MINERALS AND GEOLOGY OF CANADA. 159 
West. It is used as a fire-brick or tefractory stone, and also as a 
coarse paint or wash. 
Renselaerite (a variety of Steatite, or Altered Augite) :—Greenish- white, 
brownish, &c.; in granular and compact masses much resembling steatite, and in 
pseudo morphous crystals after augite. H. 25-40; sp. gr. about 2°7-2'8. Very 
sectile. Lustre, somewhat waxy. Infusible, yielding about 4 or 5 per cent. of 
‘water in the bulb-tube. Composition: silica, magnesia, and water. Renselaerite 
cannot be regarded as a distinct mineral species. The crystals are evidently 
‘augite pseudomorphs, and the substance agrees essentially in composition with 
steatite. It occurs in beds associated with the crystalline limestones of the 
Laurentian rocks, as in the township of Grenville, Argenteuil County, C. E. Also 
in the townships of Ramsey, Rawdon and Lansdown. In Grenville, it contains (in 
fissures) a soft, yellowish-white, and earthy variety of serpentine (— aphrodite.) 
Diallage :—This substance is generally regarded as a variety of 
Augite. (See C 3, above. Vol. V. p.527.) Normally, it is anhydrous ; 
but it is frequently more or less altered, and contains 3 of 4 per 
cent. of water. It forms lamellar or foliated masses, chiefly of a 
green or greenish-grey colour. H., sometimes, 5-0, but usually 
rather less; sp. gr. 3°0 to 3:1. Fusible into a greyish slag, though 
not easily. Canadian specimens give off a little water in the bulb- 
tube, and become in general red or reddish-brown. A variety from 
the township of Oxford, analysed by Mr. Sterry Hunt, contained : 
silica 47:20, magnesia 24°53, protoxide of iron 8°91, alumina 3:40, 
lime 11°36, water 5°80; with traces of the oxides of nickel and 
chemium. Occurs chiefly in the altered strata of the Eastern Town- 
ships, as in Oxford, Ham, and elsewhere, associated with serpentine, 
chromic iron ore, &c. 
§ 2. YIELDING A CONSIDERABLE QUANTITY OF WATER IN THE 
BULB-TUBE. SLOWLY SOLUBLE IN BORAX BEFORE THE BLOWPIPE. 
Serpentine, (including Retinalite, Picrolite, Chrysotile, Sc.) :— 
This substance occurs chiefly in amorphous or rock masses of a 
green, red, brown, bluish-grey, yellowish, or other colour, fre- 
quently veined or mottled. Also, occasionally, in small granular and 
fibrous masses, the latter sometimes producing a serpentine-asbestus. 
Lustre, usually somewhat waxy. H, in general, about 3:0; some- 
times 4°0-5°0. Very sectile, sp. gr. 2°2-2'6. Some of the fibrous 
varieties fuse on the edges, the others are infusible. All yield water 
(and harden) in the bulb-tube. Composition, essentially: silica, 
