172 On Nepaulite ; a New Mineral from Kathnandoo. [JSTo. 2. 



of it for taking its specific gravity': the quartz matrix too is exces- 

 sively adherent. 



In external appearance it resembles exceedingly some of the varie- 

 ties of granular and massive plumbago, or antimonial ores, which, at 

 a first glance, and where the quartz matrix has no blue stain, it 

 might well be mistaken for. 



The fresh fracture is of course somewhat brighter and more 

 steely than the old surface, which like that of the plumbago ores is 

 of a duller black, though always with a good metallic glance ; and is 

 small grained, somewhat inclining to hackly, and eyen at times 

 slightly foliating. 



The fragments are of all shapes. 



It is completely opaque. 



The streak is a dull black, with here and there a bright metallic 

 glance and altogether that of the inferior graphites. 



It does not soil or mark. 



Its hardness in the perfectly pure specimens ; for quartz is, as 

 before said, so very frequently present, that care must always be 

 taken, is 5 — 6 ; apparently depending upon the silica found in the 

 specimens ; yielding a little, but not very easily, to the knife, by 

 which it may be scraped smooth, but not cut. 



It is easily frangible, and rather brittle, but the latter portions 

 even of the pure mineral, are somewhat difficult to pulverize. The 

 powder is of a dull grey black, slightly glittering in the sunlight : 

 It is not magnetic. 



Its Specific Gravity, carefully taken from a nearly pure specimen 

 is 4.50. at Temp. 80°. 



The Specific Gravity of the fragments of the cannon balls sent us 

 from Nepaul, and which had been of course fused, is 8.1. 

 Chemical Examination. 



Before the blowpipe, it fuses easily and spreads out, the Bismuth 

 however does not separate from it, to form the usual deposit on the 

 charcoal, but when the fused mass is highly heated a slight subli- 

 mate is seen to rise. 



In the open and closed tubes, no sublimate is obtained even at the 

 melting point of the glass. 



"When the pulverised mineral is heated in an iron capsule, it be- 



