Outlines of mineralogy

Chapter 16: CLASS III. INFLAMMABLES, OR BITUMINA.

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About This Book

A concise scientific treatise that organizes fossil and inorganic substances by their constituent chemical components, advocating composition-based genera and species rather than superficial traits. It defines mineralogy, explains a natural system founded on prevalent parts and variations in mixture, and critiques reliance on color, hardness, and texture because these features often vary independently of composition. The work describes analytical approaches and difficult cases, offers supplemental genera in appendices, and supplies practical aids such as tables and an index to assist identification and application of mineral substances.

CLASS III.
INFLAMMABLES,
OR
BITUMINA.

§ 132.

To this head we refer all foſſils containing phlogiſton in ſuch great abundance, that under proper management they are inflammable. The Genera are obviouſly very few, and accurately ſpeaking there is only one Genus. But ſince phlogiſton is so very ſubtle as not by itſelf to become the object of our ſenſes, it will perhaps be adviſeable to conſider its more ſimple combinations as Genera: this has long been done ſo far as reſpects the metals, by univerſal conſent.