The natural history of Kaolinite

Abstract

In the south-west coal-field of east Glamorganshire—especially in the Lower Coal Measures–Mr. A. Tait, of Caerphilly, observed last year a white, soft, and pulverulent substance, saponaceous to the touch. A specimen sent to me, examined first and identified by Mr. T. Crook, was found to consist of a congeries of well-defined crystals of kaolinite. The crystals are chiefly basal flakes, hexagonal in outline, and 0.02 to 0.037 mm. in length. Most of them show elongation in one direction, and unequal extension of the thin lamellae composing them.