64 
PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
The Rev. S. Haughton, F.T.C.D., Professor of Geology, read the following— 
ON THE ANALYSIS OF SPODUMENE AND KILLINITE. 
Having been asked to arrange the minerals belonging to this Society, and finding 
among them fine specimens of Spodumene and Killinite, both of which minerals 
are becoming now rare, I was led to make a particular examination and analysis 
of them, especially as the published analyses of Spodumene are, for the most part, 
confessedly imperfect, having been made at a time when perfect atomic analysis 
was not carried to as great perfection as it is now. 
Spodumene is a rare mineral, which has hitherto, as geologists are aware, been 
found in Europe, only in Sweden, in the Tyrol, and in Ireland 5 not being found 
in any other-part of the British Isles. A careful analysis of the Society’s specimens 
gave the following result:— 
ANALYSIS OF SPODUMENE. 
In the 1Q0 parts. Oxygen ratio. 
Silica 
... 64-28 
1-397 
Alumina 
... 27-76 
0-5401 
Protoxide of Iron 1-541 
Lime 
... 0-67 
f 
Potash 
... 0-54 y 
0-165 J 
Soda 
. 0-48 | 
Lithia 
. 5-79 J 
101-06 
Formula 
(3R0,A1 2 0 )( 2 Si 0 3 ). 
He next examined the Killinite, with a view to establish some doubtful points in 
its history, and mentioned, that some time previous he had been given some 
fine specimens of Killinite, from Killiney, of a leek green colour. These were handed 
over to the Rev. Mr. Galbraith, who had been engaged in an examination of the 
ordinary hair brown variety of Killinite, and on analysis the two varieties proved 
to be identical, except in colour. 
It has been supposed that the two species, Killinite and Spodumene, ought 
really to be considered as one. To this theory the above analysis seems to oppose 
a very great difficulty ; for, adopting Berzelius’s theory of oxygen atoms, we will 
find that in Spodumene, as shown above, the oxygen in the acid is as two to one 
of the oxygen in the base, while in Killinite it is as three to two. The lithia, 
according to Galbraith, is altogether absent from the Killinite ; and, according to 
Mallet, who has also published careful analyses of this mineral, it exists as a 
mere trace. 
The specimens of both these minerals, however, being very fine and perfectly 
crystallised, Mr. Haughton was enabled to measure the angles, and thereby prove a 
most important fact, which is, that the angles of the crystals of the one mineral are 
supplemental to those of the crystals of the other. This fact proves the perfect 
identity of the two. To explain the seeming contradiction of the analysis, 
we must take other matters into account. in addition to the difference 
stated above, we find that Spodumene is anhydrous, and Killinite con¬ 
tains 8 per cent, of water. We also find that whilst external appearances 
are the same, the Killinite has a soapy feel, which Spodumene wants. This soapy 
feel, which is generally looked on as a proof that we are dealing with an altered 
mineral, gives us the clue to the whole matter. Killinite is an altered Spodumene, 
which has become hydrated. The silica in it has followed the general rule and 
become diminished by a fourth, and the lithia (one of the most soluble of the 
alkalis) has been dissolved out. 
Rev. J. Galbraith stated, that having this subject called to his mind by the 
