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CHAPTER XI.
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Serpentine, Bowenite, Williamsite, Microlite, Meerschaum, Apatite, Beryllonite, Lazulite,
Cassiterite, Hematite, Lodestone, Rutile, Octahedrite, Brookite, Arkansite,
Titanic Iron, Titanite, Malachite, Chrysocolla, Azurite,
Aragonite, Fossil Coral, Pyrite.
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S
ERPENTINE is found
in many localities in the United States, and of a quality to fit it for
use for ornaments, although it is little used for that purpose, and
finds its greatest demand for decorative and building purposes. The
dark-green noble serpentine found at Newburyport, Mass., has been cut
into oak and other leaf forms for ornaments. The golden and
greenish-yellow serpentine of Montville, N. J., is of the precious
variety, and takes an excellent polish. In this localÂity serpentine
occurs associated with crystalline dolomite, and many fine specimens in
different collections were obtained, during the process of quarrying
this rock, for burning into quicklime or for flux in iron furnaces. It
occurs in small seams or veins, or in isolated nodules from a few
inches to several feet in diameter. George P. Merrill, of the United
States National Museum, has written an exhaustive paper on this subject.1
He has found that the white and gray nuclei which often exist in the
centre of these nodules of serpentine are pyroxene, and by analysis and
microsÂcopic examination has proved that this serpentine is the result
of an alteration from pyroxene. The beautiful series of polished
specimens in the United States National Museum and in Yale University
show all the changes from pyroxene to serpentine.
1 See Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1888, p. 105.
185
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