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K.LII. Discovery of Chromate of Iron in Shetland. By Samuel 

 HiBBERT, M.D. Edinburgh*. 

 J 5, Hill Place, Edinburgh, Feb. 7, 1820. 



SrR, — 1 HAVE the honour to make n communication to the 

 Society of Arts, &c., respecting the discovery, which I ori- 

 ginally made two years and a half ago, of the chromate of iron 

 in the Shetland Islands, which suhstance is at present obtained 

 for the manufacturers of colours at a considerable expense from 

 the United States of America. Since a notice first appeared in 

 the journals relating to the discovery, considerable inquiries have 

 been made concerning it; but, that I might not create expecta- 

 tions which could not be realised, I was unwilling to make further 

 communications on the subject until I had made a second visit to 

 Shetland, when I ascertained that it exists there in great abun- 

 dance. Conceiving, therefore, that the patriotic Institution of 

 London for the promotion of the arts and commerce of Great 

 Britain was the most suitable medium through which the know- 

 ledge of the place and circumstances under which the chromate 

 of iron is found might be first communicated to those who are 

 commercially interested in the discovery, I have taken the liberty 

 of transmitting to you a set of specimens f, which, in reference 

 to the annexed description, will illustrate the varied character of 

 the mineral. If my discovery shall be considered as a contribu- 

 tion to the commercial resources of the British Islands, it will 

 afford me some recompense for the considerable time and labour 

 which I have expended in the prosecution of the search after 

 this important ore. I am, sir, 6jc. 



^. Aikin, Esq. Sec. &^c. Sam uei, Hibbert, M.D. 



Circumstances under which the Chromate of Iron is found in. 

 Shetland. 

 The chromate of iron occurs in the Serpentine rocks in the 

 neighbourhood of Balta Sound, in the island of Unst. I was 

 first led to a search after this ore by obseryinc: innumerable frag- 

 ments of it strewed about the hill in which it is found, and even 

 contributing to strengthen the fences of the country. It is ob- 

 served in the form of imbedded and insulated masses, at Buness, 

 close to the house of the proprietor, Thomas Edmonstone, esq. 

 The extent of the greatest mass is not, however, ascertained, as 

 it is on one side concealed by the sea, and on the other by the 

 <Jecp soil of a meadow. It was traced three feet in breadth and 

 fifteen feet in length. At Ilagdale, near Haroldwick, the chro- 

 watc of iron occurs in the form of immerous thin ramifying veins; 



• From tlie Ttmimcttonn of the Sockly for the Encouragement of Arts, 

 Manvfarturcs, mul Commerce, for iH2<). The I sis gold medal of the So- 

 ciety was voted to Dr. Hibheit fortius communieation. 

 t Whieli are now in the Hepository of tliq Soeiety. 



Vu] r,7. >;o.27G. y^/;n7 1821. \A but 



