ALUMINA. 
319 
AUTO MO LITE. 
[From the Greek avro/xoXog, a deserter ; on account of the presence of the oxide of zinc.] 
Automolite. Phillips and Thomson. — Gahnite. Clsavcland and Bsudant. — Spindle Zincifere. Hatty. — Oc¬ 
tahedral Corundum. Jameson. — Octacdrischcr Korund. Mohs. 
Flg ' 2G5 ' Description. Colour muddy dark blue, passing into blackish 
green. Streak white. It occurs regularly crystallized. Primary 
form a regular octahedron, Fig. 265. Cleavage parallel with the 
primary faces. Fracture conchoidal. External lustre pearly, in¬ 
clining to semi-metallic ; internally, shining and resinous. Opaque, 
or faintly translucent on the edges. Hardness 8.0. Specific gravi¬ 
ty from 4.23 to 4.70. Before the blowpipe it is unalterable alone, 
and nearly so with salt of phosphorus or borax. When the mineral 
is subjected to heat with caustic potash, and treated with an acid, 
the alumina is precipitated by ammonia. From this solution, oxide of zinc is again precipi¬ 
tated, when it is saturated by an acid. 
In its crystalline form, automolite resembles spinelle; but it differs in being heavier, in 
having a different colour, and especially in containing a large proportion of oxide of zinc. 
Composition. A specimen froin the United States —Alumina 57.09, silica 1.22, oxide of 
zinc 34.80, magnesia 2.22, protoxide of iron 4.55 ( Abich ). 
Geological Situation. It is usually found in primitive rocks. 
LOCALITIES. 
St. Lawrence County. Automolite has been credited to the village of Rossie, where it 
was said to have been found in minute octahedrons, in calcareous spar.* I am inclined to be¬ 
lieve, however, that the mineral here referred to is common spinelle. It is introduced among 
the New-York minerals on the above authority, and for the purpose of directing the inquiries 
of our mineralogists to the subject. 
According to Shepard, it occurs at Haddam in Connecticut, where it is associated with 
chrysoberyl, garnet and columbite, in granite. 
* Finch. American Journal of Science. XIX. 210, 
