382 Scientific Proceedings, Royal Dublin Society. 
Society, that when properly investigated the softening points of 
the rock-forming |minerals would be found to be such as would 
remove much of the difficulty which has been raised as to the order 
of solidification of minerals in certain igneous rocks. 
It has been suggested that platinum may chemically effect 
silica. I may say, I have seen no sign of such an effect on the 
meldometer. Moreover the low softening temperature of quartz- 
fibre fully confirms the experiments just quoted, and, in the case of © 
the fibre, there is no contact between platinum and silica. 
