( 244 ) 

 tain likewife flints. On examining thofe 

 of the quarry of Battaglia, I found feveral 

 of them fo clofely united with the calcare- 

 ous carbonate, as to prefent the moft fpe- 

 cious appearance of a tranfmutation of the 

 lime into filex. But to give a clearer idea 

 of this apparent tranfmutation, it will be 

 neceiTary to defcribe both the carbonate of 

 lime and the flint. 



The lime-fl-one is white, compadl, not 

 very heavy, compofed of impalpable parti- 

 cles, foft to the touch, with a fmooth and 

 fometimes conchoidal fradure, and break- 

 inc; into obtufe and amorphous fra2;ments. 

 it is diflblvcd by acids with confiderable 

 effervefcence. Both internally, and on the 

 furface of this vv^hlte flone, black, dendritic, 

 and not inelegant fpots and ftreaks are very 

 confpicuous. 



The flint is of a deep flefh-colour, fome- 

 times brown and even black ; its grain is 

 extremely compad and fine ; its fradure 

 fmcoth, and almoll always conchoidal, and 



its 



