1867.] Mining. 127 



of Sciences, and he proposes to convert it into the acid phosphate of 

 lime, at a low cost, by means of the sulphurous acid of Almadcn. 

 M. Chevreul has recently published a paper " On the Estremadura 

 Phosphate."* 



Netv Zealand Gold. — The total export of gold from the pro- 

 vince of Otago since 1861, when this gold field was discovered, to 

 the end of 1865, was 1,875,053 ounces, and from the commence- 

 ment of this year to the latest return from the colony, 69,784 ounces 

 have been exported. 



Many of the coals and coal-measure shales of New South Wales 

 are now being actively worked for the production of petroleum, or 

 kerosene, as they more generally term this oil in the colony. 

 At Hartley nine retorts are in action, and they are producing 

 1,200 gallons a-week. The refining power now established is said 

 to be equal to 10,000 gallons a-week. To produce this, 100 tons 

 of the cannel coal found at Hartley is necessary ; but, we are told, 

 a single acre of this coal will furnish mineral enough for a year's 

 supply at the rate of 100 tons a-week. 



Metallurgy. 



We ought not to lose sight of the fact, that during the period of 

 depression of our iron trade, there has been great activity in the 

 iron works of Belgium. The production of pig-iron in the district 

 of Charleroi has been, during this year, about 500,000 tons. Of 

 this 10,000 tons have been exported, while 25,000 tons of pig-iron 

 have been imported. Nearly all the Belgium pig-iron is now 

 worked up in the country, and is exported only as malleable iron. 

 Belgium, in 1865, exported 57,000 tons less, and imported 120,000 

 tons more, than in the preceding year. 



Barytes white (sulphate and carbonate of baryta) has been long 

 used for the adulteration of whitelead ; and, for this purpose, it is 

 still employed to an extent which is disgraceful. It is now, how- 

 ever, used for the enamel upon visiting cards, and on paper. 

 Especially does it find a use in the manufacture of paper collars ; 

 and we learn that twenty tons of sulphate of baryta are used per 

 day in the paper-collar manufactories of New York city alone. 



H. Fleck continues his inquiry "On the Characteristics of 

 various Kinds of Coal."t De Bergne has published an account of 

 what he considers an improved blast furnace. Experience is, 

 however, necessary before it can be pronounced to be an improve- 

 ment. Messrs. Sparrow and Poole, of Ffrwd, in North Wales, have 

 constructed a furnace with more permanent arrangements than 



* ' Compte.3 Kenchis,' vol. lxiii., p. 402. 



t 'Dinger's Polytechnisches Journal,' vol. 181, p. 4o. 



