174 
Scientifi c Intelligence. — Mineralogy . 
The grains are rich in osmium and iridium. At Choco the 
grains contain osmium, iridium, and palladium ; in the Brazils, 
alone, grains of palladium are found mixed with grains of plati- 
na, gold, and diamonds. 
21. Graphite. — From some late experiments, it remains 
doubtful whether natural graphite be a pure carbon-metal, or 
really a combination of carbon and iron. — Vide Karsten in Phil . 
Magazin , vol. lxvi. p. 290. 
22. Discovery of two new Minerals. — In the number for 
November of the Annals of Philosophy, there are descriptions 
of two new minerals by Mr Levy, to which he proposes giving 
the names of Herschelite and Phillip site, the former in honour 
of the Secretary of the Royal Society, the latter of Mr W. 
Phillips, whose contributions to mineralogy are so extensive and 
valuable.-— Herschelite occurs in white, translucent, and opaque 
crystals, sometimes isolated, but generally very closely aggrega- 
ted, in a manner analogous to that in which the crystals of preh- 
nite are so generally met with. The matrix consisted entirely of 
small grains and crystals of olivine. A small quantity of the 
mineral was examined by Dr Wollaston, and found to contain 
silex, alumina, and potash. These being also the constituents 
of felspar and amphigene, it might be hence inferred, that the 
Herschelite is only a variety of one of these minerals, but its 
crystallographic and other characters shew it to be different from 
both. The form of the crystals indicates, that they are derived 
either from a rhomboid or a six-sided prism. No cleavage could 
be obtained. The specific gravity is 2.11. The fracture is 
conchoidal, and the substance is easily scratched by the knife. 
It was brought by Mr Herschel from Aci Reale in Sicily. — . 
Phillipsite. This substance accompanies the former, and occurs 
in minute, white, translucent, and opaque crystals. In specimens 
from Aci Reale, these crystals are elongated, adhere closely to- 
gether, radiating from a common centre, and forming globular 
concretions ; in specimens from Vesuvius, they are separated, and 
accompanied with Comptonite and other minerals. The form 
of these crystals is the same as that of harmotome, and the inci- 
dence of the faces is also nearly the same. The hardness, how- 
ever, is much less ; the cleavage is not in the direction of the dia- 
3 
