ee 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 Vulpinite; contorted concretionary kinds are some- 
times called 7ripestone. Anhydrite is called by miners hard- 
plaster, because harder than gypsum. 
Diff. 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 erystalliza- 
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 New 
Brunswick. Foreign localities are at the salt mines of Bex 
in Switzerland, Hall in the Tyrol, Ischl in Upper Austria, 
Wiceliczka in Poland, and elsewhere. 
The vulpinite variety is sometimes cut and polished for 
ornamental purposes. 
Bechilite. A hydrous calcium borate occurring as an incrustation at 
the Tuscan lagoons, Italy. A ‘‘ hydrous borate of lime” reported by 
Hayes from Iquique, Peru, has been called Hayesine ; but its com- 
position has been questioned, it being referred to Ulexite. Hovdlite. _ 
A hydrous calcium borate, containing silica; Windsor, Nova Scotia. — 
Called also Stlicoboroculcite. 
Ulexite or Boronatrocalcite. 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. 
Cryptomorphite. Another hydrous calcium-sodium borate ; Windsor, 
Nova Scotia. . Priceite is a calcium borate of white color and chalky 
aspect, from Curry County, Oregon. 
Hydroboracite. A hydrous calcium-magnesium borate, resembling 
gypsum in aspect. 
Scheelite. Calcium tungstate, of pale yellowish-white color; H.= 
4-5-5. G.=5'9-6:1. 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. Cuproschcelite 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 in crystals; but occasionally massive ; sometimes 

