496 Notice of New Zealand and Antarctic Minerals. 



lowest formation was a marly clay ; twenty feet above the sea 

 was a formation of wood, very little altered or carbonized and 

 ten feet in thickness, but irregular; above that was a loamy 

 soil. From the lowest formation was dug out the phosphate, 

 found in small pieces or balls. The natives call \i puke jpoto. 

 It is highly esteemed, when washed, as a paint." Its compo- 

 sition was found by Mr. Robert Pattison to be — 



Water 28-40 



Organic matter . . 2*80 



Silica 5-20 



Phosphate of iron . 62*80 

 99-20 



2. Siliceous incrustation from New Zealand. — Dr. Dieff'en- 

 bach describes the interior of this island as being filled with 

 hot volcanic springs, which deposit siliceous matter abun- 

 dantly. A specimen of this kind, having some affinities to chal- 

 cedony, was found by Mr. Pattison to have a specific gravity 

 of 1*968, and to consist of — 



Silica 77-35 



Alumina .... 9*70 



Peroxide of iron . , 3*72 



Lime l-54< 



Water 7-66 



99-98 



3. New Zealand Ochre.— Dr. Dieffenbach informs us, that 

 *' at 2699 feet above the sea, on Mount Egmont, the natives 

 obtain the best sort of kolcowai in the bed of the river, which 

 was for some distance quite yellow from a solution in its waters 

 of this ochreous substance, which glazed the rocks with a me- 

 tallic coating. This muddy ochre was dug out of swamps 

 formed by the Waiwakaio ; it was slowly dried at the fire, and 

 by further burning and preparing a fine vermilion was ob- 

 tained : when mixed with shark's oil it forms a durable paint 

 for the natives' houses, canoes, and burying-places, and is also 

 used to rub on their faces and bodies in battle, and for mourn- 

 ing. It is also considered a defence against muskitoes and 

 sandflies." It has been analysed by Mr. George Aitken, and 

 found to consist of — 



I. II. 



Peroxide of iron 59*56 64-36 



Silica .... 14*56 13-92 



Water . . . 20*20 

 Vegetable matter 4-72 

 Alumina ... a trace 

 Lime .... a trace 

 99-04 



