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Ch. 11: Amber, Malachite, Serpentine, Bowenite, Williamsite, ... Catlinite, etc.

Ch. 11: Amber, Malachite, Serpentine, Bowenite, Williamsite, ... Catlinite, etc. Page of 364 Ch. 11: Amber, Malachite, Serpentine, Bowenite, Williamsite, ... Catlinite, etc. Text size:minus plus Restore normal size   Mail page  Print this page
UNITED STATES, CANADA AND MEXICO
187
in color, soft enough to work readily, and capable of producing most excellent effects, particularly in rock-faced work and rubble work. It has been used extensively in Philadelphia and vicinity, where it was employed in the construction of the buildings of the University of Pennsylvania and the Academy of Natural Sciences, and it has also been used to some extent in New York City and Washington.1 Bowenite is a variety of serpentine found in some quantity at Smithfield, R. L, varying in color from a pure white through light green to deep green. It is the "jade" and " nephrite" of the early American mineralogists, so-called on account of its remark­able toughness and its hardness. As yet, however, no archaeolog­ical objects made from it have been found. Its rich color and peculiar toughness and hardness suggest it for use, to some extent, where jade has previously been employed. Prof. Genth" mentions as having been found at Easton, Pa., a bowenite of a greenish and reddish-white color and of great tenacity, frequently contain­ing a small quantity of tremolite. The ease with which this material is worked, and the effective designs that can be made from it, suggest it for decorative purposes. Analyses of serpen­tine from Hartford Co., Wilmington, Del., by Professor Genth, have been made with the following result:
SERPENTINE
Williamsite is a variety of serpentine found in Texas, Lan­caster County, Pa., and in Maryland. Owing to its rich green color, and the ease with which it can be cut, it has been used to a
1 Cf. Building and Ornamental Stones of the United States, by George P. Merrill, Pop. Sci. Monthly, Vol. 27, p. 520.
8 Contributions to Mineralogy (1876).
Ch. 11: Amber, Malachite, Serpentine, Bowenite, Williamsite, ... Catlinite, etc. Page of 364 Ch. 11: Amber, Malachite, Serpentine, Bowenite, Williamsite, ... Catlinite, etc.
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