1867.] Mineralogy, Mining, and Metallurgy. 425 



manufactured from it at Pcsth and Tcmcsvar, and in many of the 

 great industrial establishments of Hungary. 



In connection with these coal beds considerable deposits of 

 argillaceous iron ores are found, and overlying them beds of bitu- 

 minous shales which are very rich in mineral oil, which is used, 

 under the direction of Dr. 0. Goraelin, in the manufacture of 

 paraffine and photogene. 



Professor Hochstetter remarks that the coal of this district com- 

 petes, and not without success, with the British coal which finds its 

 way to the Danubian Provinces. Sulphides of iron, lead, and zinc, 

 are stated to be associated with the iron ores. 



The demand for coal in France is rapidly increasing, and con- 

 sequently we find an increase in the quantities of coal sent into 

 that country from England and from Belgium. The quantities 

 sent from the two countries being as follows : — 







Tons. 





Tons. 



1864 



Belgian 



3.150,185 



English 



1,285,514 



1865 



»» 



3,850,782 



yj 



1,562,627 



1866 



!• 



3,785,711 





1,904,091 



The French Government, anxious to preserve the existing 

 woods in France, are doing all they can to induce English coal- 

 owners to send coal into that country, and the great railway com- 

 panies have agents in England, making special inquiries as to the 

 probable quantities of coal which may be sent into the interior of 

 France if the railway rates are reduced. 



It has been, not unfrequently, said, and very generally believed, 

 that the Gold Mining of Australia was rapidly declining. The last 

 number of Dicker's ' Mining Record,' an admirable weekly paper, pub- 

 lished in Melbourne, and devoted to the consideration of the important 

 mining interests of Victoria, gives in its share circular, the names 

 of thirty-eight dividend alluvial mines and of thirty-six progressive 

 alluvial mines ; of sixty dividend quartz mines and of sixteen pro- 

 gressive quartz mines. This does not look like a failing of activity 

 in gold washing or mining. Within sixteen years the two colonies 

 of Victoria and New South Wales have produced a supply of gold 

 amounting in value to 150,000,000?. sterling, four-sixths of which 

 has been the produce of Victoria alone.* 



We have just seen some very interesting specimens of Gold sent 

 home from Otago, New Zealand, by Mr. William Warren, and some 

 gems, topazes, amethysts, sapphires, rubies, rock crystal, and a 

 remarkable siliceous gem of extreme hardness, which we believe to 

 be new. We note this to show the importance of carefully examin- 

 ing the residues of the gold washings of this colony. The gems 

 now sent are small and not of much value, but they indicate the 

 high probability of finding such as would be of real value. 



* See also article on " The Progress of Science Abroad," in the present number. 

 • Intercolonial Exhibition, 1866. Mineral and Mining Statistics.' 



vol. rv. 2 f 



