G. F. Kunz — Mineralogical Notes. 73 



of crystals, weighing from ten to several hundred pounds each, 

 and one of them measuring 2x3 feet, were easily detached. 



The cavity contained at least fifteen tons of fluorite. The 

 habit of the crystals is, in nearly every instance, that of the 

 simple cube, but the faces of the octahedron, slightly developed, 

 are often present. Almost all the crystals have on the surface 

 in small botryoidal elevations, an even coating of brown hydro- 

 dolomite, which is readily removed with diluted hydrochloric 

 acid. The crystals are all well colored, but the surfaces are 

 dull. The fluorite is of a uniform light sea-green, except 

 where it is attached to the gangue, or at the junction of the 

 crystals ; here there are small spots, from one to two inches in 

 diameter, of a rich emerald-green. Attached to the fluorite 

 are small masses of lithomarge, and imbedded in these, very 

 perfect tetrahedral crystals of chalcopyrifce. With the fluorite 

 are found small bunches of pyrite crystals, which are nearly al- 

 ways altered to limonite. Galenite has not been observed, 

 although this locality is only one and a half miles from the 

 well-known Macomb Lead Mines. Several years ago, a large 

 quantity of rhombohedral crystals of calcite were obtained 

 here ; one now in the State Cabinet of Albany weighs 120 

 pounds and a number were of the size of a man's head, in 

 form they were simple rhombohedrons and twinned. This 

 find is strikingly like that of the famous Muscalonge Lake lo- 

 calities of forty years ago, except that the crystals are of a 

 finer color and in larger groups. The occurrence of a second 

 deposit in this country leads to the inference that fluorite may 

 exist in commercial quantity, for the arts. 



Amber. — For the last fifteen or twenty years, travelers have 

 occasionally brought specimens of a very remarkable amber 

 from some locality in Southern Mexico. The only informa- 

 tion gained concerning it is that it is brought to the coast by 

 natives, who say that it occurs in the interior so plentifully 

 that it is used by them for making fires. The color of this 

 amber is a rich golden yellow, and when viewed in different 

 position it exhibits a remarkable fluorescence, similar to that of 

 uranine, which it also resembles in color. A specimen now 

 in the possession of M. T. Lynde measures 4x3x2 inches, is 

 perfectly transparent, and is even more beautiful than the fa- 

 mous so-called opalescent or green amber found in Catania, 

 Sicily. This material would be extremely valuable for use in 

 the arts. It is believed that an expedition has started for the 

 locality where it is found in the interior. 



Opal. — A specimen of fire opal l^XlXi inches in size, 

 evidently a water- worn fragment, was found near John Davis 

 River, in Crook County, Oregon. It is transparent, grayish- 

 white in color, with red, green, and yellow flames. The play 



