of
sulphunc acid. They are found in the sulphur mines of Sicily; the salt
beds of Switzerland; and at Montmartre, France. In the United States,
in New York, Ohio, Utah, Maryland, New Mexico and Michigan. Alabaster
is used in glass factories, made into lamps and ornaments, and as a
medium for sculpture.
Albite: Soda
Feldspar. Silica 68.7%, Alumina 19.5%, Soda 11.8%. Color white, often
exhibiting a pearly, opalescent luster and bluish shimmer. Transparent
to subtranslucent. Different varieties are called Aventurine,
Pericline, Cleavelandite, etc. Albite is found in the Swiss and
Austrian Alps, on the Isle of Elba, and other minor places. In the
United States, in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut,
Colorado and California. Its different varieties are used as gem
stones. It is also used in the manufacture of pottery.
Alexandrite: A
variety of Chrysoberyl named in honor of Alexander II. of Russia. It
is considered a gem of great beauty and has the unique property of
appearing bluish-green by daylight and raspberry-red by artificial
light.
Algodonite: Composition
not understood and doubtful, as all other members of the Dyskrasite
group, viz.: Whitneyite, Domeykite and Horsfordite. They are all
comparatively rare The reason of the doubt as to their composition is
because of the difficulty in obtaining pure material for analyses.
Allophane: Hydrous Aluminium Silicate. A variety of Kaolin, used in clay products for making pottery, tile and bricks.
Almandite: Iron
Aluminium Garnet. Commonest of all garnets. It is deep red,
brownish-red or black. This mineral furnishes nearly all the material
manufactured into
abrasives. Transparent varieties are used for gem stones.
Aluminum: A
bluish-white metal that is remarkable for lightness and for resistance
to oxidation. In its various compounds, it forms one-twelfth of the
crust of the earth. It is a most valuable metal because of its great
strength, lightness, non-tarnishing and non-poisoning qualities, but
the high cost of extracting it from its compounds, limits its use
chiefly to alloys. Sir Humphreys Davy discovered this metal. It is used
in the manufacture of many things, including cooking utensils. (See
Bauxite).
