SCIENTIFIC SUMMARY. 
127 
somewhat similar to that in organic chemistry relating to homologous 
series. He says, “Meionite (3 : 2 : 1) is the most basic term known of 
the Wernerite series, in which the proportion of silica goes on increasing 
up to dipyre, the relations of whose constituents is as 6:2:1, all having 
apparently the same density as meionite. We might naturally expect to 
find a silicate which would hold the same relation to dipyre that zoisite 
does to meionite. M. Damour has had the good luck to discover this new 
silicate in a specimen of jade from China.”* The following table shows 
its relations to the other members of the series : — 
Density. 
2-7 
Meionite . . . (3:2:1). 
Dipyre . . . . (6:2:1). 
Density. 
3-3 
Zoisite . . . (3:2:1). 
New Jade . . (6:2:1). 
Electrical Relations of Minerals . — M. de Kobel has investigated the 
conducting and isolating properties of various minerals, and has commu- 
nicated the following results to the Munich Academy of Sciences : — 
1st. — Group of Good Isolaters. (a) Electro-positives : Calcite, Arragonite, 
Lyparite, Barytine, Gypsum, Anhydrite, Apatite, Quartz, Topaz, 
Smaragdite, Grossulaire, Disthene, Orthoclasse, Albite, Tourmaline, 
Axinite, Zinon, Moscowite, Spinelle, Alum, &c. — (b) Electro-nega- 
tives : Talc, Sulphur, Asphalt, Grpiment, Succinium. 
2nd. — Group of Good Conductors : Graphite, Gold, Silver, Platinum, 
Galena, Pyrites, &c., &c. 
3rd. — Group of Imperfect Conductors : Diamond, Celestine, Almandine, 
Melanite, Analcine, Sphene, Antimonite, Jamesonite, Franklinite, 
Pyrolinite, &c. 
Discovery of Albertite in Scotland. — This peculiar mineral has recently 
been detected near Mountgerald, by Mr. A. C. Mackenzie. This gentleman 
has detected no less than thirty-six veins of a substance quite analogous 
to the American Albertite. It is to be hoped that he will continue his 
investigations in the same direction, for the mineral is an exceedingly 
valuable one, yielding as it does a very considerable quantity of a hydro- 
carbon oil, which, to judge from its reputed properties, bids fair to rival 
the much-used paraffine oil as a medium of artificial light. 
The Characters of Alunite. — M. Gautier-Lacroze finds this mineral 
abundant in the rocks about Mount Dore. Its cohesive power is almost 
equal to that of quartz, and its colour, which is of a greyish white, becomes 
under the influence of the air, first bluish green and then reddish. It has 
a slightly conchoidal fracture. It is more or less spotted with small 
particles of sulphur, and has a density of 2*481. Yellow prussiate of 
potass gives a fine blue colour with it. When dried it loses ten per cent, 
of water. It consists of water, sulphur, potash, sulphuric acid, oxide of 
iron, alumina, and silicious matter. 
* For a description of this mineral, see the last number of this Review, 
page 568. 
