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PHYSIOGRAPHY. 



Scapolite. 



Compound Varieties. Massive : composition granular, 

 of various sizes of individuals, sometimes elongated in one 

 direction, or wedge shaped, and passing into columnar, or 

 fibrous ; generally strongly coherent. 



1. The varieties of the present species have been treated of as consti- 

 tuting several distinct species. Meionite contains the purest and most 

 transparent varieties of the species, of a white color. Scapolite consists 

 of the translucent crystals and massive varieties, which are tinged green, 

 black and red. Wernerite occurs in crystals of the form of fig. 389, which 

 possess a greyish, or greenish grey, color. Nuttallite scarcely differs 

 from Wernerite except in possessing a tinge of blue with the grey, and 

 a feeble chatoyement. Dypire differs from Scapolite chiefly in its 

 reddish white color, and thin columnar composition in massive va- 

 rieties. 



2. In a strong heat of the blow-pipe, Scapolite melts into a vesicular 

 glass, and intumesces considerably; it then assumes the appearance of 

 ice, and does not melt any longer. It is dissolved by borax with effer- 

 vescence, melting into a clear globule. 



3. Analysis. 



4. Meionite is met with among the minerals ejected by volcanoes. 

 The varieties of Scapolite occur in primitive rocks, as in the beds of 

 Magnetic Iron in Sweden and Norway, and are generally accompanied 

 by Pyroxene and Hornblende; also in beds of white limestone, associated 

 with the above minerals, and in addition with Sphene and Petalite. 



5. Scapolite is found at Arendal in Norway and in Wermeland in 

 Sweden ; also in large and beautiful crystals in the parish of Pargas, Fin- 

 land, at Akudlek in Greenland, and some varieties near Chursdorf in 

 Saxony. Dypire is found at Mauleon in the Western Pyrenees. Mei- 

 onite occurs at Mt. Vesuvius. 



