238 
We should very much like to go further into an analysis 
of the interesting observations on the loess, scattered 
through M. Moushketoff’s “ Turkestan”; but can only 
mention that the loess which is widely spread over the 
region, both on the outskirts of the Tian-Shan and in the 
neighbouring lowlands, is always accompanied by what 
the author describes as a “conglomerate,” and which is 
most probably some kind of more or less modified glacial 
deposit. Both are inseparable, and the loess invariably 
covers the “ conglomerate” when they are met together 
Of course, the loess extends further in the lowlands, and 
the “conglomerate ” in the hilly tracts. Sometimes there 
are layers of loess amidst the “ conglomerate.” As to the 
loess itself, although mostly quite typical, it sometimes 
appears stratified to a certain extent ; but it does not 
differ at all from the unstratified loess. M. Moushketoff 
accepts Richthofen’s theory as to the eolic origin of loess; 
but he does not deny that water spreading over a wide 
surface at the issue of small depressions of the ground, 
gives the same typical loess as that which may be con- 
sidered eolic in its origin. 
We ought to notice also a special question discussed 
at length by M. Moushketoff, namely, his thorough re- 
searches, made in company with Prof. Beck, on the 
nephrite (jade) of which the stone on the grave of Timur 
at Samarkand is made, as to its chemical composition, 
micro-structure (represented on a coloured plate), and 
also the different places where nephrite is found through- 
out the world. But we must merely commend these 
interesting researches to the attention of mineralogists. 
As may be seen from the foregoing notice, the work of 
M. Moushketoff is an acquisition of the first importance 
for all those interested in the geography and geology of 
Turkestan. The chapters containing the descriptive part 
of the work will be, for a long time to come, an especially 
valuable source of varied and reliable information. 
PSK. 
CHEMISTRY FOR THE GOLD-FIELDS 
Chemistry for the Gold-Fields : including Lectures on the 
/ Non-Metallic Elements, Metallurgy, and the Testing 
and Assaying of Metals, Metallic Ores, and other 
Minerals, by the Test-tube, the Blow-pipe, and the 
Crucible. By James G. Black, M.A., D.Sc., Professor 
of Chemistry, Metallurgy, and Assaying in the Univer- 
sity of Otago, and Otago School of Mines. 8vo, pp. 
569. (Dunedin, 1885.) 
HE title “‘ Chemistry for the Gold-Fields ” the author 
justifies by stating in his preface that in writing this 
book he had three objects in view :— 
“First.—To put into the hands of miners and prospec- 
tors a guide to enable them to identify, by simple tests 
and cheap appliances, the valuable ores when they find 
them. 
““Second.—To provide a manual in chemistry, metal- 
lurgy, analysis, and assaying for the ‘Schools of Mines’ 
which are now being established on the gold-fields of the 
colony. 
“Third.—To provide for his own students in the 
chemistry, metallurgy, and assaying classes in the Uni- 
versity of Otago, a text-book in these subjects introduc- 
tory to the larger treatises ” 
The book includes an elementary treatise on the che- 
WNCA TORE, 
[Fuly 15, 1886 
book it is scarcely necessary to dwell, as it is claimed 
that “the feature of the book” is to deal with “such 
subjects as have a direct reference to the mineral re- 
sources” of New Zealand, and “the extraction of the metals 
from their ores.” We propose, therefore, to confine our 
remarks to that portion of the work which relates more 
especially to the detection of minerals, the methods for 
assaying them, and their metallurgical treatment. The 
ores of each metal are described, their chief physical 
characteristics being stated, as well as the ordinary blow- 
pipe tests, and this latter portion of the subject is made 
more useful by an appendix on the use of the blow-pipe 
by A. Montgomery, M.A., the brevity of which is greatly 
to be regretted. 
To the metallurgy of zinc the author devotes little 
more than three pages, nearly half of which is devoted to 
the abandoned English crucible process. The Belgian 
process is briefly described, and in half-a-dozen lines the 
Silesian process is touched upon. With regard to this 
latter description the author remarks that “ various modi- 
fications of this process have now, it is said, been adopted 
in many of the larger smelting works.” This remark could 
with justice have been appended to many of the descrip- 
tions of other processes given by the author. In the metal- 
lurgy of lead the use of iron for the decomposition of the 
silicate is not mentioned, and the description of lead- 
refining is very incomplete, as also is that of the process 
for the de-silverisation of lead by the aid of zinc ; the use 
of steam for the de-zincification of the lead is not given. 
In the description of the Welsh process of copper smelt- 
ing the coarse metal slag is stated to be a ferric silicate— 
ferric silicates are, as such, rarely, if ever, produced in 
metallurgical processes. In describing the refining of 
copper the author gives equations to show that the reduc- 
tion of the cuprous oxide on poling is due to the products 
of the dry distillation of the green wood employed ; the 
action of the anthracite spread over the molten metal 
is not referred to. The electrolytic refining of copper is 
not mentioned, and electrolytic processes generally, which 
would be so important in a country like New Zealand, 
are ignored. 
In describing the Ziervogel process the author remarks, 
p- 344: “ When copper pyrites containing silver is roasted, 
under certain conditions, the iron and copper may be con- 
verted into insoluble oxides, while the silver is converted 
into sulphate of silver which dissolves in water. The 
presence of mercury promotes this reaction.” This at 
least suggests that mercury should be charged into the 
roasting furnace. Again, p. 348, Ziervogel’s “ process is 
now carried on on a large scale at Freiberg, in Saxony,” 
the fact being that it has long been abandoned there, 
except as a very minor incident of a portion of the pro- 
cess. The process of pan-amalgamation, as described by 
the author, is inaccurate. In describing the methods em- 
ployed for the production of steel, the Siemens “ore and 
pig” process is not mentioned, and the basic Bessemer 
process is only referred to by the sentence : “ By a recent 
invention, however, whereby the converter is partly lined 
with lime, it is said that sulphur and phosphorus are also 
removed in the Bessemer process.” 
The author suggests “a rapid process for distinguish- 
ing galena from zinc blende, grey antimony ore, and the 
mistry of the various elements, and on this portion of the | other mineral sulphides for which it is sometimes mis- 
