212 DESCRIPTIONS OF MINERALS. 



its reactions are like those of gypsum, except that in the 

 closed tube it gives no water. 



A scaly massive variety containing a little silica has been 

 named Vulpinitc; contorted concretionary kinds are some- 

 times called Tripcstone. Anhydrite is called by miners hard- 

 plaster, because harder than gypsum. 



Biff. Its square forms of crystallization and cleavage are 

 good distinguishing characters. Its three easy cleavages, at 

 right angles with one another, look as if the crystalliza- 

 tion were cubic ; but there is some difference in the ease 

 with which they may be obtained. 



Obs. A fine blue crystallized anhydrite occurs with gyp- 

 sum and calcareous spar in a black limestone at Lockport, 

 and near Windsor in Nova Scotia, and Hillsboro' in Xew 

 Brunswick. Foreign localities are at the salt mines of Bex 

 in Switzerland, Hall in the Tyrol, Ischl in Upper Austria, 

 Wieliczka in Poland, and elsewhere. 



The vulpinite variety is sometimes cut and polished for 

 ornamental purposes. 



Beehilite. A hydrous calcium borate occurring as an incrustation at 

 the Tuscan lagoons, Italy. A " hydrous borate of lirne " reported by 

 Hayes from Iquique, Peru, has been called Eayedne ; but its com- 

 position has been questioned, it being referred to Ulexite. Howlite. 

 A hydrous calcium borate, containing silica ; Windsor, Nova Scotia. 

 Called also Silicoborocalcite. 



Ulexite or Boroaatrocalcite. A hydrous calcium-sodium borate, in 

 aggregations of fibres, from the dry plains of Iquique, Southern Peru; 

 Nova Scotia, at Windsor, Brookville, and Newport ; and Nevada, in 

 Columbus mining district, and at Thiel Salt Marsh, in Esmeralda 

 County. 



CryptomorpMte. Another hydrous calcium-sodium borate ; Windsor, 

 Nova Scotia. Priceite is a calcium borate of white color and chalky 

 aspect, from Curry County, Oregon. 



Hydrdboracite. A hydrous calcium-magnesium borate, resembling 

 gypsum in aspect. 



Scheelite. Calcium tungstate, of pale yellowish-white color; H.= 

 45-5. G. =59-6 1. From Monroe, Conn.; North Carolina ; Mammoth 

 mining district, Nevada ; Charity Mine, Idaho ; Golden Queen Mine, 

 Lake Co., Colorado ; Seattle, Washington Territory ; at Caldbeck 

 Fell, near Keswick, England ; in Bohemia, Hartz, Saxony, Hungary, 

 Sweden, Vosges. Cuprosclieelite has part of the calcium replaced by 

 copper ; from La Paz, Lower California. 



Apatite. — Calcium Phosphate. 

 Hexagonal. In hexagonal prisms. The annexed figure 

 represents a common form. Cleavage imperfect. Usually 

 occurs m crystals ; but occasionally massive ; sometimes 



