50 



III. — Mineralogkal Notices. — By J. H, Collins, F.G.S. 



DURIlSrG the past few months several facts bearing upon the 

 mineralogy of the two western counties have come under 

 my notice, which may, perhaps, be interesting to some members 

 of the Royal Institution of Cornwall. 



On many occasions Garnets have been found in considerable 

 abundance both in Cornwall and in Devon. They are rarely more 

 than semi-transparent — sometimes quite opaque — and very seldom 

 of good color — but these deficiencies do not much reduce the 

 interest with which they are viewed by scientific mineralogists. 

 Above 20 localities are recorded in my " Handbook,"* and I have 

 now the pleasure of presenting specimens from three new locali- 

 ties. The first specimen is from the decomposed surface of a 

 highly ferruginous trap-rock which is worked for iron ore at 

 Smallacombe in Devon. The crystals are dark brown and have 

 considerable lustre, but are only semi-transparent. The second 

 specimen is from Huel Devonshire, near St. Agnes. The crystals 

 which are small and dark-colored, occur in a dark green rock like 

 many tinstones ; and I am informed by Mr. Kitto, to whom I am 

 indebted for a knowledge of the fact, that they were mistaken by 

 the miners for tin-ore — although the stone does not contain a 

 particle of tin. This particular specimen was, in fact, taken from 

 the pile of so-called best work. 



The third specimen consists of yellowish brown crystals 

 of considerable size, but these also are dull and nearly opaque. 

 They were taken from workings about 20 fathoms deep in Great 

 Eetallack Mine, Perranzabuloe, and very similar specimens have 

 been recently found at Gravel Hill Mine, in the same parish, as 

 well as near the old church of St. Perran in the sands. 



This last is also a new locality for the rare mineral Axinite, 

 which occurs with the Garnets already mentioned. 



Until recently I believe that ^ no Cornish Garnets have been 



Handbook to the Mineralogy of Cornwall and Devon, Part II, p. 53. 



