436 Scientific Intelligence. 



The mineral occurs in small druses with vesuvian, and has a clear 



greenish-blue color. 



The Hauyne from Niedermendig afforded in one of his analyses, Si- 

 lica 33-90, alumina 28-07, lime 7*50, soda 19-28, sulphuric acid 12-01 



100*76, with a trace of chlorine. No simple formula can be dedu- 

 ced from this result; but it corresponds quite well to a compound of 

 2 atoms of Hauyne and 1 of Nosean. 



The Cancrinite occurs in hexagonal prisms, with lateral cleavage, and 

 in columnar masses. The crystals have the hardness 5*5-6, specific 

 gravity 2*448, and a citron or sulphur yellow color; the lustre inclines 

 to greasy, except on a cleavage face which is vitreous. Transparent 

 to translucent. Heated in a glass tube it gives off water and loses color 

 immediately. In the forceps it fuses easily with effervescence to a col- 

 orless transparent blebby glass. With soda it effervesces and forms 

 an opaque pearl, colored by manganese. With borax it forms freely a 

 clear colorless glass. With salt of phosphorus it affords a clear pearl 

 which becomes milky on cooling. With cobalt solution it gives a fine 

 blue. The first of the three analyses, (which well agree,) afforded : — Si- 

 lica 37*42. alumina 27-70. nernxvd of mftmmn^am 086. neroxyd of iron 



a tract, lime 3*91, soda 20*98, potash 0*67, chlorine a trace, carbonic 

 acid and water 8"77= 100*41. Including the water as an essential in- 

 gredient, Mr. Whitney deduces the formula, 



Na 2 Si -f 2AI Si + (Na* -f Ca* ) C + H . 



... 



The formula of foreign Cancrinite is Na 2 Si -f-2 Al Si -f- Ca C, 

 and that of Stroganowite, (Hermann,) another silicate containing a car- 



• •• ♦♦• • * • * •■ 



bonate, (Na 2 , Ca 2 ) Si -f 2A1 Si -f Ca C. 



Mineral Coal on the Nile 



1111, 



Feb. 10.) — Coal is reported to have been found on the banks of the 

 Nile, near Asuan. The first vein, six feet thick, is one hundred feet 

 below the surface. Still deeper is a second bed of only three feet thick, 



but of excellent quality. 



7. Mineral Coal of Vancouver's Island, North West America, (Athe- 

 naeum, No. 1110, Feb. 3.)— The Port of Camosack with its excellent 

 harbor, promises to become of great importance, especially on account 

 of the coal field of the northeastern district. The coal is worked so 

 near the surface, that the Cormorant, steam sloop, was supplied by the 

 natives with sixty-two tons of coal within three days. Specimens of 

 this coal have been examined by the Admiralty • and although it yields 



a considerable percentage of ash, it is not much inferior to the coal of 

 South Wales. 



8. Gold of Africa. — According to St. Petersburgh papers, Col. Ka- 

 velooski, Director of the Mines of Siberia, at present engaged in a 

 Mineralogical exploration of the interior of Africa, has found on the 

 right bank of the Somat, a day's journey from Cassen, several large 

 hills of auriferous sand, the washing of which is more productive 

 than that of those of Siberia. Stimulated by this discovery, he pursued 

 his examinations, and discovered similar tracks on the banks of the 



