Page:Theophrastus - History of Stones - Hill (1774).djvu/159

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guiſhed in like manner, the Female of which is more tranſparent, and of a paler yellow; and the ^[1]Lapis Cyanus is in the ſame manner divided into Male and Female; the Male is in this alſo of the deeper Colour.

LVII. There is alſo the ^[2]Onyx, variegated with white and brown placed

↑ The Carnelian and Lapis Lyncurius have been ſpoken of already. The Gem which the Antients called Cyanus, is what we now know by the Name of Lapis Lazuli; a Stone common among us in the Tops of Snuff-boxes and other Toys; and of which the glorious blue Colour, called Ultramarine by the Painters, is made. This has alſo been already treated of occaſionally in the Notes on the Sapphire. To what is there ſaid, it may be not improper to add, that it is a true Copper Ore, generally yielding about ⅛ of that Metal, and commonly a little Silver: It is of two Kinds, the Oriental, and German; the former is from Aſia, Africa, and the Eaſt Indies; the Colour produced from this is not ſubject to Injuries, from Time or any other Accidents: The German is found not only in the Kingdom whoſe Name it bears, but in Spain, Italy, and Saxony alſo; in Mines of different Metals, particularly of Copper. The Colour made from this is ſubject to Injuries from many Accidents, and in Time uſually turns green. The Stone, whereever found, is generally of the ſame Figure and Complexion, excepting, that the Oriental is harder than the other Kinds. It is compoſed always of three Subſtances, with which there is ſometimes mixed a fourth, a Kind of Marchaſite, of a ſhining yellow Colour, and flying off in the Calcination with a ſulphureous Smell, like that of the common Pyritæ; the other three Subſtances, of which it is conſtantly compoſed, are hard, fine cryſtalline Matter, ſaturated with Particles of Copper, and by them ſtained to a beautiful deep blue: This is what may be called the Baſis, and is variegated with a white cryſtalline Matter, and a yellow Talc of the foliaceous Kind; but the Flakes of it are ſo ſmall, that the Whole appears in the Form of a Powder.
↑ The Oynx is a ſemi-pellucid Stone, of a fine flinty Texture, taking an excellent Poliſh, and is ſtrictly of the Flint Claſs.

[1] The Carnelian and Lapis Lyncurius have been ſpoken of already. The Gem which the Antients called Cyanus, is what we now know by the Name of Lapis Lazuli; a Stone common among us in the Tops of Snuff-boxes and other Toys; and of which the glorious blue Colour, called Ultramarine by the Painters, is made. This has alſo been already treated of occaſionally in the Notes on the Sapphire. To what is there ſaid, it may be not improper to add, that it is a true Copper Ore, generally yielding about ⅛ of that Metal, and commonly a little Silver: It is of two Kinds, the Oriental, and German; the former is from Aſia, Africa, and the Eaſt Indies; the Colour produced from this is not ſubject to Injuries, from Time or any other Accidents: The German is found not only in the Kingdom whoſe Name it bears, but in Spain, Italy, and Saxony alſo; in Mines of different Metals, particularly of Copper. The Colour made from this is ſubject to Injuries from many Accidents, and in Time uſually turns green. The Stone, whereever found, is generally of the ſame Figure and Complexion, excepting, that the Oriental is harder than the other Kinds. It is compoſed always of three Subſtances, with which there is ſometimes mixed a fourth, a Kind of Marchaſite, of a ſhining yellow Colour, and flying off in the Calcination with a ſulphureous Smell, like that of the common Pyritæ; the other three Subſtances, of which it is conſtantly compoſed, are hard, fine cryſtalline Matter, ſaturated with Particles of Copper, and by them ſtained to a beautiful deep blue: This is what may be called the Baſis, and is variegated with a white cryſtalline Matter, and a yellow Talc of the foliaceous Kind; but the Flakes of it are ſo ſmall, that the Whole appears in the Form of a Powder.

[p143-2] The Oynx is a ſemi-pellucid Stone, of a fine flinty Texture, taking an excellent Poliſh, and is ſtrictly of the Flint Claſs.

[1]

[2]