NOTICE 
 
 OF THE 
 
 IN' THE 
 
 NEW YORK : 
 
 BTLLIN k BROTHERS, PRINTERS, 20 NORTH WILLIAM STREET. 
 
 1854. 
 
i£x Htbrta 
 
 SEYMOUR DURST 
 
 When you leave, please leave this book 
 
 Because it has been said 
 "Ever'tbincj comes t' him who waits 
 
 Except a loaned book." 
 
 AVI.KY AK( Ml I 1(11 KM AND J INI ARTS LlBRARV 
 
 (in i or Si-ymour B. Durst Old York Library 
 
NOTICE 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Hliiieraliniical (fo I lection 
 
 IS THS 
 
 / 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 
 BILLIN <fc BROTHERS, PRINTERS, 20 NORTH WILLIAM STREET. 
 
 18 54. 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
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NOTICE 
 
 OF TUB 
 
 Hmmtlogital Collection in t\}t Crystal falace* 
 
 + ♦ » 
 
 The Mineralogical Department in the New York Exhibition 
 was placed under the direction of Prof. Benjamin Silliman, Jr., 
 about the middle of March, when it was expected that the 
 Exhibition would be thrown open on the 1st of May. Prior to 
 
 * The present notice of the mineralogical collections of the Crystal Palace 
 in New York was prepared for another purpose, but the writer is induced to 
 publish it here* in consequence of an erroneous and (no doubt, unintentionally) 
 injurious article, on the same subject, which was published in the November 
 (1853) Number of this Magazine. The article referred to happened never to 
 have been seen by the writer until this day, or it would have been sooner 
 noticed. Probably no one is more fully sensible of the many imperfections 
 of that collection than the person under whose direction it was amassed. If 
 any one " expected to find there a systematically arranged collection of all the 
 minerals of our country, each one bearing its name upon it," etc., he was very 
 unreasonable if he supposed that such a collection (which by the way never 
 has been formed) could be brought together, with limited means and still more 
 limited space, in the short time devoted to procuring the collection which was 
 exhibited. The arrangement adopted (geographical) has many advantages, 
 especially when the resources of a country are to be displayed by representa- 
 tive specimens. If possible to make it complete, it would be a picture or map 
 equally geological and mineralogical of the country represented. It fails of 
 course to give scientific satisfaction ; but this was not the object. The cabinet 
 was thrown open to the public in less than three weeks after the room was 
 delivered by the mechanics. Of course it was impossible to make the arrange- 
 ment of many thousand specimens complete in that time. As the writer was 
 providentially detained by a protracted illness from assisting in the labor of 
 opening and arranging the collections until this labor was far advanced, he 
 feels no hesitation in saying that, both in amount of labor performed, and in 
 the dispatch with which it was done, the exertions of his associate, Mr. Brush, 
 have never been surpassed ; and in this opinion he is supported by the judg- 
 ment of all those who were cognizant of the facts and competent to make a 
 judgment. As for the labelling of the specimens, it was impossible but that 
 much time should be consumed upon any plan. But all the most interesting 
 and important specimens had their names attached to cards, placed in front 
 of each specimen, before the 10th of October, or within a fortnight after the 
 
 * The Mining Magazine. 
 
The Mineralogical Collection in the Crystal Palace. 
 
 this time, the President of the Association had issued a circular 
 to owners of cabinets of minerals, mine owners-, etc.; and Mr. 
 W. P. Blake, B. Ph., who had drawn up the circular, visited 
 several portions of New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Vir- 
 ginia, etc., inviting the cooperation of proprietors, and exciting 
 public attention to this important division of the Exhibition. 
 
 Professor Silliman decided, upon taking direction of this 
 department, to adopt a geographical arrangement of the col- 
 lections, as being at once most practicable, and likely to convey 
 to the spectators more useful information respecting the distribu- 
 tion of those raw materials upon which so many of the branches 
 of human industry are immediately dependent. It was plain 
 that the preparation of this department at all, in the very brief 
 period remaining, was impossible, and that even with a very 
 considerable delay, the collections which could be made must 
 necessarily be very incomplete. Fortunately for the complete- 
 ness of the collection, it was early decided to place the cabinet 
 in a part of the Machine Arcade, the construction of which was 
 not complete so as to be accessible at all until late in August, 
 and was not free from the interruptions of work-people until 
 the 6th of September. Had this long delay been foreseen at 
 the outset, the collections might have been rendered more com- 
 plete from the remote sections of the United States, as it would 
 have been practicable to have sent special agents to the most 
 distant mining districts in the Eastern United States, to collect 
 specimens. This system of sending special agents was adopted 
 from the outset in all the Atlantic States, the Association having 
 liberally placed means at the disposal of the Director to employ 
 the services of gentlemen eminent in this department to act for 
 the Association in the collection of facts and specimens illustra- 
 ting the mineral resources and industry of the United States.* 
 
 room was thrown open to the public. It should be remembered that the very 
 restricted space excluded nearly all geological specimens, and compelled the 
 Director to confine his efforts almost exclusively to minerals. Had a full suite 
 of rocks and fossils from all parts of the United States been procured, or even 
 one as full in proportion as the minerals actually were, the whole Machine 
 Arcade would not have served to accommodate them. It was the economical 
 and practical that were chiefly sought to be made prominent ; and it is 
 believed that there were representative specimens from nearly every impor- 
 tant mining district of the United States and Mexico. From many of our 
 mining districts, the collection was far more complete than any other that has 
 yet been made. 
 
 It is proper to add, that, in the Descriptive and Annotated Catalogue of the 
 Exhibition, now in press by G. P. Putnam & Co., the minerals and ores of 
 this collection arc fully described in many cases, and the reader is referred to 
 that publication for fuller information than can be given here. — B. S., Jk. 
 
 * It is well to say here, that the only way in which specimens were got at 
 all, was by going or sending for them in person, or by special agents. Not 
 one in a hundred of all the circulars of invitation addressed to mine owners 
 and collectors ever received so much as an answer. One who has not himself 
 attempted it, has any idea of the labor, del.iv, and vexation attendant upon 
 2 
 
The Mineralogical Collection in the Crystal Palace. 
 
 It is but justice to mention the gentlemen who kindly con- 
 sented, often at the sacrifice of personal convenience, to perform 
 this service. 
 
 Mr. William Phipps Blake, B. Ph., of New York, as before 
 mentioned, visited the iron regions of Lake Champlain, and the 
 phosphorite deposits of the same region ; the zinc deposits of 
 New Jersey, and of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; the chrome and 
 copper works at Baltimore, and a portion of the gold regions of 
 Virginia. Subsequently (in company with J. D. Whitney, Esq.), 
 Mr. Blake made a special journey to the copper regions of North 
 Carolina, and that of the Haiwasse, in Tennessee. Mr. Blake's 
 useful services were lost to the Association early in June, when 
 he accompanied Lieutenant Williamson, as mineralogist, etc., to 
 the military expedition under the command of that officer on 
 the western coast of America. 
 
 Mr. Geo. J. Brush, B. Ph., in company with the Director, 
 visited the lead and copper mines of Chester county, Pa., under 
 the administration of Mr. Chas. M. Wheatley, and selected from 
 the cabinet of that gentleman the remarkable and beautiful 
 suites of specimens, Nos. 113, 114, 115, Class L, which formed 
 so conspicuous an ornament in the Exhibition. 
 
 Mr. Brush also visited the cabinet of John Ehlers, Esq., of 
 Hoboken, and selected the suite of Mexican silver ores (No. 234, 
 Class I.) which that gentleman's long residence in Mexico had 
 enabled him to collect from fourteen of the most remarkable of 
 the Mexican mines. 
 
 Prof. W. S. Clarke, of Amherst, visited numerous persons and 
 mines in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont, inducing 
 them to send in their contributions. 
 
 Dr. F. A. Genth, of Philadelphia, as a reference to the Hand 
 Catalogue will show, extended his services for the Association 
 over a very wide range of country, and with remarkable success. 
 , The cabinet is indebted to him for specimens from the mineral 
 region of northern New York — of Maryland — of Virginia — of 
 North Carolina, selected with great judgment and care ; for 
 suites illustrative of the metallurgic processes of the iron, lead, 
 and copper smelting works of the same regions; and also for 
 the assiduity and tact with which he induced the proprietors of 
 valuable cabinets to loan from them to the Association such 
 specimens as he selected, and often such as could be procured in 
 no other way. 
 
 Prof. Oliver P. Hubbard, M. D., of Dartmouth College, New 
 Hampshire, was commissioned to collect the minerals of New 
 Hampshire most interesting in an industrial point of view, which 
 he did. 
 
 the accumulation of such a collection. The most powerful of all inducements 
 (self-interest) was wanting, in a majority of cases in this department, to tempt 
 people to forward their specimens, 
 
 3 
 
The Miner alogical Collection in the Crystal Palace. 
 
 Mr. Ludwig Stadtmuller visited the iron regions of Con- 
 necticut, and the adjacent parts of New York ; the copper, lead, 
 and cobalt mines of Connecticut, and Northampton in Massachu- 
 setts — selecting and forwarding specimens from numerous pro- 
 prietors, and some private cabinets. He also visited and collected 
 the ores of the copper region of the Blue Ridge in Virginia, sixty 
 miles from Alexandria, at Manassas Gap. 
 
 Dr. Charles M. Wetherill, of Philadelphia, was (with the con- 
 currence of the Local Committee of Pennsylvania) commissioned 
 to visit the coal and iron districts of Pennsylvania. His labors 
 were, from the want of time, confined chiefly to the eastern dis- 
 tricts of this most productive State. The Hand Catalogue shows 
 that his success was remarkable — not less than fifty-four distinct 
 iron furnaces being represented by selections of their ore, fuel, 
 flux, slags, and manufactured products. A large collection of 
 the most important and best known varieties of the anthracite 
 coal of Pennsylvania, amounting to several hundred specimens, 
 and accompanied by a schedule showing their position, compo- 
 sition, evaporating power, and other valuable statistics, was 
 formed -for the Association by Colonel Wetherill and Mr. Peale 
 of Pottsville, and in connection with the iron products of the 
 same region, forms a feature of permanent and peculiar interest 
 in the Exhibition. The reader is referred to Dr. Wetherill's 
 annotations in the Descriptive and Annotated Catalogue, for 
 further information respecting these interesting collections. 
 
 By the co-operation of these gentlemen, with the active exer- 
 tions of the Director, and the aid of many other collectors or pro- 
 prietors, by letters, circulars, and personal influence, the collection 
 was soon made with such a degree of fullness as to secure its suc- 
 cess. To any person at all conversant with the labor and trials 
 required to accumulate a mineralogical cabinet, it will not seem 
 strange that important deficiencies should exist, in a collection 
 which was formed in less than four months. It is to be remarked, 
 however, in regard to the geographical arrangement, that many 
 deficiencies which appear upon the Catalogue, were remedied by 
 the species and representatives occurring in the miscellaneous 
 private collections, numbering nearly two thousand specimens, 
 which, with some exceptions, were not included in the general 
 arrangement. Much of the beauty of the cabinet, and to the 
 scientific mineralogist its greatest interest, arose from the liber- 
 ality of various private collectors who so kindly loaned to the 
 Association selections from whatever was most beautiful, rare, 
 or valuable in their cabinets. The collectors who thus loaned 
 their specimens, are Nos. 249 to 260 A of the Catalogue, besides 
 which we may mention the silver and other ores of Chili (Nos. 
 226 and 227), from the Government of the United States and Lt. 
 Gilliss; the great collection of California and Australian gold 
 from Adams & Co. (213, Class I.); the Mexican silver ores of 
 4 
 
The Mineralogical Collection in the Crystal Palace. 
 
 Mr. Ehlcrs (No. 224, Class L) ; the lead and silver ores of North 
 Carolina, from Mr. Roswell King (No. 159, Class I.) ; the lead 
 and copper ores of Chester and Montgomery counties, Pennsyl- 
 vania, from Mr. Wheatley (Nos. 113, 114, 115, Class I.); the 
 copper glance from Bristol, Conn., loaned from the Cabinet of 
 Union College, Schenectady, N. Y. ; besides numerous other 
 examples of single specimens, often of the highest interest. 
 
 The States of Missouri and Michigan aided the exhibition of 
 their mineral products by the appropriation of money to form 
 collections. From the State of Missouri there was sent in an 
 extensive suite of the ores of copper, lead, and iron, cobalt, and 
 zinc, and specimens of coal, marble, glass-sands, soils, lime- 
 stones, etc., in which that State is so productive. Portions of 
 these collections were prepared in a very skilful manner, and 
 did much credit to those by whom they were made. Among 
 the most remarkable specimens from Missouri, were six masses 
 of the specular and magnetic iron ores (weighing many tons), 
 from the well known " Iron Mountain" and " Pilot Knob" of 
 that State. 
 
 The State of Michigan exhibited a mass of native' copper, 
 cut from the lode of one the North American Mining Company's 
 mines (No. 210, Class L), weighing 6,300 pounds. This mass 
 was cut into a rectangular form. Portions of the epidotic gangue 
 or veinstone were adhered to the upper surface, but the sides 
 were clean-cut surfaces of pure copper, upon one of which was 
 engraved the locality and weight. Many other very large 
 masses of copper were exhibited by different miners in the Lake 
 Superior region, of which that from the Minnesota Mining Com- 
 pany weighed over 5,000 pounds. But we will not anticipate 
 the annotations, which will appear in their appropriate place. 
 
 Among other specimens in the Yard, which were remarkable 
 for their extraordinary size, may be mentioned particularly, the 
 column of anthracite coal from the Great Coal Seam at Wilkes- 
 barre. This column stood twenty-nine and a half feet high, on 
 a base of four feet. This is probably the largest mass of anthra- 
 cite coal ever seen in a single column, cut from one vertical 
 thickness. The great column in London in 1851, from the Staf- 
 fordshire Coal Field, was bituminous coal. The semi-bituminous 
 coal masses from the Frostburg Coal Field in Maryland, exhi- 
 bited by the Lonaconing Company, and by the Parker Vein 
 Company, were also of monster size, and excited much attention. 
 
 Other remarkable specimens in the Yard, were the white 
 statuary marble, two huge blocks, of many tons measurement, 
 from Fairhaven, Rutland county, Vermont, (No. 8, Class I.) This 
 marble is in color all that can be desired, but whether it has the 
 texture to endure fine cutting, and strength to sustain delicate 
 lines and ridges, yet remains, we believe, to be proved, nor does 
 it appear that experiments have been made to test its resistance 
 
 5 
 
The Mineralogical Collection in the Crystal Palace. 
 
 to crushing, and the crystallization of sulphate of soda. A per- 
 fect white marble in this country for statuary and architectural 
 purposes, is certainly a great desideratum, and it is hoped that 
 among the specimens exhibited from several localities in Ver- 
 mont (see Nos. 10, 11, and 13, Class I.) it may be found. 
 
 A beautiful block of encrinital marble, of a fine red chocolate 
 color, and taking a high polish, was exhibited, from the shores 
 of Lake Champlain in New York, (No. 51 r ) and recommends 
 itself for interior ornamental purposes. 
 
 An ornamental marble (28 A, Class I.), a verd-antique, of 
 great beauty, was exhibited from a quarry long since opened 
 near New Haven, in Connecticut (Milford). And another of 
 similar character, but more highly colored by serpentine and 
 chrome iron, was shown from Vermont. 
 
 Two masses of cinnabar from the New Almaden Mines, near 
 San Josi, Alta California, (No. 219, A), weighing many hundred 
 pounds, were remarkable for their great purity and size giving 
 promise, from what we already know of the surprising extent of 
 the deposits, of an inexhaustible supply of quicksilver, where it. 
 is much wanted, and at a point whence it can be easily supplied 
 to the whole Pacific coast. 
 
 It was not surprising that nearly all visitors to the Mineralo- 
 gical Cabinet, should be curious to see the gold of California, of 
 which the world has heard so much of late years. Fortunately, 
 the enlightened zeal of the well-known commercial and financial 
 agents, Adams k Co., enabled this inquiry to be answered in 
 the most satisfactory manner. Their collection from the Cali- 
 fornia gold washings embraced not only several nuggets of a 
 remarkable size and great variety of form and complexion, but 
 it included ounce specimens from nearly every washing or place 
 of any note, to the number of over two hundred. It was very 
 curious and instructive to observe the characteristic differences 
 which these samples of diluvial gold presented, both in color, 
 form, and the size of the grains, a difference so marked and con- 
 stant, as to guide the eye of an experienced person in deciding 
 the origin of the samples. Among the larger specimens, were a 
 few which were remarkable for the beauty of their crystalline 
 structure. One large mass especially, containing about £900 in 
 value, had its gold disposed in large and well-formed skeleton 
 octahedra, joined in symmetrical forms by their apexes, the 
 whole sustained on a gangue of clean quartz, and wonderfully 
 well preserved from the wearing effects of water, usually so 
 prominent in all nuggets. 
 
 A specimen of eight or ten ounces of iridosmine, so much 
 valued from its hardness in pointing gold pens, was shown with 
 the gold of Messrs. Adams & Co., being obtained as an insolu- 
 ble residue at the Mint, in the process of refining the gold. It 
 was easy to select from among the grains those which retained 
 6 
 
The Mlneralogical Collection in the Crystal Palace. 
 
 the hexagonal form and tin-white color belonging to this rare 
 mineral. Including the ingots and coins, (all struck in Cali- 
 fornia, and mostly by private assayers), the value of this collec- 
 tion of gold was declared at over $80,000. Among the speci- 
 mens were a few of the Australian gold, which was noticeably 
 more yellow, and bears a higher value than the California gold. 
 
 Among the most novel and interesting products from the 
 north-western coast of America, which was sent to the Exhibi- 
 tion, was a chest containing a fine sample of bituminous coal 
 (No. 219 D, Class I.), from Bellingham Bay, Puget's Sound, in 
 the newly established territory of Washington. Captain D. 
 Ottinger, U. S. Marine, who transmitted this specimen appears 
 to have sent no data accompanying it, from which we can judge 
 of its extent and position. In the absence, however, of more 
 exact data, it may be interesting to record the statement lately 
 made in one of the daily journals of San Francisco, that a cargo 
 of this coal had just been received at that port, and was regarded 
 as a most precious addition to the commercial resources of the 
 whole Pacific coast. Although coal has been before noticed in 
 Vancouver's Island, and at two or three points on the shores of 
 California and of South America, it has been neither in quantity 
 nor quality such as would satisfy the wants of a commercial 
 steam marine upon the Pacific, the future importance of which 
 is now so clearly indicated. 
 
 In scientific mineralogy the collection was, in the American 
 Department, very complete, containing examples, and often the 
 very finest that have been found, from nearly all the localities 
 of the United States of any note. Without intending to enter 
 into much detail, we may enumerate a few of the more remark- 
 able in the order of the Catalogue. 
 
 From Maine, the three crystals of green and red toumaline, 
 (No. 254, Class I.), discovered many years since at Paris, by Pro- 
 fessor C. IT. Shepard, and exhibited by him, are probably the 
 most unique specimens of this species ever seen. The color is 
 lively grass-green to ruby red, the opposite ends of one and the 
 same crystal presenting these two colors ; perfectly transparent 
 in some parts, and again, filled with cracks. The crystals are 
 nearly two inches in diameter, and before being cut, nearly three 
 inches long, and terminated with the rhombic planes. Portions 
 from these crystals have been cut, and form gems of rare beauty 
 and value. These crystals were found loose in the soil, more 
 than twenty-five years since, by the exhibitor. 
 
 The^ mica plates, from Grafton and South Ack worth, exhi- 
 bited by George H. Ruggies of Boston, and J. and J. S. Bowers 
 of Ackworth, are well known now the world over, for their size, 
 clearness and strength. An important branch of industry has 
 grown up from the employment of this mica to fill the openings 
 in the doors of stoves for the combustion of anthracite. The 
 
 7 
 
Tlie Mineralogical Collection in the Crystal Palace. 
 
 mica of Grafton is remarkable for having compressed in its lumi- 
 nal crystals of black tourmaline, flattened in the longer axis, and 
 often so thin as to permit the passage of light. Two specimens of 
 these natural polarizers were shown among selections from the 
 cabinet of Professor Silliman, Jr. 
 
 A mass of smoky quartz costal, penetrated by delicate hair- 
 like crystals of transparent red-brown rutile, was exhibited by 
 Professor O. P. Hubbard. This appears to have been part of a 
 larger crystal, and was picked up as a bowlder in New Hamp- 
 shire. Its sides have been cut so as to illuminate the interior, 
 which exhibits a sight of rare beauty, the dark, but perfectly 
 transparent quartz, being everywhere interpenetrated with the 
 countless fibrous crystals of rutile. Some of the rutile crystals 
 project in points beyond the surface of the quartz, seeming to 
 indicate that they were formed first across a cavity, and sur- 
 rounded by the quartz in a state of solution at a later period. 
 There is another similar specimen in the cabinet of a private 
 collector in New York, which also came from New Hampshire, 
 and is quite probably part of the same original mass. 
 
 The large crystals of pale-colored, smoky quartz, penetrated 
 by rutile, which were found in great numbers a few years since 
 in cutting for a railway in Waterbury, Vermont, were also 
 represented in the collection among the specimens from the 
 cabinets of W. S. Vaux of Philadelphia, and of B. Silliman, Jr., 
 of New Haven. 
 
 The only example of tin ore in the United States is also 
 from New Hampshire, town of Jackson, and specimens of the 
 ore and metallic tin and bronze made from it were shown by 
 their original discoverer, Dr. Charles T. Jackson of Boston. 
 (No. 5, Class I.) 
 
 The crystallized spodumene from Norwich, Massachusetts, 
 was one of the remarkable mineralogical novelties of the collec- 
 tion. This mineral was first observed in crystals at this locality, 
 by Messrs. Hitchcock, Jr., and Hartwell, in 1850. The former 
 of these gentlemen exhibited several very large crystals (No. 
 14, Class I.) of this spodumene, and Professor B. Silliman, Jr., 
 showed the two most interesting forms which have hitherto been 
 observed, one, the same figured in Dana's Mineralogy, 3d ed. p. 
 693, and another hemitroped on the plane M. The crystallized 
 alluaudite, found with the spodumene at this locality, was also 
 exhibited. 
 
 From Connecticut, the copper glance from the Bristol Copper 
 Mine, was exhibited by the mine agent, Mr. H. II. Sheldon ; but 
 more remarkable examples of the same, were those from the 
 cabinet of Union College, in Schenectady. These remarkable 
 crystallized forms of glance copper are now well known by 
 mineralogists, the world over, but such large and fine specimens 
 were never before shown publicly. 
 8 
 
The Miner alogical Collection in the Crystal Palace. 
 
 From Iladdam, in the same State, was shown one of the 
 largest crystals of columbite ever found. It weighed over two 
 and a half pounds, and is tabular in form from the extension of 
 the plane M. Most of the lateral planes are preserved, while the 
 lustre and metallic tarnish of the surface are well displayed. 
 The same town also furnished two crystals of beryl, such as 
 have been found only there, with the terminal plane, so per- 
 fect in surface and polish, that when one crystal is placed upon 
 the other the exclusion of air is so complete, that the one crystal 
 lifts the other. These terminal planes are of a transparent light 
 green color, veneered, as it were, upon the summit of the prism, 
 whose shaft is of a milky pale green color; the lateral planes are 
 distinct, and strongly marked with rhombic lines. These speci- 
 mens were also from the cabinet of Professor B. Silliman, Jr., 
 and fine examples from the same planes were shown by Mr. 
 Yaux and Messrs. Clay of Philadelphia. 
 
 The region of northern New York, including especially the 
 counties of Jefferson, St. Lawrence, and Essex, has long been 
 remarkable for the very fine crystallized minerals which it pro- 
 duces. It is believed that the collection of the species there 
 found was more completely represented in the Crystal Palace, 
 than ever before in any one cabinet. The selections from the 
 cabinet of Hamilton College, by Professor O. Eoot, (No. 41,) 
 that from the cabinet of Mr. Wilder, at Hoosick Falls, (No. 40,) 
 that from the cabinet of Judge Dodge of Gouverneur, (No. 32,) 
 and many unique specimens from the cabinets of Mr. Yaux and 
 others, gave great beauty and completeness to this portion of the 
 display. The species shown from this region were chiefly apatite, 
 green hexagonal crystals in white limestones, two were over 
 eight inches long, and one doubly terminated, and one fragment 
 of a crystal, believed to be the largest individual of this species 
 ever found, which measured eighteen inches in length, by over 
 six inches in diameter, and when entire, was estimated to 
 have weighed over fifty pounds; large and distinct crystals of 
 phlogopite (one of the mica family) ; calcite, of rare form, size, 
 and transparency ; zircon, in large hair-brown transparent crys- 
 tals; tourmaline, in highly complex forms of brown color; fluor- 
 spar, in gigantic cubes; celestine, in clear blue crystals on calc- 
 spar ; Millerite (sulpliuret of mickel), in capillary crystals: and 
 among more common species, but remarkably well crystallized, 
 may be named galena; iron pyrites, highly modified; yellow cop- 
 per ; specular iron, etc., etc. 
 
 From the region of Lake Champlain, a large mass of finely 
 crystalline graphite (No. 46) is worthy of remark, from Ticon- 
 deroga ; several large crystals of allanite-, from Crown Point, 
 both exhibited by Mr. W. P. Blake. The allanite is in crystals 
 of unexampled size, and this hitherto rare mineral promises to 
 be abundantlv furnished by this locality. 
 
 9 
 
The Mineralogical Collection in the Crystal Palace. 
 
 The specimens of sphene and scapolite, from Lewis county, 
 shown by Mr. Bourue, Mr. Yaux, Mr. Wilder, and others, are 
 among the most memorable mineralogical products of New 
 York, but are certainly surpassed in interest by the monster 
 spinels of Monroe, "Warwick, and other neighboring towns of 
 Orange county, which have been brought to light by the exer- 
 tions of Messrs. Horton and Jenkins, of Monroe. Some perfect 
 and well modified black octahedra have been found, and were 
 exhibited over 4 inches in diameter, and groups of a much 
 larger size. The well known species hornblende, Biotite, and 
 many others, for which this county is so celebrated, were also 
 fully represented. These species were included in the selections 
 from the cabinets already named. 
 
 The metallurgical resources of the State of New York were 
 represented by the iron ores and furnace products from Orange 
 county, etc., as may be seen more particularly by reference to 
 the Catalogue. The lead region of St. Lawrence county has 
 been again brought into notice, and the ores from several of the 
 mines were collected, or sent in by their proprietors (see Nos. 
 30, 31). The "Ulster Mining Company" (No. 52) ' exhibited 
 a notable mass of galena, specked with yellow copper (in the 
 Yard), weighing several tons, and some showy specimens of the 
 yellow copper of this mine, in huge well formed crystals, stand- 
 ing upon tables of large and transparent quartz crystals, were 
 shown by Mr. Vaux and others. 
 
 As a whole, probably, the crystallized minerals from the 
 State of New York, in this collection, were more remarkable 
 than those from any other district, although in beauty they 
 were inferior to the leads of Pennsylvania. 
 
 From New Jersey, the zinc ores of Sussex (Franklinite and 
 red oxide zinc) are well known, and were abundantly repre- 
 sented. Some masses of the red oxide, shown by Mr. Blake, 
 were of great purity, and the red corundum crystals, also from 
 Sussex, shown by the same gentleman, are worthy of notice for 
 their color and size. Brucite, (hydrate of magnesia,) from the 
 well known locality of Hoboken, was shown by Mr. Stone, of 
 Brooklyn, New York, (No. 60,) of unequalled size, being in 
 veins three to four inches in thickness, and in masses weighing 
 many pounds — perfectly pearly. The iron ores, pig, slags, from 
 Andover and Easton, Pennsylvania, shown by Cooper k Hewitt, 
 New York, were exceedingly creditable to the condition of this 
 important branch of industry in New Jersey. 
 
 We have already adverted to the rich collections from the 
 iron and coal districts of Pennsylvania, formed by Doctor 
 Wethorill, and also to the unique suite of lead ores from Mr. 
 Wheatley. Pennsylvania is favored beyond any of her sister 
 states in mining resources, and has turned them to the most 
 profitable account. There can be no doubt that the manufac- 
 10 
 
The Mineralogical Collection in the Crystal Palace. 
 
 turing industry of the Northern States is intimately, and alrnosi 
 vitally, dependent upon the anthracite coal furnished by Penn- 
 sylvania ; we refer to the appropriate heads for the data of this 
 important internal commerce. 
 
 The southern or south-eastern counties of Pennsylvania 
 embrace a district of protogene rocks, which, beside the valuable 
 veins of copper, and lead, and deposits of chrome iron, which 
 they contain, furnish to the mineralogical collector some of the 
 choicest ornaments of his cabinet. The corundum of Delaware 
 and Chester counties, beside its mineralogical interest, has been 
 found in masses sufficiently compact and abundant to dress into 
 emery for manufacturing purposes, although it is doubtful 
 whether the existence of the cleavage of the mineral is suffi- 
 ciently obliterated to give it the requisite strength and toughness 
 as a polishing agent. Specimens of this emery rock were ex- 
 hibited by Mr. Seale, from Minersville (No. 120.) The rutile, 
 which, like the crystallized corundum, is found loose in the 
 soil, has a considerable commercial value, from its use in giv- 
 ing the yellowish gray tint to artificial teeth. The collection 
 contained remarkably fine examples of this species, in large 
 genieulated crystals of great perfection. We notice especially 
 two crystals from the cabinet of Thomas A. Seale, of Miners- 
 ville, which are esteemed the finest examples of this species in, 
 existence. 
 
 Nearly all the mineral species from the vicinity of Texas, 
 in Lancaster county, and from some other localities in that 
 neighborhood, owe their greenish color to the presence of oxide 
 of nickel, which rare metal is found to the extent of over one 
 and a half per centum in the chrome iron of Lancaster county. 
 The effect of the carbonic acid and water of the atmosphere 
 has been, in percolating the mineral, to dissolve out and deposit 
 the nickel in the form of a beautiful emerald green, transparent 
 crust, which is found lining fissures in the rock, and encrusting 
 the masses of chrome iron. This beautiful species was recog- 
 nized and described several years since by Professor Silliman, Jr. 
 The general diffusion of nickel through this region is an inter- 
 esting fact in Metallurgy, and connects itself with a statement 
 made by the late Colonel Price Wetherill, of Philadelphia, to 
 the writer, to the effect that nearly all the lead ores of Missouri 
 contained an appreciable quality of nickel, associated with a 
 trace of cobalt, so as to interfere seriously with the use of certain 
 samples of litharge for the glass making art, from the color 
 which these metallic oxides give to the material of the glass. 
 
 The district of Pennsylvania under consideration has been 
 a rich field to the mineralogist, and has furnished a number of 
 new species to his science within the last few years, e. g., 
 emerald nickel, euphyllite, pennite, clinochrore, and others, 
 which, although not new, are not elsewhere found in the United 
 
 11 
 
The Mineralogical Collection in the Crystal Palace. 
 
 States. In addition to these are found there a long list of more 
 common species, often of rare beauty. 
 
 The specimens of cleavable feldspar, and of raw and washed 
 clay (Nos. 119, 120,) from New Garden, and of fire-brick made 
 from the same, require further investigation, with reference to 
 the existence of Kaolin, which is clearly indicated by the ex- 
 tended beds of decomposed pegmatite, and other gneissic rocks 
 rich in feldspar, in Chester county. Some allusion will be 
 found to the interesting metal lurgic relations of those rocks, in 
 the Illustrated Record of the Crystal Palace, page 59.* 
 
 The crystalline slags from Easton, exhibited by Dr. Swift, 
 and by Professor Silliman, have not yet received a chemical 
 examination, such as they demand. Their beautiful distinctness 
 as crystals, often transparent, produced by art, excites our 
 admiration and invites an extended investigation into the cir- 
 cumstances of their origin. It is worthy of remark in this 
 connection, upon the statement of Dr. Swift, that of two fur- 
 naces, in different sections of the same district, but supplied 
 with the same materials and ores, the one produces crystalline, 
 and the other amorphous slags. These furnaces are represented 
 in the Exhibition by the proprietors, Messrs. Cooper k Hewitt, 
 (No. 64.) Dr. Wetherill, in his researches among the slags of a 
 great number of iron furnaces in Pennsylvania, found but few 
 which furnished distinct crystals, and but one among them all 
 that showed the red oxide of titanium (as it has been errone- 
 ously called) so common among the slags of some Welsh 
 furnaces. 
 
 From Maryland, the products of greatest economical interest 
 were the chrome ores and manufactured products, and the copper 
 and cobalt ores of the Patapsco Company, as well as the copper 
 ores from Carroll and Frederick counties, the iron ores, and the 
 masses of coal before referred to. 
 
 The fine cleavable feldspar, from New Castle, Delaware (ex- 
 hibited by Mr. J. Jones, No. 141), is well known from the use 
 which has been made of it as a porcelain material. 
 
 The mineral products of Virginia were not very fully repre- 
 sented, but the collection contained from that State some things 
 possessing a high interest, especially among the gold ores. Dr. 
 Genth's collection contained one specimen of gold associated 
 with telluret of bismuth (tetradymite), in which the gold pre- 
 sented a surface of the most perfect polish, being evidently the 
 cast, or pseudomorph, in gold, of some other species (probably 
 of spathic iron). The rare telluret of bismuth, from Commodore 
 Stockton's mine in Louisa county, was fully represented. From 
 Goochland and Buckingham counties were some ores of gold of 
 a remarkable character, especially that from Garnet's Mine (No. 
 
 * Professor II. D. Rogers's Report, this Magazine, page 338, Vol. II. 
 12 
 
The Mineralogical Collection in the Crystal Palace. 
 
 142), which was associated with garnets. The heavy spar from 
 Eldridge's Mine was remarkable for the form and finish of its 
 crystals. Gray copper was observed for the first time in the 
 United States by Dr. Gentli, among the copper ores of Orange 
 county. 
 
 The cannel coal from the Kanawha (in the Yard) was plainly 
 a material of remarkable promise. 
 
 Weirs Cave, a well-known cavern in Virginia, celebrated for 
 the beauty of its crystalline stalactites, was represented by a large 
 mass of crystals of dogtooth spar, of a delicate yellow color, ex- 
 hibited by Mr. Robert L. Cooke, of Bloomfield, New Jersey. 
 
 North Carolina. — The copper veins of this State have lately 
 attracted much attention, and were fully represented by the 
 collections of Mr. Blake and Dr. Genth, as well as by the larger 
 specimens sent on by proprietors. The copper exists almost 
 solely as yellow pyrites (double sulphuret of copper and iron), 
 in veins of quartz. Dr. Gentli states the interesting fact that, in 
 all the cases in which he has examined this ore, it is auriferous ; 
 and the circumstance is well known, that nearly all, if not all, 
 the North Carolina copper veins were formerly worked as gold 
 veins. Above water-level, the decomposing influences of air, 
 water, frost, etc., have removed the sulphurets, leaving the gold 
 in the oxide of iron, or gossans. The same fact holds true in 
 Virginia, that, in many mines, the gold has apparently run out 
 in depth, being replaced by copper pyrites. The truth is, proba- 
 bly, in all these cases, that the quantity of gold is as great in 
 depth as it was at the surface ; but it is in a form not to be pro- 
 cured by washing and amalgamation, and in which it can only be 
 obtained by a circuitous method, involving a furnace process. 
 • In "North Carolina, the region productive in copper, etc., appears 
 to be confined chiefly to the counties of Guildford and Mecklen- 
 burg. 
 
 The Washington Mine, in Davidson county, was very fully 
 represented by specimens of argentiferous galena, bars of silver, 
 and numerous crystallized salts of lead, particularly pyromor- 
 phite and cerucite (phosphates and carbonates). Mr. Roswell 
 A. King, the former proprietor, deposited in the cabinet a large 
 collection of the various products of this mine, obtained some 
 years back, when it yielded superb specimens and made its name 
 memorable with American collectors. 
 
 From the other Southern States the display of minerals was 
 small, some of the States being wholly unrepresented. The 
 massive black oxide of manganese, from Edgefield District, 
 South Carolina, exhibited by Mr. Lane (No. 168). was remark- 
 able for the large size of the blocks (seen in the Yard), and for 
 its freedom from foreign associated minerals. 
 
 The gold from Mr. Dorn (No. 167), of Oakland Grove, in the 
 same district, presents a peculiar example of the distribution of 
 
 13 
 
• 
 
 Tlie Mineralogical Collection in the Crystal Palace. 
 
 this metal in cavities filled with ochraceous matter in a talcose 
 s£ate, the common gangne of gold in the Atlantic gold region 
 being quartz. The Gold Hill Mine, in North Carolina (No. 166), 
 and some others represented in the Exhibition, are of the same 
 class with Dorn's Mine, but none it is believed have proved equal 
 to the latter in the value of its products in proportion to the ex- 
 tent of its workings. 
 
 The copper ores of the Hiwassee region, in Tennessee (Nos. 
 172, 173), were well represented by specimens collected by Mr. 
 Blake, embracing the associated minerals and rocks. This 
 deposit (for it is a mass conformable to the adjacent strata) offers 
 a singular and interesting example of the fermentation on a 
 large scale of magnetic pyrites, poor in copper, and the separa- 
 tion of the sulphuret of copper from the oxide of iron, resulting 
 from the decomposition of the magnetic pyrites. This process 
 is still in operation at the depth of eighty or ninety feet from the 
 surface, where an accumulation of sulphuret of copper, a few feet 
 in thickness, rests upon the bed of unchanged pyrites, while 
 above is a loosely aggregated mass of oxide of iron (gossan), 
 which forms the outcrop of the bed and is entirely free from 
 copper. The temperature in the adits at the bottom of the shaft 
 is said to be about 80°, and the odor of sulphydric acid very 
 decided. The extent of this mass (which is intercalated between 
 beds of gneissic rocks) is the most remarkable feature of the 
 case, being, it is said, forty to fifty feet in width, and traced by 
 exploration between two and three miles.* 
 
 FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 
 
 It was not to be expected that the representation of foreign 
 minerals would be very full, but there were not wanting several 
 very instructive and beautiful suites of minerals from several of 
 the public institutions in Europe, and from private collectors or 
 dealers. 
 
 From Great Britain there was no systematic collection. The 
 Duke of Buccleuch sent a fine suite of argentiferous galena and 
 its products, illustrating the various stages of the Pattinson pro- 
 cess applied to the ores from Wanloch Head. The ingot of 
 silver accompanying this suite was of the value of £100; and a 
 similar scries came from the " Mining Company of Ireland." 
 "The Lowmoor Iron Company," Yorkshire, England, sent a 
 remarkabl ) fine suite of specimens, illustrating the manufacture 
 of iron in all its stages (No. 15, Class XXII., Division B), the 
 fullest and most instructive series of the sort that was exhibited. 
 
 The oolitic fossils sent by Robert Damon, of Dorset, and the 
 huge crvstal of hcaw spar, with other minerals, from Mr. Cow- 
 per, of Alston, arc worthy of commendation. 
 
 * Refer to the very able Report of J. D. Whitney, Esq., in this Magazine, 
 page 144, Aug., 1853. 
 14 
 
The Minera logical Collection in the Crystal Palace. 
 
 Saxony. — This ancient and almost hereditary seat of mining 
 was admirably represented by a well-chosen suite of character- 
 istic specimens, selected by authority of the Koyal Saxon Mining 
 College in Freiberg. It embraced the ores of silver, lead, anti- 
 mony, copper, bismuth, and their associate minerals. The 
 specimens were, many of them, large, showing the character of 
 the entire vein from which they were taken ; and these were 
 selected from several of the best-known mines. As a suite 
 calculated to convey accurate ideas to the student, with regard 
 to the distribution and character of metallic veins, nothing could 
 be better. 
 
 The Royal Bavarian Director-General of Mines, at Munich, 
 also sent a large suite of specimens, both mineralogical and geo- 
 logical, illustrative of the mineral resources of that kingdom. 
 Especially worthy of mention in this collection, was that part 
 which embraced the rock-salt, gypsum, and anhydrite, from the 
 saliferous region ; and the w r hole series was put up and ticketed 
 with characteristic German exact neatness. 
 
 The Directors of the Public Iron Depot, at Gottenburg, in 
 Sweden, sent an instructive suite of the iron ores, pig, and bar 
 iron of that kingdom, so long celebrated for its tough and valua- 
 ble iron products. 
 
 The mineralogical portion of the foreign department was 
 however chiefly indebted for its beauty and attractiveness, in the 
 eyes of scientific mineralogists and collectors, to a brilliant suite 
 of well-chosen crystallized minerals, selected from all the great 
 mineral and mining districts of Europe by Dr. Augustus Krantz, 
 of Bonn on the Rhine, who is well known as a dealer in minerals. 
 This suite embraced specimens from Prussia, Saxony, the Hartz, 
 Thuringia, Baden, Hanover, Nassau, Transylvania, Hungary, 
 Bohemia, Tyrol, Switzerland, Italy, France, Scandinavia, and 
 Russia. Many of the specimens were such as are rarely seen 
 even in Europe in such fine condition, and the whole offered 
 much pleasure to mineralogical collectors. 
 
 More useful, probably, because within the reach of young 
 students and of teachers, were the select cabinets of well char- 
 acterized minerals and rocks, designed for instruction. It is 
 one proof of the utility of the Exhibition, that several of these 
 latter collections were sold to students and teachers from those 
 exhibited, the price being moderate and the specimens ex- 
 cellent. 
 
 Although fossils were not generally included in the collection, 
 from want of space, a few were admitted ; and among them we 
 note, as particularly worthy of mention, the beautiful collection 
 of fossils from Solenhofen, sent by Carl Haberlein (No. 246, b). 
 Dr. Krantz also sent a choice selection of German fossils, inclu- 
 ding a fine head of ichthyosaurus communis, and many fine 
 encrinites. 
 
 15 
 
The Mineralogical Collection in the Crystal Palace. 
 
 As an example of new gleanings in an old field, we may 
 mention the mercury and copper ores — the former from Jano, in 
 Tuscany, and the latter from near Volterra (Monte Catini) — sent 
 by Messrs. Sloane, of Florence, English proprietors, who have 
 lately developed these resources before dormant in the domain 
 of the Grand Duke. The copper ores are both the yellow, 
 variegated, and vitreous sulphurets, in massive blocks, accom- 
 panied by tile copper made from them. 
 
 Illustrating new metallurgic processes, there were in the 
 collection three suites of specimens worthy of special mention, 
 viz. : — 
 
 1. The separation of gold from arsenical pyrites, by Plan- 
 ner's method (243 a), by M. Guettler, of Eeichenstein in Silesia. 
 A specimen of the arsenical pyrites, containing 200 grains of 
 gold in the ton; the same roasted, to expel arsenic ; the residue, 
 after treatment with chlorine ; the colcothar, or fine red oxide of 
 iron, saved in the process; and the button of gold, form the 
 series of specimens. In Plattners process, as conducted by M. 
 Guettler, the roasted ore is treated by chlorine gas, whereby the 
 gold and iron are rendered soluble in water, from which solution 
 the gold is thrown down by sulphuretted hydrogen. The pre- 
 cipitation of the iron is prevented by the addition to the solution 
 of a little chlorohydric acid. The gold is then collected, and 
 fluxed as usual. This process is beyond doubt applicable to the 
 refuse of many mines which contain often a little trace of gold, 
 and, since its discovery, has been the means of opening some old 
 mines in Europe which have been abandoned for centuries, e. g., 
 this very mine of Eeichenstein, which has been abandoned for 
 500 years. A plan of the works accompanied the suite. 
 
 2. The separation of silver from copper ores, in which it 
 exists in small quantity, by the process of Mr. Ziervogle, now 
 of Pennsylvania. The copper-schists of Mansfeld, of Germany 
 — the same which furnish the well-known fossil fish (Paleoniscus 
 freisUhensis) — have long been worked for copper, although con- 
 taining not over 5 per cent, of ore. This copper is argentiferous, 
 and the silver it contains was formerly separated by liquidation. 
 By the present process, the details of which are kept secret by 
 the discoverer, water is said to be the agent of separation. The 
 suite of specimens exhibited consists of the schist, the same 
 crushed and roasted, the roasted ore after lixivation with water, 
 the same fused, two or three stages of the copper fusion, fine 
 copper, and fine silver. In the absence of any data of a precise 
 nature, we remark, that it is obvious that the silver to be 
 removed by water must be in a soluble state, and that the result 
 of the roasting must be the production of a soluble salt of silver, 
 (sulphate?) which the water removes. 
 
 3. The reduction of oxide of iron by carbon in tubes, by the 
 process of Mr. Kenton, of Newark, a more detailed description 
 
The Mineralogical Collection in the Crystal Palace. 
 
 of which, by Mr. Wurtz, can be seen in the Annotated Catalogue 
 under the proper head. 
 
 The geological maps of the English Ordnance Survey, sent 
 out by order of Sir Henry De La Beche, were the most impor- 
 tant contribution under the head of maps, plans, and sections. 
 It is unnecessary to enlarge here upon the merits of these maps, 
 which are everywhere regarded as models of accuracy and 
 laborious research. 
 
 Such is a brief summary of some of the more salient and 
 obvious points of interest in the mineralogical collection in the 
 Crystal Palace in New York in 1853.