196 THE MINERALS OF TASMANIA. 



333. TuRGiTE (Hydrous Sesquioxide). 



An iron ore with the general aspect of fibrous horn- 

 st'one, with a red streak. Hardness = 5, 6. Localities : 

 Blythe River ; at the Comet Mine, Dundas ; the Manganese 

 Hill, Zeehan ; at the Magnet it is fairly plentiful as a por- 

 tion of the lode outcrop. 



This is a common ore of iron, which is often mistaken 

 for limonite. It may be distinguished by its pronounced 

 decrepitation. It contains 5"3 per cent, of H.;, O. 



334. Uralite ( Pseudomorphous AmphiboIUe, with the 



external form of Augite). 



This secondary mineral has been optically detected in 

 petrographical work, and in the limurite rock of the Cole- 

 brook its presence is very pronounced. It is derived from 

 the alteration of augite, which in the limurite is often fur- 

 ther advanced to actinolite. 



335. Vanadinite (Vanadate of Lead). 



Obtained in extremely limited quantity as small 

 implanted globules and thin incrustations on siderite, with 

 minute crystals of galenite and sphalerite. It is of a red- 

 dish-yellow colour normally, but weathers yellow, and again 

 fades to a dirty-brown. Bell's Reward Mine, Heazlewood, 

 and at the Hampshire Silver Mine. Occurs in groups of 

 hexagonal prisms of a deep reddish-brown, with a resinous 

 lustre, Magnet Mine. 



336. Variscite (Hydrous Phosphate of Aluminium). 



As incrustations, often with a uniform surface. General 

 character somewhat dull, but of a bright emerald-green 

 colour, and thus sometimes mistaken for an ore of copper. 

 Associated with wavellite. Back Creek ; and implanted on 

 the cleavages of quartz, Lefroy. 



337. Vauquelinite (Chromate of Lead and Copper). 



This is a rare mineral, which hitherto has been con- 

 sidered peculiar to the silver-lea«d mining districts of 

 Siberia. The mineral as occurring here has a peculiar 

 siskin-green colour. It is found in an amorphous, some- 

 what mammillated, mass, of a dull appearance. Before 

 the blowpipe and in nitric acid it gives all the character- 

 istic results. It has been obtained in moderate quantity 

 with galena and arsenical pyrites, near Greorge's Bay ; in 



