2 . THE MINERALS OF TASMANIA. 



adding to this Catalogue many minerals of considerable 

 scientific interest. The important thesis of Dr. F. P. 

 Paul"^ on the singular, and to some extent unique, igneous 

 alkaline complex of Port Cygnet and the rocks of the Shan- 

 non Tier has been an important factor in adding several 

 heretofore unrecorded species of essential and accessory 

 rock-forming minerals to those already known to our lists 

 The interest taken in and the assistance rendered by that 

 veteran in petrographical science, Professor Rosenbusch, 

 of Heidelberg, has not only stimulated research in pet- 

 rology and its resulting mineralogy, but has confirmed or 

 otherwise the labours of our local workers. 



The exploitation of several mining localities, which were 

 practically in the early days of their inception 13 years 

 ago, when the last compilation was published, has materi- 

 ally extended our knowledge of the mode of occurrence, 

 aflSnities, and genesis of many of the then appreciated 

 species, as well as added to the number of metal-bearing 

 minerals with which we were at that time acquainted. 

 These remarks more notably refer to the cupriferous 

 minerals of the Lyell mining field, the lead-zinc mines of 

 the Mt. Read and Rosebery fields, and the varied metallic 

 minerals and their associates which recent investigations 

 have shown to occur in the Middlesex, Heazlewood, and 

 Bischoff districts. 



To the mineralogist the secondary derivatives from the 

 metallic ores, although as a rule of no great commercial 

 importance, have a peculiar fascination owing to the 

 duplex aspect of their generally beautiful colouration, 

 and becaus-e in many instances they present perfect 

 examples of natural crystallisation. In addition, their 

 modes of occurrence, origin, and geological relationship are 

 to the observant fascinating studies, and in this record an 

 endeavour has been made to show that even the metal- 

 bearing minerals, primary and secondary, have much in 

 themselves worthy of careful attention, strictly outside 

 of their intrinsic value, important as that may be. It may 

 not be out of place in this connection to emphasise that 

 the study of mineralogy does not necessarily mean mining, 

 practical or speculative, although mining unquestionably 

 includes dealing with minerals. It more properly refers 

 to an attempt to elucidate their structure, chemistry, 

 associations, and geological occurrences. In fact, the vast 

 bulk of what are termed species of minerals, or those which 



* Beitrage ziir petrogTaphischen Kenntnis einiger foyaitisch-theralitis- 

 her Gesteine aus Tasmanieii. Tschermak's Mineialogisclie uud Petro- 

 graphische Mitteilungen. Band 25, Heft IV., Wien, 1906. 



