416 M. Sw E D E N s T I E R N A o« //6<? Corundum of GeU'ivara . 



I had got, and some of which have suice obtained a place in the 

 museum at Paris, and have been mentioned in the catalogue of Mr. 

 Lucas, p. 132, under the name of Cor'indon Harmophane base. The 

 few remaining specimens, being all of an inferior quality, I gave to 

 my mineralogical friends, keeping but a single crystal for my own 

 collection, in the hope that on my return to Sweden I should easily 

 procure a fresh supply from a large stock of Gellivara iron ore in 

 my possession. In this expectation however I have been lor the 

 last ten years disappointed, and it is only within a few days that my 

 search has been successful enough to furnish me with sufficient ma- 

 terials for a satisfactory de'scription of this substance. The few but 

 very excellent specimens now in my possession, and which will per- 

 fectly serve this purpose, I have been so fortunate as to pick out of 

 several hundred pounds of Gellivara iron ores, for which I am in- 

 debted to Bar. Hermelin, the proprietor of the mines. It is rather 

 singular that with the exception of the specimens I have mentioned, 

 I did not discover a trace of corundum in the large quantity which 

 was examined. I am led to believe therefore that it is by no means 

 common, or at all events that the mines which are now worked do 

 not furnish it in abundance. The specimen which accompanies this 

 short memoir, and which I have the honour to present to the 

 Geological Society, is the best and most complete anjong them all. 



Oryctognostic description of the Gellivara Corundum. 



When perfectly cleared of the grayish dust of the iron ore in 

 which the crystals are imbedded, their colour is exactly that of 

 common French flint. 



The only form in which it has hitherto been found is that of an 



