BY W. F. PETTERD, C.M.Z.S. 95 



150. Hercynite (Iron Aluminate). 



Iron spinel occurs in fairly large lumps in tin drifts. It 

 is amorphous, dull, of a bluish-black colour, and fine 



99 •37 



Locality : Near Moorina. 



151. HisiNGERiTE (Hydrated Ferric Silicate). 



In amorphous masses of an intensely black colour, with 

 a conchoidal fracture. In lode-matter exposed in the 

 lower tunnel of the Comstock Mine, Comstock district. 



152. HiSTRixiTE (Sulphide of Antimony and Bismuth). 

 A new mineral occurring in radiating groups of pris- 

 matic crystals, which are occasionally in confused bunches, 

 and commonly stained externally with a dark brown coat^ 

 ing. The crystals are orthorhombic, with acute but indis- 

 tinct terminations, and striated longitudinally. They 

 sometimes reach over 2 inches in length by |-inch in width. 

 Siightly sectile. with a hardness of about 2. Lustre 

 eminently metallic, shining on fresh crystalline surfaces; 

 colour and streak steel-gray. When massive it presents a 

 foliated structure, and tarnishes to blue and purple irides- 

 cent colouration. The crystals occurred interpenetrating 

 a vugh from a bedding of a mixture of iron and copper 

 pyrites. It was found in a somewhat massive body of 

 tetrahedrite, with which were associated bismuthinite and 

 pyrites, and appeared to be of very exceptional occurrence. 



Results of two analyses of the pure material: — 

 Per cent. Per cent. 



S =24-05 S z=23^01 



Bi = .55-93 Bi =56-08 



Sb = 10-08 Sb = 9-33 



Cu = 6-86 Ca = 6*12 



Fe = 5-18 Fe = 5-44 



102-10 99-98 



Answering to the formula — 



7Bi2 S3 + Sb^ S3 + 5Cu Fe S^ 

 Locality: No. 1, Curtin-Davis Mine, Ringville. 



