230 SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 



Bucholz found it contracted one sixth. The chalk on the 

 surface and next the sides of the crucible was quicklime to 

 the depth of a line; but this was followed almost to the 

 centre by lamina? adhering strongly to each other ; very 

 hard and solid, half fused, and of a yellowish white co- 

 lour, with a reddish tinge scarcely perceptible. Their hard, 

 ness was so great, that here and there they would scratch 

 glassy and their softening, or incomplete fusion, which had 

 taken place, was very evident, notwithstanding their lami- 

 nar form. Under this schistose mass was another, extend- 

 ing to the bottom of the crucible, which bore still more de- 

 cided marks of fusion. It was broken into seven or eight 

 pieces, which exhibited a perfectly smooth, flattened, con- 

 choid fracture; were so hard in some parts on their edges, 

 as to cut glass, and so solid, as to require a pretty stout 

 stroke with a hammer to break them. Small fragments 

 were in some degree or even quite transparent. 

 Only one per On dissolving this fused chalk in muriatic acid, it lost 

 «ent. of its acid 042 of carbonic acid, of which before it was heated it gave 

 out 0*43. The acid exhibited itself with all its character- 

 istic properties, and had not undergone the least alteration. 

 Magnetic iron Mr. Bucholz has shewn too, that the magnetic iron stone 

 stone contain- D f Suhl in Germany, is iron at a maximum of oxidation, or 

 in the state of red oxide. This appears singular, as it ha9 

 hitherto been supposed^ that the magnetic property is con- 

 fined to the black oxide, and is destroyed by an excess of 

 oxigen ; as it is according to Mr. Hatchett by an excess of 

 ' sulphur and of carbon, and perhaps of phosphorus. 



Tolcank cal- The same chemist has analysed the hyalite of Frankfort, 

 aLne/ Sllex or volcanic calcedony, and found in it nothing but silex. 

 He had a loss however of 7 per cent, probably therefore it 

 contained also an alkali, which he was not able to examine 

 tnto, for want of a larger quantity. 

 Ckromat of Mr. Klaproth has analysed a new fossil from Virieglach 



in Stiria, which afforded chromat of iron, mixed with a fo- 

 liated talc in curved laminae. It was tinged of a cochineal 

 red, and a peach-blossom colour by the chrome. 

 Flint of recent Mr. Haquet, of Cracow, the author of several geolo- 

 ormation. gical works in much esteem, has communicated to me a 

 memoir on the formation of gun flints, and the different 



situations 



