53 
TAB. CCXXVII. 
Dark green wood-like Asbestus. 
Div. 2. Imitative. 
ee 
Common Asbestus sometimes resembles rock-wood— 
see page 124—and is often very different in appearance, at 
first sight, from the preceding figure.—It is therefore 
sometimes gathered in masses to be cut and polished by 
the Lapidaries, when the light refracted through the flat 
face, from the fibres, gives it something of a chatoyant, 
satiny, or pearly lustre, which is much admired, especially 
when some of the fibres, curving into concavities, are re- 
lieved by those in a contrary direction, or by the dark ends. 
This ‘specimen has some Talc, Pyrites, and Magnetic Iron 
in the lower dark part, which give it a curious appearance, 
especially where the Talc is prominent. 
