92 • DOLOMITE FAMILY. Geognostic Situation. It occurs in primitive and transition mountains. Geographic Situation. Europe.—Beds of it, containing tremolite, occur in the island of Iona. In the mouutain-group of St Gothard, it occurs in beds, often of great thickness, containing ini, bedded crystals of tremolite, grains of quartz, and scales of mica and talc. In the Apennines, it occurs in im-' bedded portions, in a dark ash-grey small splintery lime, stone: in Carinthia, it forms whole ranges of mountains: in Bareuth, it occurs in beds along with granular foliated limestone: at Sala in Sweden, it is mixed with mica, talc, and quartz: on the mountain of Maladetta in Spain : a beautiful white variety, used by ancient sculptors, is found in the isle of Tenedos: in veins, traversing granite, in the valley of Sesia in Italy ; and it is found loose oq Monte Somma. America.—Province of New-York, with tremolite Asia.—Bengal -J-, with imbedded tremolite; also in Si beria. Uses. It appears to have been used by ancient sculptors in their finest works. Observations. 1. It is named Dolomite, in honour of the celebrated French geologist Dolomieu. 2. The only mineral with which it is likely to be con founded, is granular foliated limestone; but a simple che mical test at once distinguishes them :—a drop of mine ral acid causes a violent effervescence, when poured on granular * Dr Bruce. f Sir John Murray.
