134 ON THE MINERAL RESOURCES OF KILKIVAN ; 
important consideration of the value of the discovery to the 
colony. 
Touching the uses and qualities of cobalt, Greenwood 
says—‘‘ Cobalt is chiefly used in the arts in the form of 
oxide, silicate, or other chemical combinations constituting | 
the bases of a large number of pigments and material 
largely employed for imparting a blue colour to glass, 
enamels, &c.”’ The specific gravity of the metal is given as 
8957; it is highly magnetic and of great tenacity, a wire 
of cobalt supporting twice the weight required to break a 
similar wire of iron; it is considered the most malleable of 
metals, and it is not sensibly oxidised by exposure at 
ordinary temperatures. 
The following is an analysis of the ore here referred to, 
presumably by Mr. K. T. Staiger, appended to an exhibit 
in the Queensland Museum :— 
Cobalt a se se see 22°207 per cent. 
Nickel sss aa aie ope 2-5 1s ieee 
Tron... a sh. sae RE 20 130) 43; 
Manganese ... a aA ah, 2200) ia 
Copper au =P ee a! OP Leh 
Cobalt glance and cobalt pyrites have been found richer 
than this analysis shows, but Overman, who gives the 
analyses, does not say where nor in what quantity these 
particular ores occur, but it is probable as accidental 
minerals in connection with others, and not in sufficient 
quantity to be worked for their own intrinsic value. The 
general value of the ores of commerce appears to be much 
less, probably not more than from 2 to 1o per cent., and 
consequently the Kilkivan ore, with 22 per cent. cobalt, 
should be very valuable. 
This is a matter of some public importance apart from 
and in addition to the mere question of the profitable 
occupation of miners. 
A branch railway from the Maryborough-Gympie line 
is now in course of construction to Kilkivan, and grave 
doubts have been entertained touching the prospect of 
sufficient traffic to justify such an undertaking. There is no 
other industrial enterprise, however, into which colonists 
can enter there which is so likely to give traffic to 
