A Dictionary of Arts: Malachite. Mastic. Mica.

A Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures, and Mines; containing A Clear Exposition of Their Principles and Practice

by Andrew Ure, M. D.;
F. R. S. M. G. S. Lond.: M. Acad. M. S. Philad.; S. PH. DOC. N. GERM. Ranow.; Mulh. Etc. Etc.

Illustrated with nearly fifteen hundred engravings on wood
Eleventh American, From The Last London Edition.
To which is appended, a Supplement of Recent Improvements to The Present Time.

New York: D Appleton & company, 200 Broadway. Philadelphia: George S. Appleton, 148 Chestnut St.
MDCCCXLVII

1847

MALACHITE or mountain green is native carbonate of copper of a beautiful green colour, with variegated radiations and zones; spec. grav. 3.5; it scratches calc-spar, but not fluor; by calcination it affords water and turns black. Its solution in the acids deposits copper upon a plate of iron plunged into it. It consists of carbonic acid 18.5; deutoxide of copper 72.2; water 9.3.

MASTIC (Eng. and Fr.; Mastiz, Germ.) is a resin produced by making incisions in the Pistacia Lentiscus, a tree cultivated in the Levant and chiefly in the island of Chios. It comes to us in yellow, brittle, transparent, rounded tears; which soften between the teeth; with bitterish taste and aromatic smell and a specific gravity of 1.07. Mastic consists of two resins one soluble in dilute alcohol; but both dissolve in strong alcohol. Its solution in spirit of wine constitutes a good varnish. It dissolves also in oil of turpentine. See VARNISH.

MICA is finely foliated mineral of a pearly metallic lustre. It is harder than gypsum, but not so hard as calc-spar; flexible and elastic; spec. grav. 2. 65. It an ingredient of granite and gneiss. The large sheets of mica exposed for sale in London, are mostly brought from Siberia. They are used, instead of glass, to enclose the fire, without concealing the flame, in certain stoves.
The mica of Fahlun, analyzed by Rose, afforded, silica, 46.22; alumina, 34.52; peroxide? of iron, 6.04; potash, 8.22; magnesia, with oxide of manganese, 2.11; fluoric acid, 1.09; water, 0.98.