CHRYSOPRASE EARTH, 

 in a dry warm situation, or if it be long ex- 

 posed to the light of the sun ; but the colour 

 may be restored by keeping the stone in a 

 damp place, or in Avet cotton or sponge, or 

 even by dipping it into a solution of nitrate 

 of nickel, Avhich also improves the tints of 

 inferior kinds. 



The kings of Prussia used only to allow 

 the works where it is found to be opened 

 once in three- years, and monopolised most 

 of the finest specimens ; consequently, semi- 

 transparent stones of a delicate colour, tit 

 for setting in rings, formerly fetched very 

 high prices in Berlin and Vienna. 



The common people of Silesia wear Chry- 

 soprase round the neck as a chann against 

 pains. 



It is found at Kosemiitz, in Lower Silesia, 

 imbedded in Serpentine, and associated with 

 Opal, Quartz, and Chalcedony; also at 

 Belmont's lead mine, St. Lawrence co., U.S., 

 &c. 



Chr3'soprase was probably the stene called 

 Chrysobervl by the ancients. 

 Brit. Mils., Case 23. 



M. P. G. Upper Galleiy, Table- case A, 

 in recess No. 138. 



Chrysofras-e Earth. An earthy form of 

 Pimelite, from Silesia. 

 Analysis, bv Klaproth : 



Sihca .' . . . . 35-00 

 Protoxide of nickel . , 15-63 

 Magnesia . . . .1-25 

 Peroxide of iron . . . 4-58 

 Lime . . , . ,0-42 

 Alumina .... 5*00 

 Water . . , . . 38-.2 



100-00 

 Name, From x^vs-o;^ gold, and !rg«;«-«v, a 

 leek. 



Chrysotil, w. Kobel. An asbestiform 

 variety of Serpentine, allied to Picrolite, of 

 olive-oil, yellowish or brownish colour, and 

 metallic or silky lustre. S.G. 2-2 to 2-49. 



Analysis from New Haven, U.S., by 

 Brush : 



Silica 44-05 



Magnesia . . , . 89-24 

 Protoxide of iron . .2-53 



Water .... 13-49 



99-31 

 Localities. Anglesey. Reichenstein, in 



Silesia. Montville, Morris co., and New 



Haven, Connecticut, U.S. 



Chusite, Werner. An altered form of 



Chrysolite, occurring in small, uncr3^stal- 



line, wax-, or honey-yellow masses in the 



basalt of Limbourg. 



CINNABAR. 



85 



The name is derived from x'^'u^ to pour ; 

 in allusion to its fusibility, 



Cir.iOLiTE. A very soft, massive variety 

 of Pyroxene, of a white or greyish colour. 

 It is opaque, dull, and has an earthy frac- 

 ture. Lustre of streak greasy. Yields to 

 the nail and adheres to the tongue. Absorbs 

 water but does not fall to pieces. Often in- 

 closes small grains of Quartz. S.G. 2-18 to 

 2-3. 



Comp. Al, 4Si + 3H, or hydrated quadro- 

 silicate of alumina. 



Analysis from Argentiera, bv Klaproth : 

 Silica . . , . ' . 63-00 

 Alumina .... 23-00 

 Peroxide of iron , . , 1'25 

 Water ...... 12-00 



99-25 



Locality. Very abundant in the island of 

 Cimolos (now called Argentiera) in the 

 Grecian Archipelago, by the inhabitants of 

 which it is used as a substitute for Puller'"s 

 earth. 



Name. From Gimolos, and xWo;., stone. 



M. P. G. Hor#e-shoe Case, No. 1119. 



Cinnabar. Hexagonal. Primar}^ form 

 an acute rhomwohedron, in which it also 

 occurs crystallized; but the cr^'stals are 

 mostly modified by secondary planes : also 

 granular, massive and forming superficial 

 coatings. Colour passing from carmine, 

 through cochineal-red to lead-grey. The 

 red specimens are more or less translucent, 

 and exhibit an adamantine lustre, but 

 when grey it is opaque and has a metallic 

 lustre. Streak bright scarlet. Structure 

 lamellar. Fracture subconchoidal, uneven. 

 M. Descloiseaux has observed circular po- 

 larization in Cinnabar; which previously to 

 this discoverv was supposed to be peculiar 

 to Quartz. H. 2 to 2-5. S.G. 8 99. 



Fig. 117. 



Comp. Protosulphide of mercurj', or HgS 

 = mercury 86-21, sulphur 13-79 = 100, but 

 it is sometimes rendered impure by the pre- 

 sence of clay, bitumen, iron, &c. 



JBB melts and is volatilized with a blue 

 flame and sulphureous fumes. 



Localities.— The principal localities of this 

 mineral are Idria in Carniola, and Alma- 

 den near Cordova, in Spain, wliere it is 

 usually massive. Cinnabar, associated with 

 g3 



