J 844. J Examination of a remarkable Red Sandstone. 337 



It appears " peppered" over with minute black grains, which by the 

 magnifier are seen to be little nests of protoxide of iron, and exteriorly 

 it is covered with a red, and in some places a black varnish, which is 

 often somewhat shining. Where the stone is weathered, below this 

 varnish, it is a reddish grey sandstone, evidently shewing traces of la- 

 mination in the line of the chert laminae and veins. 



The foregoing are its most remarkable appearances as to sight. I 

 proceed now to describe it more regularly. 



Its fresh fracture has but a little fresher colour than the internal part 

 of the hand specimen. It gives out a peculiar faint odour when brok- 

 en, which resembles that of iodine (or seaweed?) more nearly than any 

 thing which occurs either to Capt. Newbold or myself; the fracture is 

 somewhat splintery and angular rather than cubical. It has no dis- 

 position to break in laminee. ' 



It is opaque, the streak a dirty yellowish, or orange, white. It does 

 not soil : hardness about that of Fluor. It is not tough, except about 

 the cherty veins, and is easily powdered. It does not adhere to the 

 tongue. It feels meagre but greasy on the external varnish. 



It specific gravity is 2.64 at Temp : 84° 



Its smell I have described above. 



Its taste to the tongue is very earthy, and it gives an earthy odour, 

 though not strong, when breathed upon. 



It is pounded with tolerable ease, scarcely shewing the hardness of 

 silex, except in a few grains at the last. 



In washing off, the first water is of a dull brick red, like the usual fer- 

 ruginous mineral washings, the residuum is a dull greyish and denser 

 powder, which by long rubbing also diffuses in the water, but is, espe- 

 cially the last portions, of a very bright (almost vermillion) red. 



This powder however gives nothing but oxide of iron. 



The whole washings being mixed and allowed to settle. 



Blowpipe. 



Open tube. — Very little or no smell, and that rather turfy and peaty 

 than iodic ; no sublimate. 



Bulb tube. — Water abundant. Litmus paper discolored ; turmeric 

 paper not affected ; smell that of peat, but not strong ; silver leaf is dis- 

 coloured, shewing the presence of sulphur, probably from some peaty 

 mixture with it when deposited., 



