10 A New Muiuralogical Noun m liium 



ceeded by the dark-colored metallic sulphureta ; and llicse pass* 

 insensibly to the sulphurets without a true metallic lustre. 

 From the latter there is a natural transition to Sulphur, and its 

 close allies the Resins and Coals, with which the series termi- 

 nates. By this association of species agreeing in external 

 characters, the attention of the student is naturally led from 

 the observation of their many resemblances, to a particular con- 

 sideration of their several peculiarities. An arrangement of 

 this kind is necessarily inadequate for the determination of the 

 names of species : it may, however, be an important aid to 

 those who have some general acquaintance with the science. 

 The nomenclature proposed by Mohs, presents a very uncouth 

 appearance when translated from the German into our less 

 pliant language ; and is moreover wholly destitute of that con- 

 ciseness and elegance which the employment of the Latin 

 language, confers upon the nomenclature of botany and 

 zoology. To enable the science of mineralogy to participate 

 in these advantages, which have exerted such an important 

 influence upon the progress of those sciences, has been the 

 design of the author in offering the following system of mine- 

 ralogical nomenclature. 



The arrangement of the species is in general similar to that 

 proposed by Mohs, with such alterations as it was supposed 

 would tend still further to exhibit their natural relations. In 

 accordance with this view, the order Mica of Mohs has been 

 abolished, and the species it comprised restored to their true 

 congeners in other orders. The general characters of the 

 orders arc thus rendered liable to a few exceptions; but this 

 inconvenience, which has thus far been found unavoidable in 

 other departments of natural history, is deemed of little con- 

 sequence, when contrasted with the violation of natural affini- 

 ties which must otherwise ensue. 



The following remaiks will sufficiently explain the terms 

 employed in the accompanying catalogue. The names of the 

 species usually express either the primary form of the mineral, 



