Abstract
WE have before us the Schriften der Königlichen Physikalisch-Okonomischen Gesellschaft zu Königsberg, for 1871–72, in which is to be found a considerable amount of useful scientific observations, both of local and general interest. Dr. Berendt, who, along with some coadjutors, has been engaged in preparing a full geological map of Prussia, and in other geognostic researches, describes a specimen of immature amber brought from the sea-bottom on the Samland coast. Under a wrinked and brittle crust, the resinous substance was soft, transparent, and highly elastic. From some similarity of physical properties (not complete, however), Dr. Berendt inclines to identify it with a fossil resin found by Bergemann in brown coal of Lattorf, and described under the name of kranzit. The sp. gr. of the new substance is 0.934; it is insoluble in alkalies, spirit of wine, oil of turpentine, soluble in sulphuric acid; it begins to melt at 300°; in air it burns with a luminous sooty flame, giving a peculiar smell; it is free of sulphur, but contains a little nitrogen, like amber and some kinds of asphalte.
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Science in Königsberg . Nature 9, 172–173 (1874). https://doi.org/10.1038/009172a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/009172a0