84 -. THE MINERALS OF TASMANIA. 



near Beaconsfield. In the carbonates we have fine crystal- 

 lised cerussite from the Mount Reid and Comet mines, and 

 equally attractive delicate-pink rhodochrosite from the Her- 

 cules Mine. On all our silver-lead fields siderite is a com- 

 mon lode gangue, and, as such, it not unrarely shows finely- 

 developed crystals, and the same applies to the dolomite of 

 the Magnet Mine. In the hydrous class of carbonates is 

 the local dundasite, and the bright apple-green zaratite — 

 the latter confined to the serpentine region at the Heazle- 

 wood. It is, undoubtedly, the finest occuiTence known of 

 this coimparatively rare substance. In habit it assumes a 

 varnish-like coating on pentlandite and chromite. The 

 carbonates of copper malachite and azurite both occur, but 

 not nearly so highly developed as at many localities on the 

 Mainland. 



Among the hydro-carbons there are a few worthy of more 

 than pasing interest, among which may be mentioned the 

 tasmanite of the Mersey, the Delionite, or '^^nnel coal, of 

 Mount Pelion, and the asphaltum founa on the eastern 

 Bass Straits islands; but, unfortunately, not in quantity 

 to render it of commercial importance. With the Tertiary 

 lignite at Macquarie Harbour, masses of copalite, or a 

 species allied thereto, are often met with. It burns with 

 a bright, smoky flame, and gives off an aromatic odour. 



In conclusion, it may be well to remark that the total 

 number of distinct species known to mineralogical science 

 may be estimated at between two and three thousand, and 

 of this number a few years' investigation has resulted in the 

 discovery and recording- of not less than 300 in Tasmania; 

 so it may be conceded that within the restricted confines of 

 this Island we have an unusually prolific harvest of these 

 compounds and native elements. In all reasonable pro- 

 bability, this is a larger number than has been recorded for 

 any equal area on the surface of the globe, an area, more- 

 over, which is, apparently, far from exhausted. It may 

 be of interest to state that about forty species occurring 

 here have not, so far as known, been discovered on the 

 mainland of Australia, while at least five are not known 

 elsewhere. Several of the more prominent for beauty and 

 scientific interest, such as crocoisite, vauquelinite, zaratite, 

 datolite, and axinite, were, until recent years, supposed to 

 be confined to classic localities, but in our little Island are 

 comparatively abundant and attainable. 



