Mineralogy and Geology of a part of Nova Scotia. 3 1 1 



white transparent crystals of chabasie. Not unfrequently, 

 insulated crystals of the specular ore are imbedded in lim- 

 pid chalcedony, thus forming a singular variety of agate. 

 Also a curious variety of quartz, consisting of minute alter- 

 nating layers, so intimately blended or interfoliated with 

 lamellar calcareous spar, as to appear, at first sight, homo- 

 geneous ; but by the aid of acids the calcareous portion is 

 readily removed, forming between the siliceous laminae, 

 small cells. 



But the substance more likely to interest the mineralogist 

 at this place is laumonite. This curious mineral presents 

 itself, traversing the amygdaloid in veins sometimes a foot 

 wide, running in vertical, inclined and zigzag directions. 

 The substance of the veins, especially of the crystals, is 

 more or less decayed, in situations most excluded from moist- 

 ure, either from that of the sea, or that which percolates 

 through the rocks from above. For invariably, in those 

 places which are, at every tide submerged, unaltered speci- 

 mens can be obtained. Into the cavities of these veins, the 

 laumonite projects in beautiful groups of crystals, which ex- 

 hibit the forms of the primary oblique rhombic prism, firmly 

 implanted at one extremity, and at the other terminated by 

 a single rhombic plane, inclining from one acute angle to the 

 other. The crystals are colorless and transparent, and fre- 

 quently an inch in length. Often the calcareous spar which 

 forms the walls of a vein, is scattered over these groups in 

 insulated rhomboids, considerably more obtuse than the 

 primary crystals, and it. often exhibits examples of hermitropic 

 combination. Interspersed also with these, are brilliant 

 spangles of specular iron ore, which give much additional 

 beauty to the specimens, and serve at the same time to sup- 

 port the crystals of this fragile mineral. It is very singular 

 that we have been unable to discover in the form of these 

 crystals, the least modification by the absence of either ed- 

 ges or solid angles ; while in specimens from another local- 

 ity, to be mentioned hereafter, it is as difficult to discover a 

 single crystal which has not the addition of secondary planes. 



The accompanying calcareous spar, like that similarly as- 

 sociated from Brittany, is exceedingly phosphorescent, emit- 

 ting a beautiful golden yellow colored light. But this prop- 

 erty is by no means peculiar to this substance thus associated, 

 for we have examined specimens from other parts of Nova 

 Scotia, as well as from various localities in Europe and the 



