( 52 ) 



Though many of the lavas of the Stoves 

 of Lipari have fuffered by the fulphureous- 

 acid vapours, there are fome that are entire- 

 ly unchanged. I Ihall only defcribe one, 

 which is fo well prelerved that it appears to 

 have: been produced but yefterday by the 

 volcanic gulph. If we fcale the furface of 

 it, where it projeds in large mafles from the 

 earth, it appears of a dark iron colour, has 

 an eJvtremely, compad grain, and a con- 

 choidal fradure. The fcales at the edges 

 are fharp and -.cutting, and give very lively 

 fparks with fteel. It is one of the heavieft 

 lind hardeft among the lavas, and puts the 

 magnetic needle in motion at two lines 

 diftance. It has for its bafe the petrofilex, 

 containing very brilliant feltfpar needles. 



This, lava, therefore, has not been- in the 

 leaft affeded by thefe acids, not, probably, 

 becaufe it was able to rtfift their ftrength, 

 but becaufe it was not expofed to their ac- 

 4f^ : bThe places under which the confla- 

 grations, pf. a volcano bun-, have,.numerous 

 apertures and hfTures through which iflfue 

 r!^uorri fuiphureous 



