William Gregor

“ Between the blocks which constitute the great mass of rock, a compact substance of a greyish white colour, consisting of an assemblage of crystalline spiculæ diverging from centres, is found. The same compact fossil occurs in the body of the rock, where there has been no rent. This I found to be compact tremolite. This substance assumes also another appearance of distinct and separate crystallization. Crystals of it occur in the fissures of the rock, in a state of promiscuous and thick aggregation. ”

“ The softer species of rock may be scratched with the nail. It has an uneven fracture, inclining to earthy. This rock abounds with iron, insomuch that the magnet is enabled to attract very small particles of it. It resists a very strong flame of the blowpipe without being fused. The line edges however of the harder species seem to yield a little to its action.
In the side of the hill, below the ridge of rock, a quarry is opened for the purpose of supplying the neighbouring road with stones. Here the rock is laid bare in large masses. ”

“ Some of these crystals possess a vitreous lustre, and are semitransparent. In general their surface is dull, as if from the effect of weathering, and they are of a brownish ash colour resembling axinite. ”