which is natural, Anhydrite attracts water, loses 

 its transparency, becomes diminished in hardness and specific gravity 

 and approaches in these properties common Gypsum. The cleavage of 

 this altered substance still enables us to distinguish it from Gypsum. It 

 has been called Chaux sulfatee epigtne by HAUY. 



4. Anhydrite is found in beds of gypsum, and of clay along with com- 

 mon salt. It al o occurs with metallic minerals, as Galena and Blende. 



5. Splendid g< les of large and well denned crystals (fig. 11.) of An- 

 hydrite have been found at Aussee in Stiria; other crystallized varieties 

 at Hall in the Tyrol, at Hallein in Salzburg, in Switzerland, &c. The 

 blue variety is fc ud at Sulz on the Neckar, and at Bleiberg in Carin- 

 thia. Foliated Anhydrite, transparent and of a fine blue color, is fre- 

 quently met with in geodes in the black limestone at Lockport, (N.Y.) 

 associated with crystals of Calcareous spar and Gypsum. Columnar va- 

 rieties occur at Ischel and Berchtesgaden ; compact ones, in the Hartz, 

 in Mansfeld, &c. ; the contorted varieties are found at Wieliczka and 

 Bochnia in Poland. The decomposed Anhydrite occurs in considerable 

 quantities at Aussee in Stiria, at Bex in Switzerland, and in other places. 

 It is observed at Lockport in thin coatings upon the foliated variety above 

 alluded to,~and also filling up crevices among the foliae. 



