New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-13

gmelinite and analctc. all OF which. with the ex-
ceptlon OF thaumaste. are grouped under the gen
erai heading OF zeolites and calce. prehnite some
specimens OF which have been cut up into gems
amethyst smoky quartz. chacedony agate da'o-
lite pectoite chaco?yrte malachite and carnelian.
A specimen Of thaumasite sent to Professor
& l. Penned Of the Sheffield Scientific School and
was identified by that authority This mineral oc-
ours as an aggregate OF prlsmatic crystals. some
times so loosely held together that the indiNduals
can be separated by crushing between the myers.
while more often the masses firm and have
somewhat the appearance OF white alabaster Occa-
sionaly distinct prisma,lc crystals are observed
but they are poorly formed and without distinc, ter
limitations Some OF the masses showing me PIT,
matte CRYSTALS have a decidedly silky lustre. There
Is a distinct pr.smatlc cleavage
4 remarkable feature Of this mineral. Which !,
per cent Of water II is silicsie. carbonate an!
sulphate Of easium ~ mas nSSsr nfen ,o 70 What
crystal system 1t belongs. and IT Is hoped thar ms
new locality In which II has been found VII soNe
the mystery An opal sometimes contains - PER
cent OF water chemically bu, thaumasite as state
is nearly half water II loses over y per cent AT
about $50 degrees Fahrenheit and continues TO ose
water at increased temperature. About W pound.
OF thaumaste and associated minerals i9uha al
West Paterson were exhibited al the annual ehhioi-
ton OF the New-York Academy OF Sciences on
March 2s in the American Museum OF natural MS,
tory. and excited general interest TINS represented
less half OF the results Of the blast on the pre-
Some idea Of the value Of the minerals found at
West Paterson may be gained from the fact that
when the Pergen Hill tunnel, when " OF the same
rock formation. blasted. beautiful specimens OF
zeoltes were found. TIE choicest In the collec-
ton OF George +. Kunz. the gem expert or IN
fanys, which sold by Mr.. kunZ for S.vp, ana IS
now in the Albany Museum. Ieo!ites are found usu-
ally in Nova Scotia. The largest apophylite Is from
Poonah India and If worth $40. and the nnest
heulandte is from Iceland. and Is worth No ".
Joseph H. Hunt. a member OF the brooklyn Instl-
tute was among FIRST who drew attention 10 the
abundance and fine qualities OF these snowy and
interesting minerals found In the traprock al West
Paterson. the zeoltes ~
After the thaumas!te, the finest minerals discov-
cred at West Paterson are probably npophynite ana
heulandite Apophylliic crystals measuring three
inches square have been found The heulandite oc-
ours In large crystals. some OF which are trans
lucent others milk white. green pink. red or brown.
The heuandite also occurs In agSregatons OF crys-
tails as large three or four inches. y. H. Err
man. OF Brooklyn. has specimen In MS valuable
meteorological collection which Is an aggregation OF
CRYSTALS, half OF which is red and the other ma
white. one Of the most interesting OF the minerals
is crystaiized prehnite The largest specimen found
defined crystals. Chabazites have been found. about
and brown Fine twin calctes have also been OBJ
tajned and a rhomb OF clear. transparent calcte has
been worked out IA inches. showing double refrac
ton as well any Iceland spar. The most abund-
ant mineral aside from quartz Is. perhaps peciolte
which has been found in balls six inches In diam
eter.
When the West Paterson quarry opens up shortly
with steam drills still more important results are
confidently expected to be realized. as II IL believed
the quarry will yield some minerals that are new
to science.