hatchettin

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A fatty substance occurring in thin flaky veins in the argillaceous ironstone of Merthyr-Tydvil in Wales and in other localities. It is like wax or spermaceti in consistence, of a yellowish-white or greenish-yellow color, and inodorous when cold, but of a slightly bituminous odor when heated, or after fusion. It is also called adipocere mineral and mineral tallow. (See adipocere.) It consists of 86 per cent. of carbon and 14 of hydrogen. Also hatchettite.
2. n. A soft mineral containing 80 per cent. of carbon and 20 of hydrogen, found in cavities of carboniferous rocks in Saxony. Also called chrismatin, chrismatine.