The Express.
London, England, 1851-05-24 00:00:00

MINING AND MINERALS.

This class, though well represented, occupies n com-
paratively very small space. The mineral pro dUce of Great
Britain is situated at the S111101•West silk of the building,
and commenees with a very floe niinerabilieal collection
et.hibited by Mr. Tennant, among which we observed some
very choice specimens of rare minerals, a very large me-
rahl the property of the Duke of Devonshire, geological
collections for educate al purposes, &c. Next are two
cases of most elaborate crystallographic molobs exhibit:al by
Dr. Lecom, of St. Thomas'. Hospital, and the Rev.
Mitchell ; and further on some fine s:u.eintena of polished
agate., and jet in the roitah and minufartansi state. On
the adjoining table is a rase of very b.autiful Scotch jewel-
lery exhibited by 0. Jamieson, of Aberdeen, made from
native granite, and crystal, beryl, ike.; the "Lora
brooch" and "Quaigh" among odors. The Marquis of
Brcadalbane exhibits specimens of copper, silver, and lead
ores, from Perthshire and Argylexhire, awl Mr. Cook, a large
crystal of cairngorm, from Ilenmaelhue, Abenksoishire.
There is also a very useful and instructive grou? of sulphur
specimens, showing the different states in with:a it is roma
native, nod the mineral: from which it is extracted are
exhibitid by Mr. Ilighley.
On shelves at the end of this compartment are arrampal
spenitnen. illus:rative of the geology of the country round
Bristol. A very complete collection of precious stones,
rough and cut, the property of Mr. Thackthwayte, wan also
pointed out to us. Standing near the door io a small stand
of specimens of the mineral productions of tit: county, Tip-
perary-, exhibited by Mr. Fabie.
Mr. E. Lance, of Fritoley, exhibits a very interesting'
collection of minerals used as manure, showing the
process of manufacture and the results obtained
from their use in :agriculture. There is also an illustration
of the gradual formation of arable land by the
disintegration of rocks. Mr. Teschemaeher exhibits spe-
cimens of artificial and mineral manures, and Mr. Neshit
of the different phosphatic fossils which have receutly been
discovered and so largely used in the manufacture of
manures. These collections cannot fail to be of interest to
agriculturists. who may perhaps derive much real benefit
from the proof which is given of the advantages to be de-
rived front the use of these substances. Specimens of Ful-
ler's earth in all stages of preparation are followed by some
pieces of atone supposed to be applicable to lithographic
purposes, from the Purbeck beds, exhibited by the the.
I'. Brodie. Mr. Worthington exhibits illustrations of lid
processes of salt manufacture at ; Mr. Hills, of
Dublin, samples of the various qualities of salt made in Ire-
land. These are t xceedingly good in appearance. On the
same table is a ease of specimens of the soils surrounding
Newbury, Berk., cousisting of clays, ochre., sands, peat,
Hints, chalk, &c.
Mr. Brockedon exhibits an extended series of specimens
of black lead from all parts of the world, in various stages
of preparation, according to his patent process. WWI.
Reeves, Wolff, awl Adair each exhibit similar objects.
Next to these is a ease of sands and earths from the Isle of
Man : some bottli s containing sands arranged so as to show
th- stratification of the 11l different coloured varieties as
found at Alum Bay, Isle of Wight, exhibited by T. Claxton,
Veutnor. Specimens of moulding sands and glass from
various localities, clays, wands, &e., from the Shannon
district are arranged in the mine compartmunt with a cal-
lection
of whet and hone stones front trot,. Mr. Meinig
exhibits an extensive series of grinding and polishing stones.
Further on are contributions from several persons of the
China stones and clays used in the manufacture oilman-c-
-laim among which those of Messrs. Winte,say and Watts,
W. H. Jenkins, of Truro; the We-t of Enoland Chino,
Stone, and Clay Company ; T. Thriscutt, of the Candle
Down Clay Works, Cornwall, are deseraing of tqwcial
notice. _ _ .

King and Co. exhibit Stonrbridge clay, erueildes, glass
pots, and a model of a glass furnace; W. Phillips, of
Plympton, very beautiful Parkin caste. Then follows a
variety of fire clay, crucibles, tiles, drain pipes, from seve-
ral contributor; specimens of earthenware from the Bovvy
Tracey Pottery, Devonshire, remarkable as the only instance
oflignitc'a being effectually applied to the tiring of pottery in
England,—and it has ouly been used at Elbogen when mixed
with other coal. As large deposits of this material exist in
England, France, and Germany, and its price is low, it may
perhaps become important. Specimens of the Berry Tracoy
lignite arc exhibited ; by their side are drain pipes and tiles
from the Leitri:n manufactory, made of the Irish
clay, so well ad ipted to the purpose. On the side
wall are beautiful specimens of the application of ce-
ments and stucco, and on the floor opposite, pavements,
Ike., which in their resemblance to marble arc quite won-
derful. The different stones producing these cements, and
contrivances for showing the strength of the manufactured
article in various ways, a very beautiful table stone, and a
table inlaid with different marble, make up the collection of
Mr. J. B. White. Blyth and Jacobs exhibit specimens
illustrative of the manufacture of plaster of Paris.
Slabs, and blocks of granite from the neighbourhood
of Edinburgh, together with 110112 C sandstones from the same
locality, are shown here. Near these are specimens of
mountain limestone. from Ireland; some very fine marbles
from the Shannon district, nearly all of which are from un-
worked quarries, although, as we were informed by an
English exhibitor of marbles, several of the kinds were in
great demand here. Mr. Freeman exhibits a very complete
collection of building stones, one of the best of the whole
class ; and, from the admirable way in which they are
labelled, with the locality they were taken from, and the
buildings in which they have been used, will be found of
groat practical value tee those persons more particularly in-
:•srested in this department. Equally well arranged and
of
s
l
a
t
pe
ces,
and the various applica-
tions fine variety from
completetlnsof this hest7tl;l!e:llt7 The
Delabole, Cornwall; these from Wicklow, Wales, are
all adequately represented.
A considerable space is devoted to the exposition of the
various products of peat, shale, and allied substances.
Among the exhibitors are the Bituminous Shale Com-
pany, whose products arc derived from the strata
at Eimmeridge, Dorset—oil, tar, and several others.
Mr. Stone exhibits hi+ patent peat end it+ products,
Mr. Orland the Dartmoor, and Mr. J. Rogers the Irish
peat+, and the substances derived from them ; Mr. Lyon, of
Swansea, his patent fuel made from refuse coal ; Mr. Cob-
bold the products from his patent process for condensing
peat, so as to form a substitute for yet, ebony, &c., apt-h-
-e-able to a variety of useful purposes, also the fibre extracted
during the process, used for making roofs, &c. This col-
lection of the products of a substance of which we have
Jur quantities in all parts of the three kingdoms, aryl
*Ala has hitherto bra sanely sad at all, though eel-