44 MINERALS OF TASMANIA. 
usually found in old mine workings where there is a percolation of 
water. 
In adit level, Bischoff; Silver Crown mine, Zeehan; Blue 
Tier, near Beaconsfield. 
134. MORENOSITE (Nickel Vitriol, or Sulphate). 
This vitriol occurs as a greenish-white efflorescence in mine 
workings. It was obtained by Mr. G. Thereau, F.G.S. (Report 
on the future Prospects as regards Production and Permanency of 
the Beaconsfield and Salisbury Mining Districts, 1883), in an 
adit on the property of the Victoria Gold Mining Company, Blue 
Tier, near Beaconsfield. An analysis made by Mr. W. F. Ward, 
Government Analyst (loc. cit.), “from selected portions of the 
mineral,” gave the following return :— 
WRC el (I RIMC. ss i555 dona scenceesceeneds ts 9°15 per cent. 
Aran JProtoxide © ~....<scceetsesevssnctese 1:08 Ee 
SHE BHUTIC A CIC. ..0scc0sesccspeasevensses 34°20 *3 
NURIDED) \osiassccnsceuscnssse sen ncepitinesttnaes 44°80 
At this mine, and on the Blue Tier Company’s property in the 
vicinity, tunnels have been driven for a considerable distance into 
the range, which, after passing through a disturbed formation, 
penetrated a large quantity of pyrites of various kinds that soon 
decomposed, forming a mass of sulphates much intermixed deposited 
upon the sides and roof of the adits, giving off a considerable evolution 
of heat. These sulphates present a considerable admixture of 
bases: both occasionally show anefflorescent mass that can be fairly 
defined, but more often the forms cannot be separated, and it 
remains to be proved how far they may be homogeneously combined. 
The “ dyke” or lode appears to be composed of Quartz, Calcite, 
with Serpentine, and, according to Mr. Thureau’s Report, Felspar, 
intermixed with the slaty country rock. It is thickly charged 
with Pyrite, Sphalerite, Millerite and Pyrrhotine—the first often 
highly auriferous. 
Mr. W. F. Ward (loc. cit.) has made a careful and instructive 
examination of this interesting mineral mass: he states :— 
“This mineral occurs in crystalline masses of a pale green 
colour, the cavities and parts of the surface being covered with 
minute hair-like crystals; the fracture is saccharoidal, and of a 
sea-green colour. The hardness is about 2; the taste metallic 
astringent ; powder white; readily soluble in water. When 
gently treated it melts in its water of crystallization, afterwards 
intermixing and leaving a buff-coloured mass resembling pumice, 
which is infusible before the blowpipe, giving off sulphurous 
acid, and turning brown on the surface owing to the per-oxidation 
of the iron present. 
The following shows the average composition :— 
