87 



TAB. CXLVII. 



CUPRUM oxygenizatum, 

 Filamentose Oxide of Copper. 



Div, 2. Imitative. 



Nature, ever various and instructive, often represents one 

 thing with the appearance of another. Thus, a casual obser- 

 ver would expect that this Copper Ore merely consisted of 

 filaments of scarlet silk : however, on examination with the 

 help of a lens, we with certainty distinguish the contrary, 

 and see how beautifully Nature varies her operations, and 

 under certain circumstances accomplishes the same end 

 with different appearances : thus, the moleculse are forming 

 threads more or less discoverable in the shape of elongated 

 octaedrons or cubes. The upper figure is decomposing 

 Feltspar and Quartz with these filaments of Ruby Copper 

 Ore, some of which are in bent 4-sided threads crossing 

 each other. Others are irregular and confused, apparently 

 having been disturbed : see the left hand upper figure. In 

 some parts they are disposed in straight filaments, crossing 

 each other at right angles, as if disposed to form a cube : see 

 the right hand upper figure. The lower figure is chiefly Ruby 



