STEATITE AND SOAPSTONE. 533 



Upon the whole, we feel as if the introduction of gold into the rocks in the wet way, 

 were the only hypothesis that will bear examination. But whence it originated, and why 

 it should have selected talcose schist as its most common repository, we are unable to say. 

 In some counties, its introduction seems to have been connected with eruptive rocks. 

 But in Vermont no other formation is so free from igneous rocks, as talcose schist. It 

 has indeed experienced great metamorphisms : but this seems to have been effected by 

 hot water, rather than the dry heat of eruptive rocks. We are inclined, therefore, to say, 

 from this and a multitude of similar facts, that the introduction of gold seems to have 

 been connected with metamorphism, rather than the dry heat of volcanic outbursts. 



As to the amount of gold that may be expected to be found in Vermont, theory 

 furnishes no means of judging. We can only say, that a real gold formation of great 

 extent occurs in the State, extending in fact through its whole length, and that in 

 numerous places it yields gold, sometimes we are told in profitable amount. But 

 practical miners are the only men who can find out where such diggings will pay. Like 

 all other gold formations, some spots will be found rich and others poor. We trust that 

 too much is known on this subject at the present day, to leave any to indulge in 

 extravagant speculations, or to make investments without reason. 



STEATITE AND SERPENTINE. 



BY C. H. HITCHCOCK. 



Steatite and Serpentine are found in beds both in the talcose schist and gneiss. They 

 may be regarded as varieties of the two formations, but are described separately from 

 those formations, on account of their theoretical importance. We describe them together, 

 because of their ultimate association with each other. 



Lithological Characters. 



In general steatite is an impure talc, or hydrated silicate of magnesia, having the 

 normal composition of silica, 62.14 ; magnesia, 32.92 ; water, 4.94. It is coarse-gray, 

 grayish-green, and sometimes of quite a bright-green color. It may be granular, compact 

 or lamellar. Its characteristic property is a greasy feel, whence its common name, soap- 

 stone. It is never known in the form of crystals. Its impurities are an excess of any of 

 the normal component parts, peroxyd of iron, alumina, lime, oxyd of nickel, etc. 



Serpentine or ophiolite, as a mineral species, is essentially a hydrous silicate of 

 magnesia, having the normal composition of silica, 43.7 ; magnesia, 43.3 ; water, 13.0. 

 Protoxyd of iron sometimes replaces a portion of the magnesia. The impurities are 

 generally the same as in steatite. Serpentine has been found in crystals, precisely like 

 those of chrysolite, belonging to the trimetric system, but it is possible that they are only 

 pseudomorphs. The hardness of serpentine is from 3 to 4, rarely 5. Specific gravity 

 2.507 2.591 ; some fibrous varieties being as low as 2.2 2.3. 



The luster varies from resinous to greasy. The color is leek-green and blackish-green ; 

 and varies to nearly white. It becomes yellowish-gray on exposure. The streak is 

 white, slightly shining. It is generally opaque, but fine specimens are translucent. 

 The fracture is conchoidal or splintery. It is sectile, i. e. fragments of it may be 



