PRELIMINARY NOTE ON THE ROCKS USED 

 IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THE TRON- 

 ATTAS. 



By Fritz Noetling, M.A., Ph.D., etc. 



(Read 12th July, 1909.) 



The observations here recorded are based on the 

 examination of more than 5,000 specimens, all collected 

 by myself chiefl}^ in the southern and central parts of 

 Tasmania. The results derived from the study of such 

 a large number may be taken as fairly accurate, yet I 

 must consider them as preliminary only, because they 

 are solely dependent on macroscopical observations, 

 while the very important microscopical examination is 

 still outstanding. I am aware that this is a serious draw- 

 back, but the results obtained without the aid of the 

 microscope are full of interest, and they will be a great 

 help to those who may eventually take up the micro- 

 scopical part. 



Brough Smith (i) was probably t'he first who recog- 

 nised the nature of the rocks used by the Aborigines for 

 t'heir implements, but it was left to Mr. Johnstone to 

 ascertain the fact that " the cherty rock from which the 

 natives of Tasmania for the most part manufactured 

 their flints was undoubtedly derived from upper palaeo- 

 zoic rnudstones, which are frequently metamorphosed 

 into a cherty substance by contact with the later erup- 

 tive greenstones " (2). Localities wliere this particular 

 kind of rock occurs are not uncommon, and most of 

 them, if not all, have been habitually visited by the 

 Aborigines in order to obtain suitable pieces of rock. 



(i) The Aborigines of Victoria, London, 1878, Vol. II., 

 Appendix, pages 400 and 401. 



(2) Geology of Tasmania, Hobart, 1888, page 334. 



