BY W. F. PETTERD, CM.Z.S. 169 



(that is, with only two or three small specks of yellow-nrreen 

 serpentine) = 2 12. 



At tli€ same time the specific gravity is desirable of 

 an absolutely clear and fresh specimen. The streak is a 

 very pale lilac to almost white Its wet chemical reactions 

 are that it is soluble in HCl with effervescence, which is 

 very brisk when the acid is heated. It affords an intensely 

 bright-green solution with a limited flocculent turbidity 

 as a precipitate. The pyrognostic characteristics are that 

 it assumes a bronze colour when heated on coal, and then 

 becomes perceptibly magnetic. 



This new species of mineral is only known to occur in 

 the amorphous condition. It may be foliated to compact, 

 and is not rarely granular. Its colour is a most beautiful 

 and intense lilac shade, and is thus of considerable attract- 

 iveness. In respect of colouration it stands alone amongst 

 the minerals of this State. It weathers on exposed sur- 

 faces to a brown tint, and is considerably roughened by 

 numerous slightly protruding fragments of partially 

 decomposed chromite. The smaller samples of the stich- 

 tite often have as a nucleus one or more minute fragments 

 of the chromite, which thus to an extent reveal its origin. 

 In habit it forms irregularly-shaped masses, veins, and 

 blebs in a pale yellowish-green serpentine, more rarely 

 showing ill-defined bands of the new mineral. At times 

 the serpentine is irregularly speckled with patches of lilac- 

 coloured stichtite, which vary in size from extremely 

 minute to 10 or 12 mm., and then form mineral specimens 

 of a unique character and peculiar beauty, the green of 

 the serpentine contrasting strongly and favourably with 

 ihe lilac stichtite. 



Mr. L. K. Ward, who recently visited the locality of this 

 interesting discovery, has kindly supplied the following 

 note : — 



" This mineral forms irregularly-shaped masses, veins, 

 and blebs in serpentine at Dundas, in the' neighbour- 

 hood of the Adelaide Mine. Weathered surfaces are 

 deep-brown, but the fresh mineral varies in colour from 

 lilac or rose-pink to deep-purple. It is at this place 

 usually associated with crystalline chromite. The chromite 

 crystals appear to have in many cases served as nuclei, 

 about which the stichtite has developed. Its distribution 

 is sporadic. Microscopically it appeal^ to be built up of 

 radiating plates and tufts. 



