CALAMINARIS, or LAPIS CALAMINARIS, in natural history, a kind of fossil, the general ore of zinc, of a spungy substance and a lax and cavernous texture, yet considerably heavy.
It is of no determinate shape or size, but is found in masses of a very various and irregular figure. It is when
when most pure and perfect, of a pale brownish grey. It is found in Germany, Saxony, Bohemia, and England. See CHEMISTRY, Ozinc.
After roasting the calamine, in order to purge it of sulphureous or arsenical matter, it is used by physicians in collyria against defluxions of thin acrid humours upon the eyes, for drying up moist running ulcers, and healing excoriations.