24 THE MINERALS OF TASMANIA. 



adamantine lustre, and remarkably bright red to crimson 

 colour. Minute acicular patches of crystals are common, 

 and under the lens are perfectly distinct, and thus afford 

 very fine microscopic objects of considerable attractiveness 

 The bright crimson colour of the general mass is very 

 characteristic, and by this feature it is noticeable by the 

 most casual observer, even when not directly interested in 

 mineralogy. It sometimes occurs in aggregates of 

 extremely minute needles, much like velvet, of a distinct 

 and bright yellow to orange colour, and in this form it 

 also occasionally coats somewhat large surfaces. Chrom- 

 iferous cerussite, and more rarely crocoisite and mimetite, 

 are intimately associated with it. Although so noticeable, 

 the coating of the substance is usually of such extreme 

 thinness that it was only with the greatest difficulty and 

 by using the utmost care that enough was secured to make 

 a complete analysis. This was undertaken by Mr. J. D. 

 Millen, A.S.T.C, M.S.C.I., Lond., General Manager of 

 the Mt Bischoff Company. The following is the result: — 



Per cent. 



Pb Cr O, + As^ O3 



Moisture not determined. The hardness is 2*5 ; specific 

 gravity, approximately 5"5. Streak, pale-yello\\-. Crys- 

 tallographic system hexagonal. Before the blowpipe on 

 coal it readily affords a bead of metallic lead, with arsenical 

 coating and odour. Imparts to salt of phosphorus bead 

 in OF and RF a fine green, thus absolutely masking the 

 reaction V^ O- in the OF with this reagent. In the wet 

 the reaction of V.^, O5 was only obtained with difficulty, 

 following the method of Dr. Ohly {" Analysis of the 

 Rare Metals "). The powdered substance was mixed with 

 sodium carbonate, then fused, and after the addition of 

 potassium nitrate lixiviated with water, filtered, and the 

 clear solution boiled with ammonium carbonate. Acidified 



