REMARKS.
The specimen of amianthus, referred to in Mr. Pierce's communication, is uncommon. The fibres measure from 12 to 15 inches in length, and are as soft and flexible as fine human hair.
It will be remembered, that in the rocks at Hoboken, Dr. Bruce discovered the hydrate of magnesia, or magnesia combined with nothing but water, in the proportion of about 70 per cent. of magnesia. This discovery gave a new and interesting species to mineralogy; it is now admitted in the systematical works on mineralogy.
Mr. Pierce's discovery is not less interesting; and we presume he will be deemed correct in the opinion, that pure native carbonate of magnesia has not been discovered before. The serpentine of Hoboken, then, is memorable for affording these two new species.
Art. V. Native Copper.
Art. V. Native Copper.
In Bruce's Journal, (Vol. I. p. 149.) mention is made of a remarkable piece of native copper, found near New-Haven many years ago, and weighing about 90lbs.
We have now to add, (and the fact is, indeed, mentioned in Cleaveland's Mineralogy,) that another piece has been recently found half a mile west of the Hartford turnpike road, opposite the town of Wallingford, and twelve miles from New-Haven. It was turned up in ploughing to repair a road. The country is of the secondary trap formation, and the rocks, at the particular place, are the old red sandstone of Werner, which here occupies the plains, and runs under the trap. The piece weighs almost six pounds; it is fine virgin copper, with rudiments of large octahedral crystals of native copper upon its surface, which is more or less incrusted with green carbonate of copper and ruby oxid, very much resembling that of Cornwall: the ruby oxid is particularly remarkable in the cavities of the piece.