Outlines of Mineralogy

Front matter

OUTLINES or MINERALOGY. i-^»-i By J. KIDD, M.D. MtOFESSOR OF CHEMISTRY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD. VOL. I. OXFORD: PIIINTED BY N. BLISS, For J. Parker, and R. Bliss; Longman, Hurst, Rees, & Orme, and Messrs. Rivingtons, LONDON. 1809. TO THE REVEREND THE DEAN OF WESTMINSTER. My Dear Sir, I may well feel desirous of expressing my obligations to One, from whom under Providence I ultimately derive most of the comforts of my present life. To your kindness, joined with that of a relation now no more, I owe the inestimable blessing of a liberal education. To your fa vourable testimony I also owe my connexion with the University to which I have the hap piness of belonging ; and by which I have been honoured with the appointment that has led to the present publication. To you therefore, yet not unmindful of what 1 owe to others, I have desired to dedi- DEDICATION.

IV cate this offering, however unworthy in itself; satisfied that you will measure my gratitude by a fairer standard than its merits. I am, My dear Sir, With the sincerest respect, Your most obliged aud affectionate Friend, J. KIDD. Oxford, Jan. 16, 1809-

Preface

It has been my object in the following publication to give as concise yet comprehensive a view as possible of the general history of Mineralogy. Others must judge whether the plan which I have adopted is calculated to attain that end : but I trust that the end itself is desirable. From the nature of the subject but little original information can be expected in an elementary trea tise : and therefore, although I have purposely avoided making many immediate references, it would be easily understood that much has been borrowed from other works. The authors from whom I have derived the most general assistance are the Abbe Haiiy and M. Brongniart : the first of whom gives the most sys tematic and clear account of minerals I have yet met with; the last, the most comprehensive: particular sources of information I have acknowledged as the opportunity afforded.

The division of the subject is comprehended under four general heads, which treat respectively of Earthy, Saline, Inflammable, and Metallic Substances ; in the order observed by Mr. Kir- PPiEFACE. VI wan in his Elements of Mineralogy. To these is added an Appendix, containing an account of several compound rocks&c; which, though they are properly classed under the head of earthy substances, seem to admit of a separate consideration. In the arrangement of individual minerals I have oc casionally deviated from the plan adopted by Mr. Kirwan ; either in consequence of subsequent im provements in the science, or because I have thought the order of the subject required it. Thus, in consequence of the discovery that the jargon together with the hyacinth, and the emerald together with the beryll, contain respectively a new earth ; those minerals have been removed from the siliceous i£enus of Mr. Kirwan, and classed under the head of that earth to which they properly belong : the two first, under zircone; the two last under glucine : and these earths, for a reason to be mentioned pre sently, have been placed between magnesia and alumine.

The sapphire and its varieties, the spinell ruby, and the topaz, have also been removed from the siliceous genus and placed under the head of alumine, or the argillaceous genus of Mr. Kirwan ; because that earth is now known to be the principal constituent part of those minerals.

PREFACE.

. VII For a similar reason the chrysolite has been transferred from the siliceous to the magnesian genus. The garnet ought perhaps to have remained among the siliceous compounds : but, as it will be seen by the foregoing alterations that all those substances which are ranked among the precious stones are thus brought together, I have taken the liberty of subjoining the garnet as being the only precious stone that re mained. Felspar, which has also been removed from the si liceous compounds, has been placed under the argil laceous ; because it appears certain that many natural varieties of clay are derived from the disintegration of that mineral. In the arrangement of saline and metallic sub stances no alteration of any importance has been made : but many of the former have been omitted. In the third division, which treats of inflammables, all but the four first substances seem to be connected with each other by a natural series, and may be sub divided into three classes ; the first comprehending the various forms of imperfectly mineralized vege table matter ; the second, the different varieties of coal ; the third, bituminous substances : they are arranged in nearly an opposite order to that adopted by

PREFACE.

. VIII Mr. Kirwan ; because this arrangement seemed best calculated to elucidate the natural connexion above alluded to. Plumbago, which is by some classed with the diamond ; by others, with coal ; in the present instance is placed with the last of those substances : with which, of the two, it seems naturally the nearest allied. One of the newly discovered earths, and some of the newly discovered metals, I have thought myself justified in altogether omitting ; because they at pre sent are of such very rare occurrence. In the description of individual minerals I have first set down their more remarkable synonyms, together with an explanation of the origin or meaning of these ; next, an enumeration of their most striking characters ; after that, the results of their chemical analysis; and lastly their general history, together with the means of distinguishing them from other minerals resembling them in appearance.

The description both of the appropriate and distinctive characters has been principally collected from the Abbe Haiiy : the chemical analyses have been col lected from various sources. The comparative statement from some of the earlier natural historians are a very small proportion of those which might have been produced : for I soon

PREFACE.

. IX found that the attempt to reconcile their accounts with those of the moderns was, in by far the greater number of instances, an undertaking which no la bour was likely to accomplish: and indeed from the fluctuation of terms I think it is hardly possible to be accomplished. The introduction consists of two parts : in the first of which I have given a short account of that branch of the subject called geology ; in the second, a general description of the more remarkable characters and pro perties of minerals. For the imperfect manner in which some of the references are made I beg leave to apologize, by saying that the notes from whence they are taken were originally collected without the intention of publishing. b AUTHORS REFERRED TO IN THE FOLLOWING V0LUXES. Elements of Mineralogy, by Richard Kirwan, Esq. London 1794 and 1796. 2 vols. 8vo.

Systema Mineralpgicum, a Wallerio. Vienn. 1778. 2 voll. 8vo, Rei Rustics Auctores. Paris. 1533. sol. Columella. Paris. 1543. 8vo. Winkelman. (Ital. Transl.) Rom. 1783. 3 toII. 4to. System of Mineralogy, by Robert Jameson, Esq. Edinb. 1804 2 vols. 8vo. Saussure Voyages dans les Alpes. Genev. 1786 — 1796. 8 torn 8vo. Illustrations of the Huttonian Theory, by John Playfair, Esq, Edinb. 1802. 8vo. Haiiy Traite de Mineralogic. Par. 1801. 4 torn. 8to. Theophrastus. Lugd. Bat. 1613. sol. Baccius de Gemmis. Francos. 1643. 8vo. Brochant Traite Elementaire de Mineralogic. Paris. 1800 2 torn. 8v-o. Kirwan's Geological Essays. London, 1799. 8vo. Brongniart Traite Elementaire de Mineralogie. Paris. 1807, 2 torn. 8vo. CONTENTS of the FIRST VOLUME. Pag. Introduction . . . i. EARTHY SUBSTANCES. Lime . . , . . - . 1 Native Lime ......

Carbonate of Lime .... 2 Marbles and Limestones ... 3 Parian Marble .... 4 Carrara Marble .... 5 Cipolino . . . 6 Pentelic Marble . White granular, with black Veins . . 7 Dolomite . . . . . 8 Brecciated Marble .... 9 Brocatello . . . . ,10 Vert Antique . . . . .11 Rouge Antique . . . .13 Black Marble . .• . .14 Black and white Marble . , . — Serpentine Marble . . . .15 Tiree Marble .... — Stalagmitical Marble . • • — Shell Marble . . . . .16 Lumachella . . • • • — Florentine Marble . . • .17 Cottatn Marble . • • • — CONTENTS. Tag. Limestones . . . . .18 Chalk ..... — Bath Stone ..... 20 Portland Stone . . . .21 Magnesian Limestone . ... .23 Calcareous Tufa . . • .24 Travertino . . . • .25 Piperino ... . .26 Roe.Sione .... . — Pisolithus . . . . .27 Calcareous Concretions of Tivoli . . 28 Limestones of a Greyish Black Colour . 29 of a light Blue or Grey Colour . 30 Calcareous Slate or Flagstone . . 31 Marls ..... 32 Ludus llelmontii . . . .35 Stalactitic Carbonate of Lime . . 37 Agaric Mineral . . . . 3>5 Stalactitic Incrustations . . .41 Osteocolla . . . . .42 Stalactite . . . . .43 F'os Ferri . . . . ... 44 Stalagmite ... . — Greenish while Stalagmite of Derbyshire . 46 Observations on Stalactites S,c . . — General observations on Calcareous Strata- . 47 Satin Spur . . . . .49 Crystallized Carbonate of Lime 50 Primitive Calcareous Spar . . .51 Iceland Spar . . . . . 52 Dog-tooth Calcareous Spar . . . — Prismatic Calcareous Spar . *. .54 Nail headed Calcareous Spar . . . — .

Arra gon Spar . . . . 5S CONTENTS. XIII Pearl Spar .... Rhomb Spar ..... Veins Sfc. of Calcareous Spar . . Sulphate of Lime ..... Gypsum of Montmartre . . . t Granular Gypsum . . .62 Compact earthy Gypsum . . .64 Farinaceous Gypsum . . . ,65 Fibrous Gypsum . . . , — Selenile . . . . .66 Observations on Gypsum , . .69 Anhydrous Sulphate of Lime . . .72 Fi.uate of Lime . . . . .73 Colourless Fluor . . . .74 Purple Fluor . . . . .75 Blue Fluor . . . . .76 Green Fluor .... 77 Yellow Fluor . . . . . — Corroded Cubic Crystals of Fluor . . 78 Earthy Fluor . . . . . — Phosphate of Lime . . . , — Competes Phosphate of Lime . . .79 Crystallized Phosphate of Lime . . SO AKSENIATE OF LlME . . . .81 Strontian . . . . .82 Carbonate of Strontian . . . — Sulphate of Strontian . i . .84 Baryt . ■ . . . .86 Carbonate of Baryt . . . . •— Sulphate of Baryt . . . .87 Earthy Sulphate of Baryt ... . — Crystallized Sulphate of Baryt . . .88 Bologna Stone . . ... .89 CONTENTS.

XIV Pag. Magnesia ...•■»• 93 Serpentine ... Noble Serpentine 94 Lapis Ollaris . . • .95 Steatite 96 Myrsen . Asbestus and Amianthus . • • 10° Loosely fibrous and flexible Amianthus • 101 Compactly fibrous fye. . • • *03 Compact Spongy Amianthus . • • — Fibrous Asbestus . • • — :. Ligniform Asbestus . . • ,105 2VÆ 106 Laminated Talc . 107 Venetian Talc . • • .108 Indurated Talc . . . .109 Jade U0 Neplirile . . . . .113 Chlorite . . . . .114 Small foliated or scaly Chlorite . . — Earthy Chlorite . . . • — Actinolile . • - .116 Boracite . . . • .118 Chrysolite . . . . . 120^ Olivin . ■ 122 Zircone ...... 124 Zircon of Ceylon . • • .125 Hyaeinth ..... 126 Glucine ...... 128 Beryll . . • • . — Emerald . . . . .130 Euclase . . . . .133 Alumine . . . • .135 Native Alumine . . . . — CONTENTS. XV Pag.

Wavellite . . . . .136 Sapphire . . . . .137 Ruby . . . . .139 Oriental Topaz, Amethyst, Emerald and Chrysolite 140 Spinell Ruby . . . . 143 Topaz ..... 145 Brasilian Topaz .... 146 Siberian Topaz .... 147 Saxon Topaz . . . . — Garnet . . , . . — Corundum . . . .153 Emery . . . . .155 Felspar . . . . .157 Adularia . . , . .158 Argentine Felspar . . .159 Green Felspar . . . Blue Felspar . . . .160 Opaline Felspar . . . . Compact laminated Felspar . . . Observations on Felspar . . . 161 Earthy Felspar of Cornwall . . .162 Kaolin of China . . , .164 Petuntze of China . . . _ Porcelain Clay . . . .165 Pipe Clay ..... 168 Potters'1 Clay . . . .169 Stourbridge Clay . . . .170 Common biick Clay . . . .171 Loam . . . . .172 General Observations on Porcelain and Potters'1 Clay 1 73 Fullers' Earth . . . .175 Lithomarga . . . . .177 Ochres . . . . . — Yellnw 0-hre . . . .178 CONTENTS.

XVI Pag. Red Ochre . . ■ • .178 Brown Ochre . • • .180 Agalmatolite . . • .181 1 8*2 Cyanite - • • • Mica 1&3 Schhtus or Slate . A • .180 Common or roofing Slate . • . 1 87 Killas . ... • .188 Shale .... Aluminous Shale . • • .189 Black Crayon . • • .190 S.LEr . " 192 Quarts . • • Transparent colourless quartz • . 195 Transparent blackish brotvn Quartz . . 198 Transparent yellow Quartz . . .199 Transparent rose red Quartz . . — Transparent blue Quartz . . . 200 Crystallized Amethystine Quartz . . — Opaque crystallized red Quartz . . 202 Aventurine .... 203 Prase . . • • • — Chrysoprase .... 204 Paper Quartz .... 205. Plasma . . . . . — Jasper ..... 206 Ribband Jasper .... 207 Simple . , . . .208 Egyptian Jwpcr . . . . — Wood Jasper .... 209 Blood.Stone . . . .210 Black Flint . . . .211 Chert . . . . .215 Touchstone ..... — CONTENTS.

XVII Pag. fJovaculite or Hont-Slone . . .216 Calcedony ..... 217 Onyx . . . • . . 219 Sardonyx . . . . . — Stratified onyx .... 220 Agate ..... 222 Mocoa Stone ..... 225 Cacholong . .... Cornelian ..... 226 Opal ..... 227 Cat's Eye ..... 229 Hydrophanous Opal . . . 230 Semi. Opal . . . . .331 Menilile ..... 232 Tourmaline . . . . . 233 Rubellile ..... 236 Hornblende .... 238 Axinite , . . . .240 Thallite ..... 242 Lapis Lazuli .... 244 Lepidolile ..... 246 Xeoliie ..... 247 Prehnite . . , . .250 Staurolite . . . . .251 Vesuvian . . . .252 Leucite ..... 254 a

Introduction

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INTRODUCTION.

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