Mineral Tallow

Mineral Tallow, or HATCHETTINE, a remarkable substance found in several places in Britain, Germany, Siberia, &c., soft and flexible, yellowish white, yellow, or greenish yellow, resembling wax or tallow, often flaky like spermaceti, inodorous, melting at 115° to 170° F., and composed of about 86 per cent. carbon and 14 per cent. hydrogen. The mineral is closely related to, if it be not identical with, ozokerite or native paraffin. Like other hydrocarbons, such as naphtha, petroleum, asphalt, &c., Hatchettine appears to have resulted from the chemical alteration of organic matter.