Dark green wood-like Asbestus

Common Asbestus sometimes resembles rock-wood—see page 124—and is often very different in appearance, at first sight j from the preceding figure.—It is therefore sometimes gathered in masses to be cut and polished by the Lapidaries, when the light refracted through the flat face, from the fibres, gives it something of a chatoyant, satiny, or pearly lustre, which is much admired, especially when some of the fibres, curving into concavities, are relieved by those in a contrary direction. or by the dark ends. This specimen has some Talc, Pyrites, and Magnetic Iron in the lower dark part $ which give it a curious appearance, especially where the Talc is prominent.