7s THE PROSPECTOR'S HANDBOOK-. 



Australia In veins through Devonian rocks, &c. 



Italy In small veins through mica slate. 



Mexico There is a mercury -producing vein in pitchstone 

 porphyry. 



South America There is a mercury-bearing ore in strata 

 of shales and sandstones, &c. In Utah is found associated 

 with gold. 



Generally speaking, mercury ores occur in both early and 

 late geological formations. In New South Wales small 

 rounded pieces of cinnabar have been found in a gold and 

 gem-bearing alluvial. 



MOLYBDENUM. 



To test the presence of molybdenum in a mineral, heat 

 it before B.F. on charcoal. A yellowish-white sublimate 

 (crystallized near the test piece ; yellow, hot ; white, cold) 

 is formed and a greenish blue flame. The sublimate be- 

 comes of an azure-blue colour in the B.F. 



The principal ore is the sulphide, like graphite in appear- 

 ance, but easily distinguished by testing. 



H. 1-2 ; S.G. 4 to 5. Composition nearly 59 per 

 cent, molybdenum, the rest sulphur. Very frequently a 

 yellowish oxide (ochre) accompanies the sulphide as an 

 incrustation. It contains 66 per cent, molybdenum. 

 Molybdate of lead, yellow, affords metallic lead before the 

 blowpipe. 



NICKEL. 



To test the presence of nickel in a mineral, by means of 

 the blowpipe, requires great care. If heated on charcoal, 

 together with carbonate of soda in the inner flame, a grey 

 metallic powder, attractable by the magnet, is formed. If 

 heated with borax on platinum wire in the outer frame, a 

 hyacinth red to violet brown glass results when hot, a yel- 

 lowish or yellowish red when cold. In the reducing flame a 

 grey bead is formed. 



Kupfernickel (Arsenical nickel). 



Generally massive, kidney-shaped, columnar, arborescent, 

 &c. 



