176 Transactions. 



minerals, never before recorded as belonging to the district, have 

 to be added to the list, and one new to science.* I leave out for 

 the present the mining districts of Waulockhead and Leadhills, 

 which have been long well known — they are the only important 

 metaliferous mines in the district. The Blackcraig mine, near 

 Palnure, which was wox'ked for lead for a good many years, but 

 lately abandoned, produced very fine specimens of Dolomite, some 

 of the crystals being of a fine purple tint, probably derived from 

 the presence of manganese. I found there some very remarkable 

 forms of Iron Pyrites — forms I had never before seen. The Pibble 

 mine, about five miles north-east of Creetown, was long worked 

 for lead, and large sums have been expended in opening it up ; it 

 has resulted in a heavy loss to the promoters ; the usual lead and 

 other minerals are to be found amongst the old heaps, but no very 

 striking specimens. At Lackentyre, up the valley of the Fleet, 

 Gatehouse, there are the remains of lead and copper workings, 

 long since abandoned. Wulfenite (molybdate of lead) is found 

 there — the only locality in Britain for this mineral. There are also 

 the other usual lead and copper minerals. Hematite mines exist 

 near Auchencairn (not now worked), and trials have been made in 

 the neighbourhood for copper, which exists, but not in anything 

 like paying quantities. The usual copper ores are found in the old 

 heaps. Copper has been tried for about half-way up the west side 

 of Cairnsmore ; the working there appears to have been very 

 superficial ; good specimens of Chalcoperite were found in the 

 heaps. Several trials for lead were made some years since along 

 the side of the Monypool Burn, near Creetown. The lead was 

 not found in paying quantities, and they were soon abandoned. 

 I was fortunate to find there a thin veil of Kupfernickel and 

 Arsenic. The only other places which I know of in Scotland 

 where Kupfernickel has been found are Waulockhead and Hiider- 

 stone, in Linlithgowshire ; it was in the vein on the Monypool 

 Burn I found the new mineral above referred to. Up the Kinharvy 

 Burn, above Kinharvy House, one or two manganese minerals are to 

 be found, and very good specimens of brown quartz ; Antimonite 

 was said to be found near that locality ; I have looked for it very 

 carefully, but never found a trace of it. Zircon also was said to be 

 found in the Crifi'el granite ; Mr Copeland mentions he could never 

 find it ; I have looked very carefully for it, and broken up many 



*Mineralogical Mag., Vol. VIII., p. 200. 



