MINERAL from GREENLAND. 383 



fully accepted * ; and upon comparing the properties of my 

 oxide with thofe of oxide of cerium extracted from cerite, I 

 was fully fatisiied that they were identical. The more difficult 

 folubility of mine, was owing to the method I had employed to 

 procure it, and to the flrong heat to which I had fubjected it ; 

 whereas the oxide of cerium from cerite had been examined in 

 the flate of carbonate. 



7. In the many experiments made upon this powder, and 

 upon oxide of cerium from cerite, I repeated every thing that 

 had been eftabliihed by Berzelius and Hisinger, Klaproth 

 and Vauquelin, and had an opportunity of obferving many 

 particulars which they have not noticed. It may be worth 

 while, therefore, without repeating the details of thefe chemifts, 

 to mention a few circumftances, which will be found ufeful 

 in examining this hitherto fcarce oxide. 



a. The precipitate occafioned by oxalate of ammonia is at 

 firft in white flocks, not unlike that of muriate of filver, but it 

 foon aflumes a pulverulent form. It diflolves readily in nitric 

 acid, without the afliflance of heat. The fame remark applies 

 to the precipitate thrown down by tartrate of potafli. But 

 tartrate of cerium is much more foluble in acids than the oxa- 

 late. 



b. The 



* The fpecimen of cerite which I analifed, was fo much mixed with a&ino- 

 lite, that the itatement of the refults which' I obtained cannot be of much im- 

 portance. The fpecific gravity of the fpecimen was 4.149. I found it compo- 

 fed as follows : 



A white powder, left by muriatic acid, and prefumed to be filica, 47.3 



Red oxide of cerium, - 44. 



Iron, ' - - - - 4. 



Volatile matter, - » - - 3. 



Lofs, - - 1.7 



100,0 



