DEPARTMENT OF MINERALOGY. 157 



Pyrites, Jamesonite, Leonite, Melilite, Mimetite, Mispickel, 

 Orthoclase, Pyrargyrite, Pyromorphite, Quartz, Raspite, 

 Sartorite, Stolzite, Sulphur, Thomsonite, Topaz, Tourmaline, 

 Valentinite, Wolfsbergite. 



Petrographical examinations have been made of rock- 

 collections from Abyssinia, Persia, and the Little Island of 

 Trinidad, S. Atlantic. Sections of rocks from Christmas 

 Island and from Mount Kenya have also been microscopically 

 examined and named. In connection with this petrogra- 

 phical work, 176 thin sections of rocks have been prepared, 

 microscopically examined, and entered in the slip-catalogue. 



In the Chemical Laboratory, quantitative analyses have 

 been made of the above-mentioned Binnite from the Binnen- 

 thal (two analyses) ; Tetrahedrite from Fresney d'Oisans ; 

 Tetrahedrite from Horhausen ; Tetrahedrite from Wolfach, 

 Baden ; Valentinite from Bolivia ; Florencite from Brazil 

 (two analyses) ; Stannite from Bolivia (two analyses) ; Copper 

 Pyrites from Cornwall. 



A fragment of a mass of meteoric iron brought by Dr. 

 Moreno from Patagonia, and a meteoric mineral, Tsenite, 

 extracted from the Youndegin meteoric iron, have been 

 examined, quantitively analysed, and described; the exami- 

 nation and analysis of some meteoric stones which fell at 

 Mount Zomba in British Central Africa on 25th January 

 1899 have been in progress. 



Further, forty -nine doubtful minerals have been qualitatively 

 analysed, and many specific gravity determinations have 

 been made. In connection with this analytical work, various 

 reagents have been purified by crystallisation and distil- 

 lation. 



Arrangeiiient. 



Re-arrangements have been made in the wall-case contain- 

 ing " Ornamental Stones " to admit of the exhibition of a 

 series of polished slabs of marbles from the ruins of ancient 

 Rome. The fittings of many of the glazed ends of the table- 

 cases have been re-distempered, and work by the carpenter 

 on the insides of the table-cases, to render them dust-proof, 

 has been continued : this has involved much temporary dis- 

 placement and much re-arrangement of the specimens. A 

 long column of Basalt from the Rhenish quarries has 

 been mounted for exhibition in the Gallery. 



Miscellaneous. 



The Student's Index to the Collection of Minerals has 

 been revised, and a new edition has been issued. Assist- 

 ance has been given in the revision of the proofs of the 

 Catalogue of the Museum Library. 104 boxes of mineral 

 specimens have been received, unpacked, and examined : 86 

 boxes have been packed and despatched. 



