436 
POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
when rubbed. He thereby "perceives the indication of the presence of 
organic matter or carburet of hydrogen. 
Tripliyline , which is a triple phosphate of lithia, manganese, and iron, 
has until lately been known to exist in one locality only — at Bodenmais, 
in Bavaria. Mr. Geo. J. Bush has recently shown that it occurs along 
with Spodumene at Norwich, Massachusetts. 
Carnelian is a variety of chalcedony (a form of quartz), generally of a 
clear bright red tint, from the presence of iron. At a recent meeting of 
the Manchester Philosophical Society, Mr. Joseph Sidebotham exhibited 
a carnelian pebble, with a cavity containing a globule of water, brought 
from the coast of Tuscany. These pebbles, it was said, are often picked 
up on the shore, and, when broken, exhibit a crystalline cavity about one- 
third filled with water. 
Connellite is another extremely rare mineral, of great beauty, which has 
never had a satisfactory locality assigned to it. Professor Maskelyne 
has recently found specimens of it in a collection of undoubted Cornish 
minerals. The crystals of the mineral are very minute, and the Professor, 
in order to measure them, combined a small telescope and a small lens with 
the ordinary reflecting goniometer. 
Lanth.an.itc [Carbonate of Lanthana). — The determination of the crystal- 
line form of this mineral is another example of the use of polarized light. 
It has been hitherto supposed that it crystallizes in the pyramidal system ; 
but M. Descloizeaux found recently, in the course of his important re- 
searches on the optical properties of minerals, that lanthanite possesses two 
optic axes, and the crystals of lanthanite must therefore be considered to 
belong to the prismatic system. 
Thallium. — This most recently discovered element appears to be widely 
diffused in certain classes of minerals. Mr. Crookes states that upon 
examining a large collection of cupriferous pyrites from different parts of 
the world he found it present in more than one-eighth ; but he has very 
rarely met with it in pyrites in which copper is absent. On the other 
hand, M. Fred. Kuhlmann says that certain specimens of pyrites which 
furnish thallium in quantity came from near Spa, and consisted of 
sulphide of iron with veins of blende and galena. The pyrites w’as used for 
manufacturing sulphuric acid ; and by causing the gases to go through a 
supplementary chamber, before passing to the leaden chambers, deposits 
were obtained very rich in the new metal, and also in arsenic and 
selenium. By this process the sulphurous acid, and consequently the 
sulphuric acid, were rendered much more pure. Mr. Crookes observes that 
he has no hesitation in saying that in some of our large copper, sulphur, 
and sulphuric acid works, thallium is at the present time being thrown 
away by the hundredweight, whilst it might easily be saved. 
Native Copper. — The largest known supplies of native copper are those 
on the coast of Lake Superior. Two great masses have been recently 
discovered in the Mesnard district, Michigan, which have excited con- 
siderable attention as evidences of the inexhaustible and wonderfully 
productive nature of the Lake Superior region. Little of the first mass 
was above the surface when first discovered, and that little was so covered 
with moss and small underbrush as scarcely to attract attention. Upon 
