43 



TAB. CXXIII. 



SILEX magnesiatus; var. amianthiformis. 

 Silky Amianthus, or Asbestus. 



Div. 2. Imitative. 



This beautiful substance is found chiefly in the Island of 

 Anglesea, North Wales; and at Portsoy, in Serpentine 

 rocks, as they are mostly called. It is generally found in 

 the fissures and cracks, passing like a sort of crystallization 

 from the sides to the centre in infinitely small spiculse, 

 being sometimes quite indurated, though retaining nearly 

 the 6ame appearance as that which may be easily separated 

 by the nail. The upper figure is from Portsoy, and is in- 

 cluded in a somewhat woody Asbestos of a light colour. 

 The lower figure came from Wales in a dirtyish Serpentine, 

 and is partly covered with the Green Nephrite or Axe Stone, 

 nearly approaching that from the Molucca Islands, of 

 which the natives make their hatchets. 



Amianthus, or Asbestos, as it has been more commonly 

 called, was formerly used for preserving the ashes of de- 

 ceased persons, by being woven into a cloth to wrap them up 

 in while burning *, and by being incombustible it retained 



* In weaving it they use other threads to assist; but those afterwards burn 

 away, leaving a perfect amianthine cloth; a fine specimen of which was 

 lately preserved at Rome. See Dr. Smith's Tour, v. 2. 201. 



