Swimming Quartz

This curious formation of Quartz differs very much from the last, and is therefore essential to this work, as it could scarcely have been thought to be the same substance. Indeed it might have been imagined as great a miracle to see Quartz float in a large mass as the iron ax’s head that Elisha caused to swim.—Masses of much larger dimensions than this now figured will swim, and scarcely displace the water. The present specimen is too tender to bear handling, and is thinner than any paper. It seems to have been formed in the interstices of some substance now entirely decomposed from it, which would appear to have had many thin cracks or flaws in it, crossing at various angles. I could not detect the cast of any thing regular about which it might form. I have some specimens very much resembling the crumb of bread.