PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION B. 407 
No. 25. 
Banana Skin Scrapings (Mouldy). 
11-10-89.— Pale-purple in ninety minutes. 
14-10-89.—Dark-purple solution. Skin stained. Slight precipitate. 
1-1-90.—Dark purple-red solution. Growth on skin almost 
black. 
22-5-90,—Dark-blue purple solution. Growth on skin black. 
Dark growth at bottom of solution. 
28-5-90.—Dark-blue purple solution. Growth on skin purple- 
black. Also purple-black loose precipitate. 
The details of the experiments are given since they show the 
first appearance of the mould and the time taken for the change 
in colour according to the removal of the gold. 
It is noticeable that no growth was produced where chloroform, 
turpentine or carbon disulphide was used as the solvent for 
phosphorus, but alcohol favoured such growth. The development 
of the mould may be in part due to the presence of the alcohol 
radical (C,H, ) ethyl existing in both ether and alcohol; the 
presence of phosphoric acid, we know, is as essential to penicillium 
as it is to man. 
It is remarkable that the oxalic acid mould did not increase 
but disappeared (confirmatory experiments are required on this 
and other points). The organic substances, like bread, &c., behaved 
as might have been expected. 
It was found by Roulin that the salts of iron and zine promoted 
the growth of moulds; and Hamlet (Australasian Association 
for the Advancement of Science, Sydney, 1888, p. 326) found 
zine in the mould of mouldy bread, and it may be that many 
other metallic substances, including gold, are favourable to the 
growth of moulds. 
There is no doubt that gold in natural waters could be removed 
by any moulds with which it might come in contact; but then 
any other organic matter, living or dead,does the same. Hence at 
this stage of the experiments I do not wish to draw any inferences 
as to the possible part which fungoid growths may have had in 
the separation and accumulation of gold in natural deposits, 
alluvial or otherwise. 
14.—NOTES ON AN EXAMINATION OF SOME SAND 
FROM WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 
By A. H. Jackson, B.Sc., F.C.S. 
15.—NOTES ON THE NEW SILVER FIELDS AT 
MOUNT ZEEHAN, TASMANIA. 
By A. J. TAyutor: 
