496 /S. L. Penjield — Pentlandite from Sudbury, Ont. 



Blueite. 



Under this name Dr. Eraraens has described a massive sul- 

 phide ore, which is found in several mines of the Sudbury 

 district, notably at the workings of the Emmens Metal Com- 

 pany, where it is found associated with niccolite, gersdorffite, 

 pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite." The following are some of its 

 properties. "Luster, — Metallic, somewhat silky. Color, — 

 pale olive-gray, inclining to bronze. Specific gravity, 42. 

 Form, Massive, — No crystals have as yet been observed. Solu- 

 bility. — The mineral dissolves readily in nitric acid without 

 separation of sulphur and yields a yellow solution. — Magnetism. 

 — The mineral is non-magnetic." 



The chemical analysis is given under A. B, is the same 

 after deducting the insoluble and recalculating to 100 per cent. 

 The theoretical composition, calculated for the proposed 

 formula Fe 12 NiS 26 is given under C. 



A 

 Ni 3-5 



Fe .'- 38-8 



S (by difference) 52-3 



Insoluble. 5 - 4 



B 



C 



3-70 



3-76 



41-01 



42-96 



55-29 



53-28 











100-00 100-00 100-00 



The reasons given for making a new species of this mineral 

 are " the considerable percentage of nickel (a very rare element 

 in pyrite) and the easy solubility in nitric acid without separa- 

 tion of sulphur." Although it must be admitted that nickel 

 is a rare constituent in pyrite, yet nickeliferous pyrites are 

 known, and at Sudbury in particular, where iron and nickel 

 are so abundant, we might expect to find a mutual replace- 

 ment of these elements. Moreover the analysis was made on 

 massive material ; there is no guarantee of the purity of the 

 mineral and the sulphur was determined by difference. The 

 character of the gangue is not stated and certainly no proof has 

 been given that the nickel has not been derived from some 

 impurity. That the mineral dissolves in nitric acid without 

 the separation of sulphur can not be made a ground for separa- 

 ting it from pyrite, for it is an easy matter to oxidize and 

 dissolve the latter completely, if the nitric acid is strong and 

 relatively in large quantity compared with the amount of 

 mineral to be dissolved. 



Whartonite. 



Under this name Dr. Emmens describes a sulphide from the 

 Blezard Mine, about seven miles northeast of Sudbury. The 



