15 



TAR CCCXI. 



STRONTIA sulphata. 

 Stellated or radiated Sulphate of Strontian, 



Dlv. 2. Imitative;. 



This elegant variety of Sulphate of Strontian was found in 

 sinking a foundation for buildings at Bristol. I do riot 

 know that such has been met with elsewhere. Besides 

 these stellaied ones, there were many very beautifully spicu- 

 lated. The noble appearance of this, relieved so conspi- 

 cuously, being formed over Metastatic Carbonate of Lime, 

 enhances its curiosity. The stellse or radii so much repre- 

 sent those in general executed by sculptors, that we might 

 imagine they had had some such an original to imitate ; 

 a-nd as, I believe, they borrow from antiquity, so I should 

 imagine" the antique models are borrowed from something 

 in Nature, which indicates that the ancients were not only 

 capable of taking a proper advantage of what was useful or 

 instructive to them, but that they probably paid much at- 

 tention to such subjects, and were not at a loss for originals 

 to facilitate their study, and help their inventions. 



This substance is described at tab. 1 1 7, and in form 

 much resembles the Lepastrum or Stellated Sulphate of 

 Barytes— see tab, 173. 



