The blowpipe vade macum : the blowpipe characters of minerals deduced from the original observations of Aquilla Smith ; alphabetically arranged and edited by Samuel Haughton and Robert H. Scott / [Aquilla Smith].

  • Aquilla Smith
Date:
1862
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The blowpipe vade macum : the blowpipe characters of minerals deduced from the original observations of Aquilla Smith ; alphabetically arranged and edited by Samuel Haughton and Robert H. Scott / [Aquilla Smith]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    sjjeedily into a colourless bead, which becomes opaque on cooling, if it be saturated; and at a certain point of saturation, if cooled slowly, small rectangular crystals may be observed. A little of the powder with sulphuric acid, heated on a piece of platina foil, cor- rodes a piece of glass placed over it. Cyprine [Vide Idocrase) (Th. 262; Al. 198).—Souland, Tellemarkin, Norway. Very brittle; yields to the knife; streak white. In the forceps it fuses readily, with intumescence and effervescence, into a muddy-green bead, red at its base, and colours the flame behind the assay a rich yellowish-green. No water. With borax it breaks up, and fuses speedily into a clear glass, coloured by iron while warm. A fragment fused with borax, and touched with nitrate of potash, indicates the presence of manganese. Eerzelius and Thompson have omitted to notice the very characteristic colour given to the flame behind the assay. Although Eerzelius has not mentioned it, he pro- bably observed it, and was on that account induced to name it “ Cu- periferous Idocrase.” Dr. Thompson could not detect copper, and I also faded to detect it by re-agents with the blowpipe. Datholite ( Vide Botryolite; Borosilicate of Lime). Diallage (Th. 173.)—The Lizard, Cornwall. Hardness about= 3; streak white. In the forceps fuses on the edge slowly. Contains water With borax fuses slowly [with effervescence—Ed.] into a glass co- loured by ii’on. Diaspore (Vide Alumina, hydrated).—In the forceps decrepitates slightly; blackens at first, and in a strong heat becomes white like enamel, but is infusible. With acetate of cobalt becomes blue. Gives off some water in the matrass. With borax effervesces a little at first, becomes white, tinges it faintly with iron while warm, and fuses very slowly. Entirely, but very slowly, soluble with bisul- phate of soda. Dichroite (lolite). (Th. 277; Al. 177).—Eric Matts, Sweden. Resists the knife. In the forceps fuses on the edge into a greyish blebby glass. No water. With borax emits some bubbles, and fuses rather slowly into a colourless glass. Dipyre (Th. 271; Al. 139).—Mauleon, Pjrcnees. Hardness about = 4-0. In the forceps it fuses with effervescence, and some intumes- cence, into a blebby greyish globule. Contains a little water. With borax fuses, with continued effciwcscence, into a glass slightly coloured by iron. Dolomite.—Erom Moimtrath, Queen’s County. Scarcely as hard as calc spar. Effervesces briskly with nitric acid'. In the forceps fuses on the edge into a greyish blebby translucent glass. No water. With borax effervesces briskly, and dissolves speedily. Contains a little iron. Heated with nitiic acid, it leaves a large insoluble residue. EdeUte {Vide Prehnite) (Th. 317).—Tyrol. This mineral consists of two distinct substances—the dark red, or centra] portion, and the ])ale red fibrous portion.
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