1867.] Mineralogy, Mining, and Metallurgy. 419 



position is by no means uniform, sufficient evidence is obtained to 

 refer the mineral to the rare species Wiclityne. The Professor then 

 describes three argillaceous rocks, apparently of local interest only ; 

 and, finally, notices the occurrence of bitumen on calcite in Inverness 

 Co., Cape Breton. 



It is not a little remarkable that there should be on record but 

 comparatively few analyses of so common a mineral as iron pyrites. 

 M. Mene has, therefore, done good service by undertaking a com- 

 plete chemical examination of the mineral, the results of which are 

 published in a " Note on Yellow and White Iron Pyrites."* The 

 value of this short memoir will be appreciated by remembering the 

 amount of labour represented by the thirty-six original analyses 

 which it contains. The author calls attention to the fact, brought 

 out by these researches, that the ordinary yellow cubic pyrites con- 

 tains much less water than does marcasite, or white rhombic pyrites ; 

 and that the difference in the stability of the two species on exposure 

 to atmospheric influences may be referable to the varying amount 

 of argillaceous impurities present. 



Some time back, Mr. J. P. Cooke, jun., described a new 

 American mineral, called Danalite, occurring in the granite of Cape 

 Ann, Massachusetts. Associated with this are two remarkable 

 micas, one of which is a variety of Lepidomelane, while the other 

 appears to be a new species, which, from its easy fusibility and its 

 foliated structure, has received the name of Cryoj)liyllite.\ This 

 mineral, like the other micas, crystallizes in six-sided prisms belong- 

 ing to the rhombic system, and has a perfect basal cleavage. The 

 crystals are optically biaxial, and are dichroic, presenting a dull- 

 green colour when viewed in the direction of the principal axis, and 

 a reddish brown when examined transversely. The spec. grav. is 

 2-909, and the hardness varies from 2 to 2*5. The large amount 

 of alkalies present, amounting to 13* 15 per cent, of potash and 

 4*06 of lithia, seems sufficient to account for the extreme fusibility 

 of the mineral. 



The composition of Boronatrocalcite or Natroborocalcite has 

 recently been the subject of some discussion.^ There seems good 

 chemical reason for accepting the formula which Dr. Lunge has 

 established from his carefully conducted analyses, and which may 

 be thus expressed : — 



2 (NaO, 2 B0 3 ) + 5 (CaO, 2 B0 3 ) + 42 HO. 



For some time past, Professor Graham has been engaged in a 



* " Note sur les Pyrites de Fer jaunes et blanches :" ' Comptes Kendus,' 1867, 

 No. 17, p. 867. 



f " On Cryophyllite, a new mineral species of the Mica family :" ' Silliman's 

 American Journal,' March, 1867, p. 217. 



X See ' Annalen der Chemie und Pharmacie.' Bd. cxxxviii., p. 51 ; cxxxix., p. 52 ; 

 cxli., p. 379; and 'Chemical News, 1867, Feb. 22nd; April 9th; and April 26th. 



