MINES OF SCHKMNITZ. 391 
in the Stephano-schadt mine ; and very beautiful chap. 
crystallizations of red antimonial, or ruby, silver. < 
Fossil coal has been known for many years, in 
different parts of Hungary. In the Bannat, it is 
found beneath the stratum of auriferous sand 
whence the Gipsies obtain their ivash gold. 
Lately it had been dug at Schemnitz ; but it was 
considered rather as a curiosity than an article 
of utility. Professor Passern exhibited to us 
some large specimens of what is called brown 
coal, found near Schemnitz. 
May 20. — We were employed in coUectinsf and E^perf- 
•^ . . . ments in 
analyzing minerals, and in making experiments, theLabo- 
• 1 1 r ratory. 
in the public laboratory, with the students of the 
College of Mines ; who are called practitioners. 
Almost all the students smoke tobacco; seldom 
making their appearance in a morning without 
tobacco-pipes in their mouths. They had recently 
discovered an art of varnishing the most common 
earthenware pipes, so as to give them the 
colours of the noble opal. This is done simply 
by dipping the earthenware in the solution of 
silver in nitric acid, after its separation from gold, 
and then exposing it to the heat of a porcelain 
furnace. Such an opalescent varnish might 
perhaps be introduced with advantage into our 
potteries. 
