Inverse crystallized Carbonate of Lime

Carbonate of Lime has been remarked about at Portland Island for its fine topazine colour, and has thence been denominated Surgar-candied Spar, or Candied Sugar Spar. These crystals are not uncommon in other places, but are often finest in the fissures of the Portland Stone. The stalagmites from Bath, Yorkshire, &c. present the same same substance, generally less massy, and the crystallization more or less in spiculæ, which often accord with this in form: therefore this will serve as an illustration of all, whether small or large, and most of the fanciful formations are of this nature. The present specimen terminates in acute rhombs somewhat rounded, forming a pyramid upon the obtuse angle of the nucleus: see the left hand geometrical figure. These often have some crystals formed under the same circumstances on the sides; and it is a curiosity worth observation here, that these smaller ones are probably formed at a time when the others are nearly perfected but not quite so, as the crystallization is somewhat independent; yet they were enabled to stick so into the larger ones, as to be of equal solidity with the rest of the mass.