CHRYSOLITE, kris'o-lit °bright yellow stone"), a native silicate magne sium and iron, sometimes also containing tita nium, nickel or tin. It occurs massive and granular, and also in orthorhombic crystals. It is transparent or translucent, and usually green or yellow in color, with a vitreous lustre.' It has a specific gravity of from 327 to 3.57 (ac cording to its composition), and a hardness of from 6.5 to 7. Chrysolite occurs in volcanic rocks,' as in basalt and basaltic lavas, and it is also found in dolomite and in certain varieties of limestone. The finest crystals of the mineral come from Brazil and Egypt, and are known as •precious chrysolite." They are used to a cer tain extent as gems, and are sometimes confused with the emerald. Chrysolite readily passes by alteration into serpentine, and numerous large beds of the latter mineral are known to have originated in this manner. It is abundant in crystalline grains in some meteoric irons and stones. Peridot and olivine (qq.v.) are names frequently used for varieties of chrysolite.
CffRYSOLORAS, kris-o-lo'ras, Manuel, Greek. scholar: b. about 1355; d. Constance,
Germany, 15 April 1415. He was the first who, in modern times, transplanted Greek literature into Italy. The Emperor John Paheologus sent him in 1391 to Italy and England to ask for assistance against the Turks. Having thus be come known in Italy he returned there about the year 1395, and was appointed professor of Greek iterature at Florence, where he collected around him a great number of scholars of all ages and ranks, and excited universal enthu siasm as much by his dignity and the grace of his elocution as by the extent of his learning From his school proceeded Leonardo Bruno, Poulin, Francis Philephus and other distin guished revivers of classical studies. He after ward taught with equal success at Milan, Pavia and Venice, and lastly at Rome. Pope Gregory XII employed him in public affairs, and sent him with others to the Council of Constance, where he died in 1415. He should not be con founded with his nephew and companion in Italy, John Chrysoloras.