35° $n <* MINERAL supposed to be 



It has not the fmalleft attraction for the magnet ; it does 

 not decrepitate and difperfe when expofed to the blow-pipe ; it 

 is not in any fhape tranfparent. 



The Swedifh foffil occurs in roundim amorphous manes, im- 

 bedded and diiTeminated in a granitic rock, having the external 

 furfaces covered with a flight whitifh coating, perhaps from 

 the attachment of micaceous particles. There is no fuch ap- 

 pearance on the furface of the cryftallifed gadolinite. 



The fituation which this mineral fhouid hold in the fyftem 

 has been a matter of difficulty among mineralagifts. Hauy has 

 placed it in the clafs of Earthy Folllls, immediately after his 

 Anatafe and Dioptafe, — rather an unfortunate fituation, both 

 thefe having been recognifed as ores of known metals, titanium 

 and copper, fince the publication of his admirable treatile. 



Werner, on account of its weight, has clafTed it among 

 the metals ; and from its natural alliances, and chemical com- 

 pofition, has given it a place among the irons *. If weight en- 

 titled it to be clafTed among the metals, feveral other minerals 

 have an equal claim to the fame fituation. Of its natural alli- 

 ances we know very little, farther than that the Swedifh di- 

 ftrict where it is found abounds in iron ; and as to its chemi- 

 cal compofition, if 17- per cent, of iron be fufficient to counter- 

 balance 59|ths of a new earth, it would be right to arrange it 

 accordingly. The analyfes of fo many chemifts of known ce- 

 lebrity, are certainly fufficient to juflify the conftitution of a 

 new fpecies for its reception. Werner, however, may feel 

 himfelf licenfed in this arrangement, as he does not confider it 

 neceflary that a mineral compound fhall preferve the charac- 

 ters of its components j but that any of the components may 

 give to the compofition characters fufficiently marked, to de- 

 termine its relations. It is upon this diftinction that he founds 

 the difference between the predominant and characteriftic prin- 

 ciples f. § 



The 



* Jameson, vol. ii. p. 613. 

 f Broghant, vol. i. p. 44. 



