156 MAGNESIA. 



without being consumed, they named it asbestos, uncon- 

 sumed. It is now used for the same purpose by the natives 

 of Greenland. The name amianthus alludes to the ease of 

 cleaning it, and is derived from amiantos, undefiled. Asbes- 

 tus is now extensively used for lining iron safes. The best 

 locality for collecting asbestus in the United States, is that 

 near the quarantine, in Richmond County, N. Y. 



Anthophyllite. In oblong grayish, greenish or brownish crystals, or 

 in needles, imbedded in mica slate, or penetrating it. Brittle ; fibers 

 sharp. Gr=2'9 — 3-16. It is a variety of hornblende. Occurs at 

 Hadjfom and Guilford, Conn., and Chesterfield, Chester and Blandford, 

 Mass. 



Cummin gtonite. Fibrous ; the fibers divergent, stellular or scopi- 

 form ; ash-gray ; a little silky. A variety of hornblende. From Cum- 

 mington and Plainfield, Mass., in mica slate. 



Acmite. In long highly polished prisms, of a dark brown or reddish- 

 brown color, with a pointed extremity, penetrating granite, near Kongs- 

 berg in Norway. M : M=86° 56". Resembles pyroxene. Fuses 

 easily before the blowpipe. 



Babin gtonite. Resembles some varieties of pyroxene. It occurs in 

 greenish-black splendent crystals in quartz at Arendal in Norway. 



SPODUMENE. 11, 



Monoclinic. Crystals like those of pyroxene. Surface 

 of cleavage pearly. Color grayish or greenish. Translu- 

 cent to subtranslucent. H==6 5 — 7. Gr=3*l — 3-19. 



Composition: silica 64*5, alumina 29*3, lithia 6*2. Intu- 

 mesces before the blowpipe, and fuses to a transparent glass. 

 In fine powder mixed with bisulphate of potash and fluor, 

 and fused on platinum foil, it tinges the flame red, owing to 

 the lithia contained. 



Dif. Resembles somewhat feldspar and scapolite, but 

 has a higher specific gravity and a more pearly luster, and 

 affords rhombic prisms by cleavage. 



Obs. Occurs in granite at Goshen ; also at Chesterfield, 

 Norwich and Sterling, Mass. ; at Windham, Me. ; at Brook- 

 field, Ct. It is found at Uton, in Sweden, Sterzing in the 

 Tyrol, and at Killiney bay, near Dublin. 



Triphane is another common name of this mineral. 



Uses. This mineral is remarkable for the lithia it con- 

 tains, and has been used for obtaining this rare earth. 



Me'ntion the characters of spodamene. How much lithia does "' 

 contain! How does it differ from feldspar and scapolite ? 



14 



