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POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
paper by Vogelsang and Geissler, on the nature of tbe liquids enclosed in 
certain minerals, such as rock crystal, topaz, and quartz, which appeared in 
a late number of Poggendorff 1 s Annalen. The authors find that these liquids 
(supposed by some observers to be hydrocarbons) always consist of liquid 
carbonic acid, mixed, in some cases, with a little water. The experiments 
by which they were led to this conclusion are fully described in the paper, 
and, we may add, confirm the views of Mr. TL C. Sorbv. 
The Minei'dl character of Meteorites. — In a paper published in Cosmos for 
December, M. Stanislas Meunier remarks that the meteorites which arrive 
in these days upon the earth are not of the same mineralogical nature as 
those which fell in past ages. Formerly irons fell j now stones fall. In the 
last 118 years there have been in Europe but three falls of irons, whereas 
there have been annually on an average three falls of stones. The greater 
number of irons which exist in our collections — and they are numerous — have 
fallen on the earth at undetermined epochs : all the meteoric stones are of 
comparatively recent date. Perhaps, he says, we are even justified in saying 
that stones of a new kind are beginning to arrive, for falls of carbonaceous 
meteorites were unknown before the year 1803, and four have been observed 
since then. We fear these somewhat hypothetical ideas require further 
support. 
A new Alloy. — Mr. Abel, says a contemporary, has proposed an alloy for 
jewellers’ use, which is said to be very malleable and ductile, and to possess 
a fine colour. It is composed of 750 parts of gold, 166 parts of silver, and 
81 parts of cadmium. 
Is Nontrmite a distinct Species ? — This question is answered in a paper read 
before the Philosophical Society of Manchester on October 5, by Dr. T. E. 
Thorpe, who has analysed some specimens. The sample analysed was dis- 
covered, unclassified, in the Mineralogical Cabinet at Heidelberg, and was 
stated by Professor Blum, who was disposed to regard it as pinguite, to 
have been found in the neighbourhood of Ileppenheim, in the Bergstrasse. 
ISontronite is evidently, says the author of the paper, a product of the 
decomposition by weathering of some silicious mineral rich in iron. It 
possesses a light green colour, which, on the expulsion of water, changes to a 
dark chestnut-brown. It is perfectly opaque, and shows no evidence of 
crystallisation. Its fracture is uneven, and the lustre of its streak resinous. 
It is unctuous to the touch, and yields easily to the nail, and is somewhat 
harder than talc. 
What is Tiers- Argent* — The question is answered by a new American 
journal, the Joui'nal of Applied Chemistry. It is, says this journal, the most 
beautiful and useful alloy of silver yet manufactured. It is made by simply 
melting together two parts of aluminum and one part of silver. It is hard 
and light, which two qualities, added to its beautiful whiteness, render it 
very desirable as a material for the fabrication of table furniture. Spoons, 
forks, goblets, castors, butter knives, and salvers, have already come into 
use in Paris. 
The Manufacture of Iron Rails. — A very interesting paper, descriptive of 
the various methods now in use, was read by Mr. Williams before the Mid- 
dlesborough Iron and Steel Institute, and is published in the Artizan for 
November. 
