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Sculptures by Phyllis Bone


Minerals


1. Every mineral, from the most common clay or sand, to the gem, ought to be collected.

2. Specimens of rocks, such as granite, porphyry, limestone, &c should, if possible, be broken from fixed rocks, and not from loose masses, which are generally decayed. In selecting the specimens, one set ought to represent the different varieties of appearance presented by the rock in the fresh state, another, the rock in its different states of decomposition.

3. When the specimens of simple minerals, or rocks, contain crystals, they ought to be wrapped in gauze-paper, then in cotton, and afterwards in several folds of strong wrapping-paper.

4. The specimens of rocks ought, if possible, never to be less than four inches square, and one inch in thickness, and of a square form. As soon as they have been prepared, they should be labelled, and wrapped in several folds of strong wrapping-paper. When paper cannot be procured, moss, or other soft vegetable substance, may be substituted for it.

5. The sands of deserts, steppes, and rivers, ought to be carefully collected. The sands of rivers often contain precious stones and metals, and hence become very interesting objects to the naturalist. The sands of deserts and steppes throw much light on the nature of the surrounding country, and are much prized by the geologist.

6. Numerous mineralized animal and vegetable remains occur imbedded in strata of different kinds; all these ought to be very carefully collected, and preserved. Abundance of shells in a fossil or petrified state, are met with in limestone; of vegetables in slate-clay, sandstone, &c; and numerous bones, and even whole skeletons of quadrupeds, birds, amphibious animals, fishes, and even of insects, occur in rocks of various descriptions.

7. The mineralogist ought to provide himself with hammers of various sizes. One for common use of two pounds weight; others three, four, and six pounds weight. He ought also to provide himself with chisels of various sizes and forms, and with a set of small boring-irons. A miner's compass, small magnifying glass, goniometer, and blow-pipe, ought also to form part of this equipment. The two first are indispensably necessary for the travelling mineralogist. Nor should he neglect to provide himself with a strong bag; the form that of a fowling-bag, lined with strong leather, covered with wax-cloth, and the outside of some durable cloth.