MINERALO&y. 



303 



glance at the various subjects most likely to arrest the atten- 

 tion of the Traveller; and point out under the different 

 heads, those places in which, or under what circumstances, 

 the various Minerals are usually found; and shall for fur- 

 ther information refer tha Mineralogical Student, to various 

 valuable elementary works on the subject, but most particu- 

 larly to the following. Aiken's Manual, Phillips's Introduc- 

 tion to Mineralogy, and his Outlines of Geology, and the 

 Transactions of the Geological Society. 



The various subjects of this science are composed of Nine 

 Earths ; Two Alkalies ; Twenty-seven Metals ; besides the 

 two bases of combustible bodies, Carbon and Sulphur ; 

 the various Acids, Water, Oxygen, and Hydrogen, all of 

 which are included in the component parts of most of the 

 other substances. The number of Acids are Thirteen, their 

 names are derived generally from the substance or base from, 

 which the acid is formed ; Molybdic^ Arsenic^ Chromic^ 

 Tungstic, Carbonic^ Sulphuric^ Phosphoric^ Fluoric^ Boracic^ 

 Nitric^ Muriatic^ Succinic^ and Mellitic^ the bases of the 

 two last are unknown. 



EARTHY MINERALS. 



1. SiLEX. When pure, this is perfectly white and infusible^ 

 except by the heat of a Voltaic battery. 



It is the most abundant of all Mineral substances, and enters 

 into the composition of nearly two thirds ofallknown earthy 

 Minerals. It is the principal ingredient in what are com- 

 monly known as Flints; but it is found most fine in Quarts 



