1854.] On Nepaulite ; a New Mineral from Kathmandoo. 173 



gins to give off the white fumes of Bismuth about the low red heat 

 of the iron ; and at the cherry-red heat, it begins to aggregate before 

 running ; but it would seem that all the Bismuth is not driven off; 

 as it is found also, as well as the Cerium, and of course the iron, 

 in the fused mineral. 



In ascertaining its component parts, extreme care was taken to 

 pick minute fragments which were again carefully examined by the 

 magnifier in order to exclude as completely as possible, all mixture 

 of the siliceous and Cerium matrices. 



It dissolves in all the mineral acids, and always with considerable 

 effervescence, like a perfect carbonate, which it is. The nitro-muria- 

 tic acid was however found to be preferable for analysis, as the bis- 

 muth can be almost wholly separated by the first operation. 

 It was found to contain in 100 parts. 



Metallic about 



Sulphur, 1. 60. 



Silex, 3. 60. 



Carbonate of Protoxide of Bismuth, 34. 80. 24. 6. 



Carbonate of Copper, 22. 96. 14. 40. 



Per-Carbonate of Iron, 25. 62. 9. 21. 



Ox: Cerium, 9. 40. 



Lanthanum? 2. 80. 



100. 78. 



I also found, both via liumida and by amalgamation, that the ore 

 contains a minute portion of silver, but in too insignificant a quan- 

 tity to make it of any importance. 



It follows, then, that we have here an entirely new mineral of 

 Bismuth, Copper, and Iron, with Cerium and Lanthanum,* and it 

 will be recollected, by those conversant with mineralogy, that the 

 Bismuth copper (or cupreous bismuth) ores, are all in the state of 

 sulphurets, and not of carbonates, amongst which there is nothing 

 which approaches to this compound : in which again the Cerium is 

 certainly not a fortuitous addition, but a part of the pure ore ; and 

 we have thus a full right to claim it as a new Indian mineral. I 

 have therefore called it, from the country of its origin jNepaulite. 



* I have for the present called this product Lanthanum, but am not perfectly 

 satisfied that it is so. 



