silicious mineral. See MINERALOGY. It consists of 98 silica, 0·50 lime, 0·25 alumina, 0·25 oxide of iron, and 1·0 loss. This mineral occurs of various colours, but generally yellowish or dark gray, and usually in a compact amorphous body, of various shapes. It is widely dispersed over the world, occurring chiefly in the chalk formations, but especially in limestone. Its principal use is for gun-flints, and for striking light with steel; and it also forms, when reduced to powder, an ingredient in porcelain and glass. The manufacture of gun-flints is very simple, and is performed with an iron mallet and chisel. A dexterous workman will make 1000 in a day.

FLINT-GLASS. See GLASS-MAKING.

(Welsh *Efflant, Tegengol*), the capital of the county of the same name, a market, borough, and seaport town, N. Wales, 173 miles N.W. from London, situated on the south shore of the estuary of the Dee, on the narrow strip of flat land lying between the sea and the hills of the inland parts of the county. The houses are for the most part well built, but the place has altogether an air of decay. The harbour and wharfs have been lately much extended; but the accumulation of sand is so great that there is little or no prospect of any important increase of shipping. The principal exports are coals, lead in a manufactured state, and iron. Ship-building is carried on to some extent in the smaller description of vessels. The town possesses a handsome Gothic church, and five chapels belonging to the different Dissenting bodies. There are also a guildhall and county jail, and handsome schools.

Close by the shore stands the ruins of the ancient castle of Flint. It is said to have been built by Edward I.; and it was here that Percy delivered Richard II. to Bolingbroke. It was dismantled by order of the House of Commons in the time of the civil wars in 1646.

The borough along with Caergwrle, Caerwys, Overton, and Rhydiddan, returned one member to parliament from 1536 to 1832; since the latter period Holywell, Mold, and St Asaph have been added as contributing boroughs; constituency in 1852, 817. The political influence is chiefly in the hands of Lord Mostyn. Population in 1851, 3296; inhabited houses, 693. The assizes are now held at Mold.