137 



TAB. CLXXII. 



BARYTES sulphata; var. stellata. 

 Stellate Sulphate of Barytes. 



Dlv. 2. Imitative. 



Syn. White semi-peilucid Spar. Woodward, 88„ 

 spec. a. 16. 

 Starred waxen-vein. Grew's Musteitm, p. 3)2. 

 Lepastrum. Hill. p. 146. tab. 2. spec. 1. 2. 



This substance was once taken for Gypsum, or Sulphate 

 of Lime ; but is since found to be Sulphate of Barytes. To 

 those that examine the crystallization it will be easier di- 

 stinguishable, than by any other external character that we 

 know of. 



These varieties of Sulphate of Barytes are chiefly found on 

 the western side of the island of Sheepy, in Kent ; and we 

 do not know them to have been found so perfect elsewhere 

 in England, or in any other country. The marley cliffs of 

 that place, perhaps raised by the deluge, and full of a great 

 variety of antediluvian relics, have been for years falling 

 down in small or large masses, And from these cliffs are 

 to be seen lumps of marie from the size of an ostrich egg* 

 to several feet in diameter; in which these Sulphates of 

 Barytes are concealed till the masses fall or break to pieces 



* Those about this size are sometimes called sea eggs by some of the 

 guides ; and when the divisions are lined with the yellower carbonate of 

 lime, they have a more apt resemblance to eggs. 



