Los Angeles daily herald., 1884-11-21

OF this mineral have observed during
my last reconnoisances large beds in new
localities in Llano county, Texas, and in the
Creek Nation, Indian Territory, in perfect
transparent plates, on an average one foot in
diameter, imbedded In feldspar. Expert.
ments have been made lately for the pur-
pose of transforming mica into brocades or
bronze colors, whereby a new field Is opened
to the utilization of this mineral. To this
end the mica is well crushed, boiled In
muriatic acid, washed and separated ac-
cording to the size of the scales thus OBJ.
tanned. The obtained lamine exhibits A
beautiful, glass-like luster of silver-white
appearance, and are denOminated in com
merce brocades, crystal colors or mica
bronze, The four kinds of silver-white, or
color brocades, which are met with in com
merce, are sorted according to the size of
the lamine.
They possess the following advantages
overthe ordinary fabricates: First, they do
not contain any ingredients injurious to
health. Second, they possess the metallic
luster of the metal brosades, and even sur
pass them in brillianoy OF color. Third,
brown, black, blue, green and rose-eolored
are represented In Il rare luster, which is
not the ease with metallic brocades Fourth
they depOrt themselves indifferent toward
sulphurous exhalation; they retain their lus-
ter in moist air; have small specific weight
and possess more body. These fabrieates
might find application upon metal, bris-
tol board, or wood and glass con
sequently they may be adopted for the man
ufaeture of these or other fancy articles for
coloring artificial flowers, wall paper, seal
ing wax; In short in all technics where col
ors are employed. In applying them II is to
be recommended to cover the articles with
a paint similar in color for those ofthe broe.
AIDES. For silver, for instance, white lead
for blue, ultramarine. In using blue colors
the paint is ground with mixture OF four
parts of glue and one of glycerine. In using
oil paints as ground color good damar or
pale copal varnish is more suitable than the
paste described.
When finally coated with n proper spirit
orturpentine yarnish, these articles take a
luster far surprising in splendor and dura-
bility those ordinarily obtained. Articles
coated with asphalt varnish and afterward
spread over with silver brocade, take a
granite-like appearance. II employed in the
preparation of isinglass, magnificent crys-
tallizatlons are obtained well suited for In
laying In buttons and Otherarticles. Further
more, they recommend themselves for imi-
tating gold, rain, snow In theaters on account
of their small specific weight and cheap
price. Finished porcelain and glassware
might be coated with the above brocades II
brought again to the heat of their melting
point.
Mica was first used as a substitute for glass
in windows, then, on account of its dura-
bility when exposed to high temperature IL
came to be extensively used for doors of
stoves and for this purpose was largely i'm
ported up to the year 1866, when the beds in
this country were first taken advantage Of
Mica Is also made into reiiectOrs, sea COM
passes inlayings for wood instead OF enamel
and many other articles. But one of the
most important uses is substitute for glass
In spectacles, which are intended to protect
the eyes OF fire and metal workers against
sparks and fragments of metal and rock.
with regard TO the occurrence of mica in
this country, tits found besides in Texas and
the Indian Territory, in Acworth, Grafton
and Alstead, New Hampshire, In perfectly
transparent plates sometimes exceeding a
yard In diameter, in st. Lawrence county,
n. Y, eight miles from Potsdam, in plates
seven inches across, and near Norwich, in
feldspar, In plates sometimes foot In di-
ameter and in multitude Of places in New
Mexico and Arizona; also In Madison coun-
ty, near Warm Springs, North Carolina
Professor Roesler, in Mining Review.