THE NONMETALLIC MINERALS. 



447 



1 and -2 of Dana's scale, a specific gravity of 1.097, black streak, and 

 showing a brown color or very thin edge. In the flame of a lamp it 

 shows signs of incipient fusion, intumesces somewhat and emits jets 

 of gas, giving off a bituminous odor; when rubbed it becomes electric. 

 According to Dana it softens slightly in boiling water, is only a trace 

 soluble in alcohol, 4 per cent in ether, and some 3 per cent soluble in 

 turpentine. The following is the composition as given by Wetherill: 

 Carbon, 86.04 per cent; hydrogen, 8.96 per cent; oxygen, 1.977 per 

 cent; nitrogen, 2.93 per cent; ash, 0.10 per cent. 



Dr. Antisell made the following comparative tests to show the rela- 

 tive richness of the material in volatile matter: 



The mineral is described by C. H. Hitchcock 1 as occuring in "true 

 cutting veins" in shale of Lower Carboniferous age in Hillsborough 

 County, New Brunswick. The shales themselves contain a large 

 amount of carbonaceous matter and by distillation have been made to 

 yield 30 gallons to the ton of refined illuminating oil. They contain 

 immense numbers of fossil fish and are mostly inflammable. The veins 

 vary from a fraction of an inch to 12 feet in width with a general N. 

 65 east course, sometimes vertical and sometimes inclined north- 

 westward from 75 to 80. They enlarge and contract very irregu- 

 larly, but in general increase in thickness as followed downward. 

 Hitchcock regards the veins as having been filled by the injection of 

 the material in a liquid state and being subsequently indurated. 



Uses. This vein seems to have been discovered about 1840 by Dr. 

 Abraham Gesner who, in 1850 took out a patent in the United States 

 for the manufacture of illuminating gas from this and other asphalts. 2 

 A company was organized and for some years active mining opera- 

 tions were carried on, but have been discontinued since the discovery 

 of petroleum. (Specimens Nos. 59935, 66701, U.S.N.M.) 



GRAHAMITE. Grahamite is a hydrocarbon compound closely related 

 to albertite, but differing physically in having a duller luster and more 

 cokelike aspect. It has been described by Dr. Henry Wurtz as occur- 



1 American Journal of Science, XXXIX, 1865, p. 267; see also Dawson's Acadian 

 Geology, 3d ed., pp. 231-241. 



2 Review of reports on the Geological Relations, etc. , of the coal of the Albert Coal 

 Mining Company, situated in Hillsborough, Albert County, New Brunswick, as written 

 and compiled by Charles T. Jackson, M. D., a Fellow of the Geological Society of 

 London, etc., New York, 1852. 



