144 
Sir Charles Giesecke on Cryolite. 
of considerable size. Its colour is always dark blackish-brow% 
and the surface of the crystals partly tarnished, partly decomposed. 
I found some of the crystals hollow, and some filled with particles 
of common iron-pyrites : Iron-pyrites occurs generally massive, 
rarely crystallised in cubes and dodecahedrons. Copper-pyrites 
occurs only disseminated in galena. The galena of this place 
has the peculiar property of melting calmly before the blowpipe 
into a globule, without the least decrepitation. Some fragments 
are covered with a yellowish-white and greenish-white coating, 
which, when held to a candle, burns with a blue flame and a 
sulphureous smell. This kind of galena presents some pro- 
perties of native lead, as the sulphur appears to be elicited, and 
the ore reduced by the action of the sea-water or the atmo- 
spheric air. Galena occurs here disseminated, massive, but rare- 
ly crystallised in perfect cubes, and in cubes truncated on the 
angles and edges. 
This variety of cryolite (I may perhaps call it in a geologi- 
cal view Metalliferous Cryolite) was not known in Europe be- 
fore I visited the coast of Greenland ; because, owing to its de- 
composed state, it was not used for any domestic or economical 
purpose by the Greenlanders. They preferred the white va- 
riety, which, from its colour and greasy appearance, was called 
by them OrJcsolcsiJcstet, (from the word orhsoh^ blubber,) a sub- 
stance that has resemblance to blubber. 
I could have remained with pleasure during the whole win- 
ter on this spot, so alluring to a mineralogist ; but I had to pro- 
vide for twelve human beings who followed me, and who look- 
ed more for seals than for minerals. The floating ice pressed 
upon us in all directions, and it was advisable to get rid of the 
frith and gain the open sea, as we had to clear 250 miles in a 
very boisterous season, before we could reach our winter resi- 
dence. 
Geognostk Situation f Cryolite. 
