1852.] 109 
The constituents of Karpholite, by two analyses—one by Stromeyer and one 
by Steinman, as recorded in Dana’s Mineralogy, are: 
By Stromeyer. By Steinman. 
Si—Silica . c : - 36°15 ° - 37°53 
Al Alumina jp Gs) 8! B8.67 4s 4. 26:47 
Mn—Oxide of Manganese en LOG : - 218.33 
Fe “6 Iron : Bn 2229 . Fe 6:27 
H Water Be AN ich ee a LOPS ites, sl nye Mag Le 86 
HF—Hydrofluoric acid . - 1°47 
Karpholite is therefore essentially a hydrated silicate of alumina and manga- 
nese, and entirely different in its composition from the mineral in question. 
Before the blowpipe this mineral fuses readily, and a sublimate is formed, 
which, if the mineral is supported on its quartz matrix, forms a bluish ring on 
the quartz; and a brilliant yellow color is imparted to the flame. With mic. 
salt, in the interior flame, it forms a green bead. 
In its easy fusibility and in the production of this curious bluish ring, con- 
densed on the quartz around the fragment exposed to the blowpipe fiame, this 
mineral is readily distinguished by the blowpipe from Karpholite, which fuses 
with difficulty, and forms no such ring. 
In the works on mineralogy, there is a meagre notice given of an ore of molyb- 
denum, under the name of molybdic ochre or oxide of molybdenum, which occurs 
in powdery incrustations of various shades of yellow, and is in fact molybdic acid, 
being composed of molybdenum 63°66, and oxygen 33°39 (Mo.); but as this 
mineral contains no iron, is produced from the decomposition of the sulphuret of 
molybdenum, and has never been found in the fine delicate tufted acicular crys- 
talline form, it is probably not the same as this California mineral. 
I have not yet had a sufficient supply of. the ore to ascertain the proportion of 
oxygen united with the molybdenum in this mineral, but I am led to believe 
that it exists in the state of molybdic acid, from the fact of ammonia acting on 
it so readily. I think, moreover, that the molybdic acid is combined with the 
iron, for the pure rich yellow color of the mineral forbids the idea of the iron 
being only mechanically mixed; and besides the iron is very nearly in the pro- 
portion to form a subsalt: hence I infer that this mineral must be a submolybdate 
of iron. 
The Committee to which was referred the following by Mr. Lea, 
reported in favor of publication in the Proceedings : 
Description of anew species of Eschara, from the Eocene of Alabama. 
By Isaac. Lra. 
Many years since I received from the late Judge Tait of Claiborne, a large 
number of fossils from the Eocene 
beds of that district, and among 
the sand was found a fragment of 
this interesting genus. I did not 
then characterise it, in the hope of 
getting a more perfect specimen. 
I have not, however, seen any 
other but this fragment. 
There have been a number of spe- 
cies described by Mr. Lonsdale, in 
the Journal of the Geological Socie- 
ty, vol. i., from the Tertiary of the 
U.S. These were taken by SirC. 
Lyell to London, on his return from 
one of his tours to this country. 
The species which I propose to 
characterise, differs in its form 
