372 PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. [Apr. 26, 



2. Notes on the Minerals of Stbontian, Argtllshiee. 

 By Egbert H. Scott, Esq., F.R.S., F.G.S. 



When I first proposed to visit Strontian, in tlie year 1866, 1 consulted 

 two well-known Scotch geologists as to my chance of picking np 

 minerals there. The two authorities directly contradicted ea'ch other. 

 One, who was a professed mineralogist, stated that he had spent three 

 weeks there, and that nothing whatever new was to be found there. 

 The other was more encouraging, and informed me that whatever I 

 found was nearly sure to be new. 



Greg and Lettsom enumerate a fair series of specimens from tlie 



■ locality ; but the experience I have gained as to their accuracy as 



regards Irish localities, leads me to be somewhat dubious of receiving 



aU their statements as absolutely correct for out-of-the-way districts, 



such as Strontian. 



The longest list^which has been printed is that given by Mr. Hall 

 in his Mineralogical Directory, and it is as follows : — 



Apophyllite. Calcite. Pyromorphite. 



Asbestos. Galena. Sphene. 



Baryte. Garnet. Strontianite. 



Blende. Harmotome. Talc. 



Brewsterite. Pyrites. Zircon. 



This list contains no notice of the various feldspars, of which there 

 are certainly two, Orthoelase and a clear anorthic feldspar, in the 

 granite, or of the Hornblende and other pyroxenic minerals which 

 occur in the syenites and crystalline greenstones of the district, and 

 of which fine, though not perfectly crystallized, specimens, are easily 

 to be had. Nor does it mention Natrolite in geodes in the trap- 

 dykes, or Schorl, or either of the micas, white and black, although 

 very large plates of the former are found on Ben E.esipol associated, 

 as usual, with the garnets for which that mountain is famous. 



These latter minerals I have myself seen in situ. Furthermore 

 there appear to be some doubtful species in the list ; of these I^ would 

 only enumerate three, Apophyllite, Talc, and Zircon. No analysis 

 is given of any of the three from this locality in any of the recog- 

 nized text-books of Mineralogy. Apophyllite I have never de- 

 tected among the gangue of the lead-mines. This of course does 

 not prove much. Talc certainly does not occur anywhere near 

 Strontian itself ; and although from the analogy between the geology 

 of the district and that of Donegal, in Ireland, I might fairly expect 

 to find it, I could never trace any beds which bore the slightest re- 

 semblance to those in which so much Talc and Steatite have been 

 discovered in the north-west of Ireland. I myself believe that the 

 name of Talc has been loosely given to the large plates of white mica 

 to which I have alluded, an error in nomenclature so very common 

 in collections of Cornish minerals. 



As to Zircon I have searched for it most carefully, and can only 

 say that, as Gi-eg and Lettsom admit the crystals from Crifi'el said to 

 be Zircon to be really Sphene, I believe a similar qualification might 

 with advantage be given to the alleged occurrence of Zircon at 

 Strontian, and that it is as yet not proven. 



