240 MINERALS FROM NEW CALEDONIA, 
The majority of the specimens are massive, with a 
ular, or lamellar structure ; also in the form of more or less 
distinct lustrous black octahedra, Bias packed gels often 
the ore is however stained with oxide of iron, and mixed with 
more or less —— matter. Some of the specimens i oa as 
much as 66 per of chromium sesquioxide. 
One specimen ae up of rather large impertechiy ares 
iron-gray crystals—some nearly half an inch in diameter— 
found to have the following composition :— 
Analysis. 
Silica and insoluble matter! _... eat .. ot 
ee ie ia — ee 
mium sesquioxide = iad zs ... 66°54 
a protoxide re a ie ... 10°85 
esia ... oh won an ces ... 15°03 
100°47 
The amount of chromium sesquioxide is unusually large; this 
is due to much of the iron protoxide being replaced by magnesia, 
the difference being due to the lower equivalent of the latter. 
The above numbers approximate to the usual formula, RO, R, 
calities: Petit Mont d’Or, Coumac, Tiebaghi, Ouaghi, 
masa! Baie du Sud. 
Non-METALLIFEROUS MINERALS. 
Coal.—A specimen of the so-called anthracite, from 
Noumea, came into my possession some tim 
Torbanite or “ Kerosene Shale.”—A specimen of to 
kerosene shale labelled peso Caledonia,” exists in the | rd 
University collection. I cannot however trace its history, ro 
not know from what part of New Caledonia it is supposed to 
been brought. It has very much the same appearance and by 
physical qualities as the New South Wales mineral mrre” does 
the name of kerosene vert although it is not a shale and does 
yield kerosene, but a m neral oil of another kind. 
Analysis. 
Moisture , 65:17 
aac hydro-carbons me a 3-71 
1B oh ew a 
100°00 
——— 
The specific gravity is 1-238. rere 
1 Free from chromium. 
