MINERALOGY. 451 



SECOND ORDER. 

 MINERAL RESINS. 



Sulphur. Native sulphur occurs in various shapes,- 

 as crystals, trimetric, compound, imperfect, or micro- 

 scopic, the last exhibited in iron ores. Color yellow, 

 shading into orange-yellow ; sometimes contains bitumen 

 and carbon ; in such cases it is grayish. Luster resin- 

 ous ; transparent to translucent. H. = 1.5 to 2.5. G. 

 = 1.9 to 2.1. Sulphur is usually met with in the 

 neighborhood of volcanoes, also in metal deposits and 

 strata or beds of gypsum. Burns with a blue flame at a 

 low temperature, with a strong, unpleasant, almost suf- 

 focating odor ; is insoluble in water, but melts easily by 

 heat, and, on being fused, sublimates readily. Is used 

 for various purposes, and in various forms, as material 

 for igniting other bodies, sulphuric acid, bleaching, in 

 the manufacture of gunpowder, and as medicine. 



Amber Yellow Mineral Resin is found in large, 

 irregular masses, mostly in alluvium ; seldom in lignite 

 or with sandstone ; lattei-ly supposed to be of vegetable 

 origin, from the occurrence of insects or plants being en- 

 cased within it. Color yellow, verging into brown, red, 

 or white ; transparent to translucent ; fracture brittle ; 

 luster resinous. H. = 2 to 2.5. G. = 1 to 1.3. 



The Bernstein of the Germans amber has been con- 

 sidered as the fossil resins of trees existing in the ante- 

 diluvian world, which were swept from their places by 

 the deluge, and aided largely in forming the vegetable 

 deposits. Found on the sea coasts of East Prussia, at 

 Dantzic. Denmark, Sicily, and at Norfolk and Suffolk in 



