Scientific Intelligence — Geology. 183 



iridosmine, found that the lead- coloured scales afforded the same 

 colours; and he suggests that this may he a good test for distinguish- 

 ing the Sisserskite from the Neujanskite. He adds, that there are 

 probably in nature only two distinct compounds of iridium and os- 

 mium, viz., Ir Os 4, and Ir Os ; and the compound Ir Os 3, is 

 probably a mixture of the two. — {American Journal of Science and 

 Arts, vol. xiv., 2d series, No. 41, p. 277.) 



9. Identity of Donarium with Thorium. — Professor Damour 

 and Professor Berlin of Lund, in Sweden, infer from their analyses 

 that orangite is identical with thorite, and consequently donarium 

 with thorium. Bergemann has, however, continued his researches, 

 and while expressing himself with due caution, is not prepared to 

 admit the conclusions of the French and Swedish chemists, so that 

 some doubt may still be entertained upon the subject. — (Fogg. Ann. 

 lxxxv. 555.) 



10. Native Iron.- — M. Bahr has described specimens of carbon- 

 ised wood, associated with bog-ore from Smaoland, which afforded 

 grains of malleable iron, having a specific gravity, 6248, 6*4972, 

 and 6*6255, after hammering ; and he considers it as probably a 

 result of deposition through some electric process, and not artificial 

 in origin. He suggests for coal containing iron in this manner, if 

 hereafter found, the name Sideroferite. — (The American Journal of 

 Science and Arts, vol. xiv., No. 41, 2d Series, p. 275.) 



11. On Crystallisation and Amorphism ; by Prof. F. M. L. 

 Frankenheim. — (I. f pr. Chem.,\iv. 430.) — Frankenheim reviews 

 the subject of crystalline structure and amorphism at considerable 

 length, and arrives at the conclusion, that although the structure of 

 the intimate particles of so-called amorphous substances is not ac- 

 tually proved to be crystalline by observation, it is still true that all 

 the properties of substances so called are perfectly consistent with 

 such a structure. 



GEOLOGY. 



12. Flora of the Tertiary Formation. — The flora of the tertiary 

 formation has been hitherto, comparatively speaking, far less known 

 than that of the coal formation, which is of a far older date ; and 

 even in Silesia, notwithstanding its numerous and important deposits 

 of brown coal, the entire amount of leaves, blossoms, and fruits be- 

 longing to this formation, exclusive of stems of trees, did not exceed 

 forty-three species up to the close of last year. 



Since then, however, a discovery has been made, which, in a few 

 months, has already brought more treasures to light, than Monte 

 Bolca in Italy, and the celebrated deposit of Oeningen in Germany, 

 have done in a century. This new deposit was discovered by the 

 Superior Councillor of Mines, Von Oeynhausen, near the end of 



