Intelligence and Miscellanies. 203 



tate of lead. An action immediately commenced, on slight- 

 ly warming the fluid, and a copious precipitate of sulphuret 

 of lead ensued. 



The difference in magnetic properties between the mete- 

 oric proto-sulphuret of iron and the same mineral belonging 

 to our globe, led M. Rose to examine the former for nickel ; 

 conceiving that as the sulpnuret of nickel of Johanu Geor- 

 genstadt is not magnetic, a portion of this metal combined 

 with our mineral, might perhaps be the cause of its not af- 

 fecting the needle. He was unable, however, to detect the 

 smallest trace of nickel in the pyrites of the Stannern stone. 

 Nevertheless, as the common magnetic pyrites possesses but 

 feeble and very variable degrees of magnetism, the slight dis- 

 crepancy here observed between the two substances in ques- 

 tion, does not interfere in any force with the idea of their 

 specific agreement. 



Yale College, March 20, 1829. 



19. Native Soda Alum, in Milo. 



Mr. George Jones, at present, a tutor in Yale College, and 

 recently returned from the Mediterranean, brought with him 

 among many other valuable minerals, a rich case of alum spe- 

 cimens from the ancient locality of Milo ; and which he has 

 had the kindness to present to the cabinet of this institution. 

 The following is a memorandum of the circumstances under 

 which it occurs as observed by himself, and with which he 

 has favored me to be inserted in this place, in connexion 

 with the remarks I have to offer concerning its nature. 



" The alum comes from two places in the island of Milo. 

 One of these is upon the south west side of the island, called 

 by the natives Calaino, where it occurs near to the shore in 

 a cave, above which rises a steep hill consisting of a decom- 

 posing lava of various colors, and strongly impregnated with 

 sulphur. The cave is about twelve feet deep and five feet 

 high, and is completely lined upon its roof with alum. The 

 bottom of the cave is composed of a loose earth through 

 which is constantly rising heated sulphureous air, which dur- 

 ing its passage through the crevices precipitates the most 

 brilliant crystals of sulphur. In front of the cave is a hot 

 sprmg, and near by, are other caves, in none of which, how- 

 ever, the formation of alum is at present taking place. 



