According to Hisinger and Berzelius,
Oxide of cerium . . ................ so
S i l i c a .................... . 23
L im e ......................................... 5
Oxide of i r o n ............................ 22
loo
This analysis is not contained in the first paper which they published,
in the first volume o f the Afhandlingar i Fysik, Kenti, och
Mineralogi, Utgifne a f W. Hisinger och J. Berzelius, p. 58 ; but it
occurs in the statement which was afterwards published in the
Annales de Chimie.
According to Vauquelin, who analysed the mineral at the request
of Hisinger and Berzelius, and who was acquainted with the preceding
experiiiients made both by Klaproth and the Swedish chemists,
the constituents are as follows :
Oxide of cerium........................ 67
Silica . . . . . . . . . . i . , . . 17
Lime . . . . . . . .............. 2
Oxide o f iron. .............. 2
Water and carbonic acid . . . . IB
100
It is not easy to reconcile this result, as far as the carbonic acid is
concerned, with the two preceding analyses.
Since the original discovery o f cerium in this mineral, it has been
found in various other parts o f the world. A mineral from Greenland,
to which the name o f allanite has been given, contains about the
third o f its weight of it. The same species has been found in the
Mysore in India, and likewise in Sweden.
There are many other mines in Westmanland, besides those that
have been noticed, but it would be tedious and o f little value to enumerate
them all. I shall satisfy myself, therefore, with noticing the
copper mines of New Kopperberg, which lie towards the west side of
the province. The rock in which these mines occur is gneiss. The
ore is copper pyrites, which is deposited in a vein partly filled with
quartz, partly with mica-slate. Along with the copper ore there occurs
likewise blende and iron ore. The principal minerals found in
this mine are the following:
Dark red felspar, which seems to constitute a distinct vein.
Fluor spar, in cubes, which is uncommon in Sweden, and mixed
with bro^ra blende. The fluor has usually a violet colour.
Mica, actinolite, and hornblende.
The mineral to which Andrada, who observed it first in the mine of
Sala, gave the name o f petalite. Its colour is reddish and whitish grey.
Massive. Lustre pearly. Translucent on the edges. Scratches glass,
but not felspar. Specific gravity 2-620. Does not melt before the
blow-pipe, but with borax gives a transparent colourless glass.
Quartz, galena, and iron pyrites.
In short, the number of mines in Westmanland is very considerable.
Iron and copper are the most common; but several lead mines likewise
occur; though, i f we except the mine o f Sala, none o f them are
of great consequence.