596 Chronicles of Science. [ Oct., 
igneous rocks of the Auvergne, spread in black octohedral crystals 
in the fissures and small cavities. It is also found in the detritus 
from the disintegration of these rock masses. 
The analysis of this mineral is, as given by M. Pisani :— 
Atma eG ; : 59-06 
Ferric Oxide , : , 10°72 
Ferrous Oxide : , ‘ 13°60 
Magnesia. ‘ syne ged 
which gives the formule MgO FeO, A? O*Fe’0*. 
This composition is that of a true Pleonaste, which is a black 
variety of the Iron and Magnesia Spinelle. But this variety is 
rendered remarkable by its crystalline form—an octohedral pyramid 
—which has not until now been recognized in any of the Spinelles. 
Some remarkable discoveries of Native Lead have been made 
lately in Victoria, Australia. It is found associated with gold and 
oxide of iron in the gold drifts, under the basalt, and in the neigh- 
bouring veins containing Galena. Specimens have been forwarded 
to Mr. R. Brough Smyth, the Inspector of Mines at Melbourne. 
The first samples were from a “lead” at Mount Greenock, near 
Talbot, where they are said to be numerous. ‘The second series of 
specimens came from the main “lead” at Aorca, where they are 
obtained from nearly every part of the “ wash dirt.” Mr. R. Brough 
Smyth informs us that, when carefully analyzed, he intends to 
forward the specimens, with a description, to the Geological Society. 
From one of the journals published at Auckland, we learn of a 
valuable discovery of Bismuth in New Zealand. This metal is asso- 
ciated with copper, and by some novel process, it is said, the copper 
and the bismuth are economically separated from each other. 
The production of the diamond by artificial means is once more 
attracting attention. M. de Chancourtois, ina paper read before 
the Academy of Sciences of Paris, announces that he has obtained, 
in a little more than twenty years, small crystals of diamond, by 
very slowly decomposing sulphide of carbon, by tin excited by a 
very weak electrical current. M. Elie de Beaumont has made a 
communication on the subject to the Academy. 
Professor A. H. Church communicates to the ‘ Chemical News’ 
the discovery of chloropal abundantly in a quarry close to the old 
tin mine of Carclase. “The chloropal occurs with Fluor in the 
fissures of the granite, and resembles that variety of chloropal 
which has been termed ‘ gramenite,” from Menzenberg near 
Bonn.” 
In ‘ L’Institut’ for June is an interesting paper by M. Goebel, 
“‘ Researches on the Carnalite, and upon the Red Coloration of 
certain Minerals.” This paper was read before the Academy of 
Sciences of St. Petersburg. We must refer our readers to the original, 
