Abstract
The Native Hydrate of Magnesia was first discovered, and ranked as a separate Mineral, by the late Dr Bruce of New York. It was found only at Hoboken in New Jersey, traversing serpentine in every direction, in veins from a few lines to two inches in thickness. Its specific gravity was 2.13, and it yielded upon analysis 70 parts of pure magnesia, and 30 of water.In the year 1813, I received some fragments of this rare mineral from our late eminent countryman Dr John Murray, and though it exhibited no traces of a crystalline structure, I found it to be a regularly crystallised mineral, with one axis of double refraction perpendicular to the laminæ. The connection between the primitive form of minerals and their number of axes of double refraction, which I observed at a subsequent period, enabled me to determine that the Native Hydrate of Magnesia belonged either to the Rhomboidal or the Pyramidal system of Mohs.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
