151 



TAB. CLXXIX. 



FERRUM oxygenizatum. 

 Oxide of Iron. 



Div. 2. Imitative. 



This specimen, although generally speaking it might be 

 called an Haematitic Iron Ore, having most of the cha- 

 racters belonging to it, differs from that substance in not 

 being striated, and in having more of an earthy fracture; 

 it however may be placed near the Haematites. Whether it 

 is a cast or change after crystallization may be difficult to 

 determine. The lump at first looks like a globular Sulphate 

 of Barytes (see tab, 96.) with the plated or tabular Crystals 

 standing edgeways, but these are probably derived from 

 the decomposition of Pyrites; they are however each of 

 them so much blistered or covered with bubbles (see the 

 right hand side of the lower figure , tab. 56. a formation 

 common to many Haematites) that they cannot be made 

 out. The hollow is lined with very thin-edged, probably 

 tabular, Crystals, belonging to those of tab. 60. These 

 are covered with a dark red or somewhat crimson powdery 

 glimmer, sparkling like that of tab. 64. The stalk, or 

 lower part, seems to have been cubical Iron Pyrites: see 

 tab. 29 and 30, which are externally covered with bubbles. 

 Possibly the whole once formed a Sulphuret of Iron or 

 Pyrites, and having lost the Sulphur has become a mere 

 Oxide of Iron. Such fortuitous circumstances as this was 



