Steatite derives its name from the Greek word STEAR, fat, which well describes the greasy feel of this soft magnesian rock—a massive variety of talc. It was extensively used by the ancient Egyptians who cut it into scarabs which in many cases they first burnt and then coated with a vitreous blue or green glaze. The substance is extremely soft and can easily be cut with a knife. Soapstone figures are cut from a variety known as PINITE—the Agalmatolite or Pagodite of China, called by them Hoa-chi. Many of these are very beautifully cut, a number being lucky figures presented in the guise of gods and goddesses, flowers, fruits, etc. This custom reminds of the “Household gods” of the ancients. A kind of soft steatite earth is still eaten by the savages of New Caledonia and other places. All varieties of Steatite are under the zodiacal Taurus. SPHENE OR TITANITE Sphene derives its name from the Greek SPHEN, a wedge. As the name indicates the form of the crystals is wedge-shaped. The lustre is very brilliant but the stone is scarcely as hard as the opal and therefore is little used in jewellery. Sphene is under the zodiacal Sagittarius. SPINEL OR BALAS RUBY Spinel, which derives its name from the Greek word SPINOS, a spark, is found written in a variety of ways, chief amongst which are spinell, spinele, spinel. Its colours are red, brown, green, yellow and blue. The red varieties are clear and glittering and the dark generally more dense or opaque. The name Spinel is applied to those of bright red colour The name Balas is applied to those of rose red The name Rubicelle is applied to those of orange red The name Almandine Ruby is applied to those of violet The name Chloro Spinel is applied to those of green The name Ceylonite or Pleonaste is applied to those of black The name Sapphirine is applied to those of blue Spinel and Balas are often intermixed and both terms are accepted as denoting this Aluminate of Magnesium, whose hardness is just a little inferior to the Corundum and whose crystalline form is isometric, like the diamond. The spinel, however, is non-electric, no matter if submitted to heat or friction, whilst the ruby (Corundum), and garnet are highly so. Hence it is not a difficult matter to distinguish these stones from each other even if their outward similarities tend to confuse the eye. The spinel, submitted to trial by heat, first changes from red to brown; if left to cool it becomes dark; then it changes to green; then, as if exhausted, it seems to lose its colour which, however, slowly reappears in its red expression.