Wad: Bog
Manganese. A black or brown variety of Psilome-lane. I* occurs in
globular, stalactitic, flaky or porous masses which are so light that
they float on water. It is
found in Leadhills, Derbyshire and Cumberland, England.
Wagnerite: Fluo-Phosphate
of Magnesium, occurring in large rough crystals and massive forms,
yellow, gray, flesh-red, pink or green in color. It is vitreous and
translucent with a
white streak. Is found in Germany, Austria and Norway.
Wavellite: Hydrous
Phosphate of Aluminium with varying composition. Occurs usually in
acicular aggregates, either globular or radiating but very rarely as
crystals. Color white to yellow, green, gray, brown and black.
Discovered by Dr. Waval, in clay-slate in Devonshire, England.
Wernerite: A
variety of Scapolite. Composition varies. It occurs as rough, large
and coarse crystals, also massive and granular. Color white, bluish,
greenish, and reddish. Transparent to translucent. It occurs in many
places in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Whitneyite: Arsenide of Copper. Arsenic 11.6%, Copper 88.4% Occurs
crystalline, very fine granular and massive. Sometimes iridescent.
Color pale reddish to grayish-white, becoming yellowish-bronze or brown
on exposure.
This
comparatively rare mineral belonging to the Dyskrasite group of
minerals, is found in many localities in Michigan, Minnesota, and
California.
It is named after Prof. J. D. Whitney of Cambridge, Mass., formerly State Geologist of California.
Willemite:
Zinc Orthosilicate. Silica 27%, Zinc 73%. Occurs in hexagonal crystals,
prisms sometimes long and slender and again short and stout; also
massive and in disseminated grains, and fibrous. Color white or
greenish-yellow when purest; apple-green, red, grayish-white and brown
when impure.
Willemite
occurs in such quantities at Sterling Hill and Franklin Furnace, N. J.,
as to constitute an important ore of Zinc. It was named after William
I, King of the Netherlands.
Williamsite: A
translucent variety of Serpentine, rich apple-green in color. The
softness of this mineral renders it impossible as a gem stone, but it
is so attractive that it offers
many possibilities for engraving, for seals, intaglii, etc. It occurs at
