87 



TAB. CCCXLV1IT. 



S I L E X talcum. 

 Massive Talc, Potstone, or Lapis-ollaris. 



Div. 1. Crystallized. 



Syn. Potstone. Kirw.l. 155. 



Lapis-ollaris. JValler. Bab. Min. 39. 

 Talc ollaire. Haiiy, 3. 257. 

 Topfstein. Emmerl. 3. 282. 



Although this is not a rare substance in countries where 

 Serpentine Rocks occur, it is nevertheless often too un- 

 equal in its nature to answer the purpose of turning into 

 pots. In Scotland it is abundant ; and the Duke of Argyle's 

 house at Inverary is said to be built of it; yet it is but little 

 known. I have seen sets of tea equipage, and I have a 

 tankard made of it from abroad ; and in Saxony it seems that 

 hundreds of people are employed in manufacturing it. The 

 usual kind abounds with Talc, and is of an even and close 

 texture ; but that which is used varies much, and more or 

 less approaches Talcose Schist and Serpentine. Some of 

 the cups which I have from Italy seem to be a Talcose 

 Schist, with Garnets of such an equal state of hardness, 

 that the whole turned equally well. 



The upper figure is a representation of a specimen from 

 Breadalbane of the common texture; but the fibres are 

 rather more than usually varied in their direction, so as to 

 make it nearly free to cut or turn to any form. 



The lower figure is a more Schistose variety, from the 



