Cox. — On the Mineralogy of New Zealand. 437 



Hematite — Sjoecular Iron, ^e. — This mineral, wtiich is the peroxide of 

 iron, occurs associated with the same rocks (chlorite schists) as deposits of 

 anhydrous hematite, which are of considerable value. This ore occurs as 

 lenticular masses, which form a central band, extending from the upper 

 part of Moke Creek, near the Wakatipu Lake, through Benmore and thence 

 in the direction of Mount Gilbert. They are not, however, confined to this 

 line, but occur throughout this schistose formation in the Wakitipu district, 

 and appear to have their greatest development between Skippers and Moon- 

 light Creeks. A six feet vein in mica schist occurs at Maori Point on the 

 Shotover. 



This mineral also occurs as small single crystals (generally rhombo- 

 hedral) dispersed through a hard quartzose schist in the same district. 



It is from the above deposits that the large boulders and minute grains 

 of iron-black hematite are derived which are so generally associated with 

 the auriferous deposits of our southern goldfields, and which are called by 

 the diggers "Black Maori," by whom they are looked upon as an indication 

 of gold, in consequence of their high specific gravity. 



Analyses of several specimens of anhydrous hematite from Dunstan, 

 Otago ; Maramarua, Auckland; Otamataura Creek, Collingwood; and Wan- 

 garoa, Auckland, have been made at the Colonial Laboratory, and show 

 that they contain from 61 per cent, to 68 per cent, of iron. The detailed 

 results will be found in the Colonial Museum and Laboratory reports, or in 

 the Manual of the Mineral Resources of New Zealand, in course of publica- 

 tion. 



Limonite — Hydrous Hematite, 2 :^-\-S H. — This mineral occurs through- 

 out New Zealand, not, however, in most cases in sufficient quantities to be 

 of any value. At two localities, both near Collingwood, large and valuable 

 deposits are found under very different conditions. The best known of these 

 deposits is that situated on the south-east side of the Parapara Eiver, and 

 about a mile from its mouth. The ore occurs in massive, earthy, botryoidal, 

 mammillary, and concretionary forms. Its colour is various shades of 

 brown, commonly dark and none bright ; when earthy it is a brownish- 

 yellow or ochre-yellow. When concretionary in character the ore forms 

 hollow spherical masses commonly known as pot or bombshell ore. It 

 occurs as a vein associated with crystalline metamorphic limestones which 

 occupy a considerable area of country, and in the vicinity of the mouth of 

 the Parapara Eiver the degradation of the rocks has covered a large area 

 with this hematite in boulders, some of enormous size. It also forms the 

 matrix of a quartz conglomerate there. On breaking some of the masses of 

 ore a kernel of undecomposed pyrites is frequently found, and crystals of 

 iron pyrites of large size are very common in some places. From this, and 



