80 IsICKEL MIXEEALS FEOM ^'EW CALEDOjS'IA. 



Subsequently it may be found necessary to lessen the number 

 of species of such minerals ; future research may show, and I 

 think most probably will show, that one or more of the species 

 may be done away with ; but until specimens of all of them have 

 been more closely examined it will prove convenient to retain 

 the above distinctive names for them, even if it be only to show 

 their localities thereby. 



They all appear to be found in serpentine rocks, and, as far as 

 can be gathered, in serpentine containing a certain proportion of 

 diffused oxide of nickel ; thus the New Caledonian serpentine 

 contains 1"0 nickel oxide, or 0'78 per cent, metallic nickel ; it is 

 however, by no means an unconunon thing for sm.all quantities 

 of nickel to be found in the serpentines of Cornwall and Devon- 

 shire, of Banffshire, of Saxony, Canada, and other places. 



According to all accounts, ihe above minerals, Garuierite and 

 iSToumeite, appear to occur in large quantities; the ore as delivered 

 in Sydney contains from about 4 per cent, to 10 or 15 per cent, of 

 metallic nickel, while the major part contains about 6 per cent to 

 7 per cent. 



The minerals are evidently the decomposition products of 

 other compounds, and it is not at all improbable that the arse- 

 nides and sulphides of nickel may be found in depth. 



I am inclined to think that Grarnierite is probably a modified 

 form of Xoume'ite : it looks as if it had been more exposed to 

 weathering influences or to the action of a higher temperature ; 

 it is also more closely associated with silica, e.y., it contains 

 plates of silica or quartz between its fissures. 



