Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-02-10
AGRICULTURAL GEOLOGY.

W hEfflE 'hhHIalNs
Bones are the phosphate of lime; sol Is a beauti-
ful crystal called apatite. This crystal Is found
in granite rocks, Is of "A green color, hexedral
shape and resembles the beryl and emerald. The
phosphate of lime constitutes n part # mari beds,
and greatly increases the fertilizing power of
that powerful fertilizer. Ii is also one ingredi-
ent OF milk. In these various relations it exists
in no small abundance, and performs no unim-
portnnt agency, either in animate or innnimate
creation. II surely ought Ia be known, at least
by every farmer, and of course taught TO every
farmers son, and daughter too.
Derbyshire spar Is the fluate of lime. 1t re-
crives n beautiful polish, and - much used for
urns aud other mantel rnaments 1t also APP
pears in beautiful crystals. both in regular cubes
and oetnedrons, or equal eight sided crystals,
precisely The shape of alum crystals, easily form
ed by dissolyins alum in hot water, leaving the
mass, while cooling. to arrange It's particles n.
7 und wire put into the form of n card basket, or
any other fancy article preferred. Nitrate of
lime is another caleareous formation, less album
dant aud less useful than either of the other ates
before named.
f. uch Of the lime formations now given is com
posed ot three elements, or ultimate principles.
Two of these elements are the same in all-oxy-
gen and calcium, or the oxide of Calcium. The
other elements entering seyerally into the com
pounds are carbon, sulphur, phosphorus, huorine
and nitrogen; which. after being acidlfied by the
agency OF oxygen, combining in each CASE with
the same oXid, form the carbonate, sulphHtc,
phosphate, tuato and nitrate ot lime.
All these lime formations except the nitrate,
frequently appear in beautiful crystals. Some
of the carbonate crystals IRE rhomlie spar, pearl
slar, dogtooth spnr. tabular spar, fain SPAR,
Hrragolite, and others, amounting ia the whole
Ia two ar three hundred distinct crysta line
forms If he c ,rhounte of lime. Some of the
CRYSTALS of the sulphatp of lime are sclcnite,
(moon stonc) flroas Gypsum, rad at,d gs psun,
the onlg crystal OF the phosphate Of lime il apa.
tiic, already numed, IN the fern of IA SIX sided
prism, not often more than an inch or two in di-
n''"'"r ! h" phosphate of irnn sometimes pre-
senls interesting crystalline forms.
Some OF the most hcautiiul and instructive OK.
hib.lions of the wonderful science Of crysiallo-
grnphy are in the ilUnte of lime. The two prin
cipnl CRYSTALS are those already named-the
cube and &c ncdron-viz six aud eight-sidrd ii
CURES. by cleavage, these two crystals can be
changed from one Ia the other-the cube into the
octacdrol or the octacdron into the cube. Both
these crystals, and their process of transfer ma
tion, we're beautifully cXhihi ed by specimens
formed of pastchoard with great skill and tnste,
a. the richest possible amuseInents of some girls
in a schonl in Washington, for tn, Scholars Fair
in New York. They were mich admired and
largely commented upon hy the crowd of visitors.
ENpEIuMENT.-Divide II thin piece of paste
hoard into cquilaternl triungles, figures with three
equal sides, say an inch and "A half in length.
Slightly cnt the divisions by the point of knife,
for the convenience IT folding them into various
desired forms or boxes. Thus prepared, the pa
per can be readily folded into shapes to illustrate
the primary crystals of the iluate of lime, aim,
tsulphate of %alumina,) gold, iron, lead, and very
lumcrour other minerals.