312 DESCRIPTIONS OF MINERALS. 



Pholerite, HaUoysite, Smectite, Seterite, Glagerite, Lenzinite, Bole, Li 

 ikomarge, axe names of clay -like minerals. 



Pinite. 



Amorphous, and usually cryptocrystalline ; but often 

 having the form of the crystals of other minerals from the 

 alteration of which it has been made. Colors grayish, green- 

 ish, brownish, and sometimes reddish. Lustre feeble; waxy. 

 Translucent to opaque. Acts like a gum on polarized light, 

 and thus indicates the absence of true crystallization, even 

 when under the forms of crystals. H.= 2-5-3. G. = 2*6-2 "85. 



Composition. Mostly (H 3 K) 2 A1 2 M Si 5 . The pinite of Saxony 

 afforded Silica 46*83, alumina 27 "65, iron sesquioxide 8 *71, 

 magnesia 1'02, lime 0*49, soda 40, potash 6 52, water 3 '83 

 = 99-42 ; and, in another analysis, potash 10 "74. The phy- 

 sical characters ally it to serpentine, and also nearly the 

 atomic ratio, and it may be viewed as a potash-alumina ser- 

 pentine. But at the same time it has very nearly the com- 

 position of a hydrous potash mica, or damourite (see next 

 page). 



Obs. The varieties are pseudomorphs after different min- 

 erals, and hence comes a part of their variations in compo- 

 sition. They include Pinite, from the Pini Mine, near 

 Schneeberg and elsewhere ; Giesechite, pseudomorph after 

 nephelite from Greenland, and from Diana, X. Y. ; Dysyn- 

 tribite, from Diana, identical with gieseckite ; Pinitoid, 

 from Saxony ; Wilsonite, from Bathurst, Canada, having 

 the cleavage of scapolite ; Terenite, from Antwerp, X. Y., 

 like TTilsonite : Agalmatolite, or Pagodite, from China, be- 

 ing one of the materials for carving into images, ornaments, 

 models of pagodas, etc. ; gigantolite and iberite, which have 

 the form of iolite. 



Polyargite, Posite, Cataspilite, Biharite are related materials. 



Palagonite. Yellow to brownish, yellow, garnet-red to black in 

 color, and resinous to vitreous in lustre. The material of some tufas, 

 and the result of cliange through the agency of steam or hot water at 

 the time, probably, of the deposition of the material. From tufas of 

 Iceland, Germany, Italy, Sicily, and named from Palagonia, in Sicily. 



HTDROMICA GROUP. 



The following species are mica-like in cleavage and aspect, 

 but talc-like in wanting elasticity, greasy feel, and pearly 

 lustre. They are sometimes brittle. Common mica, mus- 



