ALGAE enclosed in Diamonds. By Dr. Goppert.
[Abhandl. Schles. Ges. fur vaterl. Cultur, 1868.]
The author was led by his observations upon bodies enclosed in diamonds to conclude that they are of Neptunian origin, and he considers that this opinion is supported by the fact that the primary clay-slate and gneiss in which diamonds are found are now known to contain organic remains. He notices especially Eozoon canadense, the organic particles found by H. Rose in smoky topaz, the Old- hamioe of Forbes, and the occurrence of nitrogen and organic material in many minerals, as demonstrated by Delesse. The author now described a diamond containing dendrites, such as occur in chalcedony, jasper, and other minerals of aqueous origin. Another, weighing 263 milligrms., in the Berlin Museum, contains a quantity of round, uniformly green corpuscles, precisely resembling those of Protococcus pluvialis in size and form. A third specimen, weighing 345 milligrms., and also belonging to the Berlin Museum, contains a quantity of green corpuscles of a more elongated form, often adhering together in the form of a chain. These most closely resemble the living Palmogloea macrococca. The author describes these forms as Alga, under the names of Protococcus adamantinus and Palmogloeites adamantinus. (From the Report of the Imp. Geol. Institute, Vienna., August 31, 1869).
[W. S. D.]
The Trias in Spitzbergen. By Dr. G. C. Laube.
[Proc. Imp. Geol. Institute, Vienna, 31 st July, 1869.]
Professor Nordenskiold has lately brought a great quantity of Triassic fossils from Spitzbergen to Stockholm. The partially bituminous shales, to which the author gives the name of " Halobiashales," present a striking resemblance to the Alpine " Wengen shales;" and above these are strata containing Cephalopods very like those of the St.-Cassian beds. Nautilus Nordenskioldi (Lindstrom) exactly resembles a Nautilus from the Hallstatt limestone. Nautilus trochleoeformis is an Arcestes closely approaching A. cymbiformis; Ammonites Gaytani is also an Arcestes, approaching A. Barrandei (Laube). Ceratites Blomstrandi is exactly like. A. Wengensis (Klp.). Brown strata, supposed by Prof. Nordenskiold to be Jurassic, contain Halobioe, and also two small Gasteropods, a Chemnitzia and a Loxonema, both undoubtedly having the character of St.-Cassian species. Among the specimens sent are fragments of black shales from the Ice-fjord, with numerous impressions of Halobia Lommali (Wissm.), which cannot be distinguished from the true " Wengen shales ; " the fragments from Cape Thordsen, containing Halobia rugosa (Gumb.)=H. Haueri (Stur) and a much compressed Ammonite (A. floridus ?), present an equal resemblance to Stur's " Reingraben shales." [Count M.]
