Scientific Intelligence.—Geology. 179 
MINERALOGY, 
6.M.F uchs on Iron.—M.Fuchs is of opinion that iron is a demor- 
phous substance, presenting itself under two distinct general forms 
or systems of crystallization, viz., the tesseral and the rhombohed- 
ral (or its modification, the hewagonal) ; and, consequently, there 
may be said to be two classification species of iron, which may be 
distinguished as tesseral and rhombohedral iron, and which are some- 
times combined in different proportions, M. Fuchs’ experiments 
have proved decisively, that the malleable or bar iron belongs to the 
tesseral crystallization form ; and it may be conjectured that all the 
malleable metals may be classed under that system of crystallization. 
The crystallization system of pig-iron is not so exactly determined ; 
but it is very likely that it belongs to the rhombohedral system, 
because facette iron, particularly, is one of the most brittle metals 
which generally belong to the rhombohedral form. The difference 
between bar and facette iron is based not only on the difference of 
the system of crystallization, but also in the great difference between 
their physical and chemical properties ; such as the tendency of the 
molecules of metal to burst and become displaced ; hardness, liability 
to oxidization, solubility, fusibility ;* and M. Fuchs is of opinion, that 
steel is an alloy of tesseral and rhombohedral iron ; and he thinks that 
hardening and tempering consists only in the transformation of all 
the molecules, or a portion of them, from one system of crystalliza- 
tion to the other,—the rhombohedral iron being predominant in 
hardened steel, and the tesseral in non-hardened steel.—(Poggen- 
dorf’s Annalen.) 
7. Artificial Malachite.—Rose of Berlin, by the following process, 
has succeeded in making artificial malachite, identical in composition 
with the natural green malachite. Precipitate a solution of sul- 
phate of copper in the cold bicarbonate of soda or of potash ; allow 
the precipitate, which is voluminous at first, to cohere; finally dry 
it, and wash it. By polishing, the characteristic appearance of 
malachite may be brought out. 
GEOLOGY. 
8. On the Depth of the Primeval Seas, afforded by the Remains of 
Colour im Fossil Testacea. By Edward Forbes, F.R.S., Pres: 
G. 8. L.—When engaged in the investigation of the bathymetri- 
_cal distribution of existing mollusks, the author found that not only 
the colour of their shells cease to be strongly marked at consider- 
able depths, but also that well-defined patterns were, with very 
few and slight exceptions, presented only by testacea inhabiting 
the littoral, cireumlittoral, and median zones. In the Mediterranéan, 
* Wohler has already directed his attention to the fact, that every dimor- 
phous substance has two different degrees of fusibility. 
