Cox.—On the Mineralogy of New Zealand, 897 
Serpentine, Mg! $i? + 2 H.—This mineral is somewhat widely dis- 
tributed in New Zealand, occupying as a rule the junction line or there- 
abouts between the Lower Carboniferous and Upper Devonian rocks, but it 
is also found associated with nephrite at Milford Sound. Dr. Hector says, 
(Jurors Rep. N.Z. Ex., 1865, p. 412) :—“ This mineral occurs in New 
Zealand in two forms—Common Serpentine, that forms extensive rock-masses 
characteristic of the mineral ground in various parts of the South Island 
in the provinces of both Nelson and Otago; and Noble Serpentine, which 
occurs in thin veins associated with the jade or greenstone of the Maoris, 
by whom it is distinguished by the name of Tangiwai." 
The principal development of the common serpentine is in Nelson, 
where what is known as the mineral belt may be traced down D'Urville 
Island through the Dun Mountain to Aniseed Valley, an isolated patch 
occurring again at Red Hill. It is alluded to by several observers, such as 
Dr. v. Hochstetter, Dr. Hector, Mr. E. H. Davis, Mr. A. McKay, and myself, 
in reports made from time to time on various parts of the district, and is 
described by Mr. E. H. Davis (Geol. Rep., 1870-71, p. 111) thus :—'* Dun 
Mountain serpentine as a rule is of a poor variety, generally a dark green, 
almost black colour, appearing lighter by transmitted light : translucent at 
the edges and rather brittle." 
It is mentioned by Mr. J. C. Crawford as occurring in small quantities 
in the palwozoic rocks of Wellington (Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. i., p. 4), and 
again at Ruamahunga (Trans. N.Z. Inst. vol. ii., p. 845) ; by Dr. v. Haast 
as veins in the Mt. Cook range and some other localities in the Southern 
Alps (Jurors' Rep. N.Z. Ex., 1865, p. 257); by Mr. J. Buchanan in the 
Awatere River, Marlborough (Geol. Rep., 1866-67, p. 85) and by Mr. D. 
Macfarlane at Jackson's Bay (Geol. Rep., 1876-77, p. 27). Specimens have 
also been forwarded to the Colonial Museum from Island Bay, Wellington, 
by Mr. W. F. Barraud; from Southland (Windly Creek) by Captain 
Hutton; from Auckland by Mr. J. B. Gillies ; from Pelorus Sound by Mr. 
Duncan ; and from the Dart River by the Hon. Captain Fraser. 
Noble serpentine, as before mentioned, occurs at Milford Sound, and is 
described by Dr. Hector (Jurors’ Rep. N.Z. Ex., 1865, p. 412) as follows :— 
«Tt occurs as boulders of various sizes, and generally much water-worn. 
Some of the smaller pieces when cut and polished are very attractive on 
account of their beautiful deep sea-green colour, their translucency, their 
purity, and remarkable closeness of grain. This mineral is somewhat soft, 
and, breaking readily, is capable of being worked into any shape with the 
greatest ease, and for ornamental work generally is well adapted. Its 
general charaeters are as follow: Colour, dull green and mottled black 
lustre, slightly resinous ; fracture, splintery ; streak, dirty white; hardness 
