872 General Notes. [August, 
probably originally derived from the surrounding rock, and after- 
wards deposited by thermal waters in fissures. 
In this connection a valuable paper in the Amzerican Fournal of 
Science on the Genesis of Metalliferous Veins, by Professor Joseph 
LeConte, is of much interest in confirming this theory of vein 
formation. Metalliferous deposits are now being formed in Cali- 
fornia and Nevada, at Sulphur Bank and Steamboat Springs, 
through the action of up-coming solfataric waters. Even cinna- 
by chemical action as the waters approach the surface. 
Professor LeConte holds that gold has in like manner been 
deposited from an alkaline sulphide solution, and there are,strong 
reasons for believing that this is the true explanation of our met- 
alliferous vein deposits. 
Tue Minerats oF Skye.—Professor M. F. Heddle’ has de- 
scribed a new mineral locality in the island of Skye. Quite a 
number of different zeolites occur in the igneous rocks, among 
them being thomsonite, farcelite, mesolite, stilbite, analcite, lau- 
monite, chabazite, gyrolite, and apophyllite. Saponite of a pale 
red color, rarely oil-green, occurs in minute botryoidal groupings, 
and in thin, vein-like processes. Plinthite, a variety of bole, fall- 
ing to pieces in water, occurs in various forms. It either occurs 
in beds of varying thickness among the strata, or in the form o 
clusters of spheres of the size of peas, or as a thin layer among 
the zeolites. Massive varieties of mesolite and of thomsnay 
the latter sometimes called “rock soap,” are also described, an 
several analyses are given. 
MineratocicaL Nores.—Mr. J. J. Dobbie directs attention, 1 
the Mineralogical Magazine, to a variety of saponite from yet 
Glasgow, which has some peculiar physical properties. Te pnas 
nite has probably resulted from the alteration of a trap rock, and na 
a deep chocolate-brown color, a conchoidal fracture and the mee 
feel so characteristic of most hydrated silicates of magnesia. hank 8 
dull, but may be highly polished by rubbing with pas lti- : 
When placed in water it splits into sharp angled fragments, pel 
mately crumbling. It has the chemical composition of poo 088 
——Hausmannite has been produced artificially by A. pis 
and rhodonite by L. Bourgeois. Artificial hausmannite was 
by heating chloride of manganese in an atmosphere charged ak 
oxygen and steam, and rhodonite was produced by the fust a 
equal parts of silica and binoxide of manganese. fe in the 
Cloiseaux has begun the publication of an extended peor 
June number of the Bulletin de la Soc. Min. de France, on the 
1 Min. Mag., April, 1883, p. 115. 
