Bismutosphaerite from Willimantic and Portland, Connecticut

Abstract

THROUGH the kindness of Professor Brush I have been enabled to examine two specimens of basic bismuth carbonate which are of considerable interest, •inasmuch as their composition appears to be identical with that of Weisbach's bismuto• sphrerite.* Weisbach gave this name, upon reinvestigation, to Werner's "Arsenik-Wismuth," which, as he remarks, had been called "Luftsaures Wismuth" by Adolph. Beyer, who died as early as 1805. Thil composition of bismutosphrerite has been considered doubtfult because Winkler's analysis included no water and footed up only to 97'83 per cent, put Weisbach states distinctly that the mineral is anhydrous, and, since Winkler used only 330 milligrams of the material for his analysis, it is quite probable that his loss may have been due to other causes than the presence of water.