JOURNAL 



OF 



NATURAL PHILOSOPHY, CHEMISTRY, 



THE ARTS. 



OCTOBER, 1803. 



ARTICLE L 



Analyjts of the Eg7/ptian Ileliotropiwri ; a Mineral lately imported 

 from that Country. By Frederick Ac cum, Pra6tical 

 Chemift, and Teacher of Chemifiry. Communicated by the 

 Author. 



A PARTICULARLY beautiful fpecles of filicious (tone Beautiful fillce- 



has lately been imported from Egypt, which was ftated in the °"^ ^""f °^ ■ 



"^ . green colO'iir 



letter of the perfon who fent it, to pofTefs the peculiar property from Egypt. 



of reflefting the rays of the fun red, when immerfed in water; 



and when taken out of this fluid to exhibit the figures of the 



fun and of the moon, when viewed in a particular diredlion. 



But as none of the purchafers of this mineral could make out 



thefe lingular properties, the price fixed on the article was 



confiderably diminilhed, and the ftone fold at a cheap rate. 



The beautiful green colour which it poffefTes, and the capabi- ^ 



lity of receiving a high polifli, together with the facility of 



cutting it, has neverthelefs rendered it a convenient article for 



being worked into different obje6ls of fancy and ornament. 



The colour of this ftone is a fine apple-green. It is very External appear- 

 hard, and cannot be fcratched, but with the point of a good J^^^ ^""^ P'^^P^'"'' 

 pen-knife. Its fra6ture is even and free from all afperities. 

 It breaks with very fliarp edges, and its texture is very com- 

 pa6t. It is femi-tranfparent when in pieces not exceeding half an 



Vol. VI.— OcTOBEji, 1803, F inch 



