236 Torrey on a new Ore of Zinc. 



crt Patterson, Esq. of the iron works, that the ore was found 

 huili into the wall of the furnace, and that notwithstanding 

 the repeated personal search of the latter gentleman, through 

 the surrounding country, for the distance of several miles 

 from the furnace, and making diligent inquiries of the an- 

 cient inhabitants, he had not been able to obtain any infor- 

 mation that would direct him to the spot from whence it was 

 taken. He has, however, every reason to believe that the 

 ore was obtained within a few miles of the furnace, and, 

 most probably, within a very short distance ; but time, 

 through whose lapse it was lost, may again bring it to light, 

 and furnish to the fortunate discoverer, or proprietor, or 

 to both, the means of wealth and independence. Since I 

 received this information from Mr. Hunt, I have heard of 

 the discovery of a considerable quantity of the mineral in 

 the foundation of an old house near Ancram. 



Description of the Mineral. 



External characters. — All the specimens I have seen were 

 tabular masses, possessing sometimes a distinct slaty structure; 

 though they generally were composed of layers without 

 a tendency to separate, giving the mineral a striped aspect, 

 when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the direction 

 of the strata, (layers ^ Ed.) 



It is granular and compact. 



Its colour is grayish green, or olive green. 



It is perfectly opaque and the surface dull. 



It is harder than calcareous spar, and is easily reduced to 

 a powder, which is of a lighter green than the mass. 



Specific gravity, 4.924. 



Chemical characters. — Before the blowpipe it is infusible, 

 but when the heat is intensely urged, the oxyd of zinc is 

 volatalized, communicating a white colour to the flame. 

 The powdered mineral dissolves instantaneously, and almost 

 entirely without effervescence, in the stronger acids. 



Analysis. 



The following preliminary experiments were made to as- 

 certain the nature of the mineral. 



