Review of A system of mineralogy, by James D. Dana / [Benjamin Silliman].

  • Silliman, Benjamin, 1816-1885.
Date:
1844
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Review of A system of mineralogy, by James D. Dana / [Benjamin Silliman]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Names proposed. Authoi's. Pickeringite, Hayes, Polyadelphite, Thomson, Raphitite, Thomson, Rensselaerite, Emmons, Retinalite, Thomson, Scoharite, Macneven, Stellite, (of Bergen hill,) Terenite, Emmons, Tephroite, B-reithaupt, Torrelite, Thomson, Torrelite, Renwick, Washingtonite, Shepard, Xanthite, Mather, Identical with. Magnesian alum. Brown garnet. Hornblende ? [tite. Steatitic pyroxene or pseudomorphous stea- A doubtful serpentine compound. Heavy spar, with 6 to 9 per cent, of silica Pectolite. [mechanically mixed. Doubtful—altered scapolite or augite. Troostite. Columbite from Middletown, Ct. An impure red jasper. Ilmenite. Idocrase. Catalogue of American localities and minerals.—This is one of the many novel features of the present edition. Besides full and minute specifications of American localities under the seve¬ ral species, we have them here arranged geographically, begin¬ ning with Maine and following the coast. This list is designed to aid the mineralogical tourist in selecting his routes and arrang¬ ing the plan of his journey. “ In making out this catalogue, the names of those minerals which are obtained in good specimens at the several localities, are distinguished by italics. When the specimens are remarkably good, an exclamation mark (!) has been added, or two of these marks (!!) when the speci¬ mens are quite unique. If a locality that has afforded peculiarly fine specimens is now exhausted, the exclamation mark has been inverted (j). The more exact position of localities may in most instances be ascertained by reference to the description of the species in the prece¬ ding part of the treatise.” Chemical Classification^ Part YIL—W^e have already extracted (p. 374) the author’s views, in which the strictly chemical char¬ acter of the arrangement adopted in the Treatise is explained. The following additional remarks are cited from the introduc¬ tion to a second classification by the author, corresponding more nearly with other chemical arrangements. Speaking of the nat¬ ural system, he says: “ It takes into view, it is true, the external characters ; but as these depend upon the chemical constitution, and proceed from it, they are indications of the composition, and unless followed too implicitly and without a general survey of the whole subject, will not lead to impor-