Exploration of the Red River of Louisiana, in the year 1852 / by Randolph B. Marcy ; assisted by George B. McClellan. Page: 151 of 368
xv, 286 p., [65] p. of plates (1 fold.) : ill., maps ; 24 cm.View a full description of this book.
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APPENDIX C.
MINERALOGY.
REPORT ON THE MINERALS COLLECTED: BY PROF. CHARLES
UPHAM SHEPARD.
AMHERST COLLEGE, June 1, 1853.
My DEAR SIR: The following report relates to the specimens collected
by Captain Marcy, and which, agreeably to your request, were submitted
by me to a chemical and mineralogical examination.
Verv respectfully and truly yours,
CHARLES UPHAM SHEPARD.
To President HITCHCOCK.
1. COPPER ORES-MARCYLITE.
The most interesting of these was a specimen of rather more than one
ounce in weight, from the main or south fork of Red river, near the
Witchita mountains. It is a black compact ore, strongly resembling
the black oxide of copper from the Lake Superior mines, for which
substance I at first mistook it. It was partially coated by a thin layer
of the rare and beautiful atacamite, (inuriate of copper of Phillips)
This is the first instance in which this species has been detected in
North America. On subjecting the black ore to a close investigation, it
proves to be a substance hitherto undescribed, and it affords me much
pleasure to name it, in honor of the very enterprising and successful
explorer to whom mineralogy is indebted for the discovery, Marcylite.
It is massive and compact; fracture even; color black; opaque; lustre
none; hardness equals that of calcite, or 3 of the mineralogical scale;
sectile streak shining; powder light grayish black; specific gravity,
4.0 to 4.1. In small fragments it melts in the heat of a candle, to the
flame of which it imparts a rich blue and green color. This is especially
striking when a blow-pipe is employed. The slightest heat of the instrument
suffices for the fusion of the ore. The chloride of copper is
volatilized, and spreads over the charcoal support, from which the splendid
green color rises also. On directing the flame of the candle against
it, the mass, or assay, remains for some time fluid, continuing to give
the color as at first, till finally the green and blue tinge declines, and at
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Marcy, Randolph Barnes. Exploration of the Red River of Louisiana, in the year 1852 / by Randolph B. Marcy ; assisted by George B. McClellan., book, 1854; Washington, DC. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth6105/m1/151/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.