246 



SERPENTINE. 



the vein, is perfect and insensible. This fact 

 tnay perhaps assist, at some future period, in 

 illustrating the real nature of a rock of which we 

 are now ignorant. 



Although the varieties in the aspect of ser- 

 pentine, are innumerable, and more ostensibly 

 striking than in most other rocks, the real dif- 

 ferences in the essential characters are very 

 limited. It is always easily distinguished by 

 the circumstances already mentioned in the thir- 

 teenth chapter, and by the details of the sub- 

 joined catalogue. 



SYNOPSIS OF SERPENTINE, 



FIRST DIVISION. Opake. 



A. Common serpentine. 



a. With an earthy uniform fracture. 



b. With a splintery fracture, passing to the con- 

 choidal. 



c. With a splintery fracture passing to the gra- 

 nular. 



d. With a granular fracture. 



