368 Reexamination of American Minerals. 
29. Thalite, identical with Saponite. 
This mineral was originally described by Dr. D. D. Owen,* by 
whom it was found on the north shore of Lake Superior, ana 
in the amygdaloidal traps of that locality. At the time it was 
noticed, it was supposed to contain a new element, which was 
called thalium ; the mineral itself was named thalite. Through 
mineral, which was subjected to most careful analysis, the result 
showing nothing in its composition by which it differs from sapo- 
nite ; and all attempts to isolate a new earth from it were vain. 
A second portion of the thalite, with some of the supposed thalia 
was sent us by Dr. Genth of Philadelphia, which was labelled, 
“not quite pure ;” its composition, however, differed from the first 
principally in containing less water, as it was allowed to dry for a 
greater length of time—it being a common thing for saponites to 
lose more or less of their water by desiccation in the air. 
The result of the examination of the thalite was given ina note 
in the last number of this Journal. Many of the ‘Teactions con- 
tained in the original description of thalite and thalia we have 
been unable to recognize, among them the evolution of chlorine 
by the action of hydrochloric acid, and the bpeibaeeiat by a 
neutral solution of succinate of ammonia. e pea-green color 0 
the concentrated Logs samme acid solution of the thalia, prepared 
in the st mentioned by wen, is easily explained by the 
nee of an exceedingly minute quantity of the chlorid of 
chrotaice, as the smallest trace of this last metal will, under the 
circumstances, produce that color 
The results of our analyses are as follows: 
1, 2. 
eee OS a RR Ree 48°89 
Aomingy acs cams WAR pm ss Ss te 723 
Oxyd of iron, ais 5 Si NS ee Pare 2°46 
Manganese, ¢ s trace trace 
Lime, 1-07 
Magnesia, 24°10 24:17 
Soda, i 
Potash, ' 45 « . . . . 81 
Water, eo «O08 eh 15°66 
98°84 99°22 
Bi Ea Fe newearth Mg k Mn H 
42 46 15 10-12 20°5 os trace 18 
* Jour. Acad. Nat, Sci. Philad,, ii, part 2d, 1852. 
