1883.] Mineralogy. 313 
shaped mass of iron covered with an oxidized crust—was exam- 
ined by the same analyst found to be of terrestrial and artificial 
origin. 
On the other hand, some rough, flattened scales of iron, with 
jagged edges and often twisted as though made by a lathe, which 
were found in the sand accompanying native gold in the bed of 
Brush creek, Montgomery county, and which W. T. Page has 
analyzed, are regarded as specimens of native iron. The largest 
grains weighed as much as 60-80 milligrammes, while the smallest 
were almost dust. Analysis showed traces of copper, sulphur 
and quartz. The scales were but slightly oxidized. The method 
of occurrence rendered it improbable that these scales could have 
been detached from the picks and shovels used at the washings. 
ANALYSES OF SOME NoRTH CAROLINA Minerats.—In the same 
laboratory several North Carolina minerals have been examined. 
. I. Page examined the auriferous sand from Burke county, 
N. C., and found in addition to zircon, monazite, magnetite, etc., a 
number of malleable metallic grains, which, like those of the Vir- 
ginia sand, referred to above, were often irregular, twisted and 
Jagged. They were almost pure iron, mere traces of cobalt and 
quartz being present. The extended distribution of native terres- 
trial iron, thus shown, is of great interest. 
Mr. Seaman has analyzed fergusonite from Brindletown, Burke 
county. It occurs in small reddish-brown crystals of tetragonal 
habit, and was first noticed by Mr. W. E. Hidden. Some four 
per cent. of tantalic acid was shown to accompany the columbium, 
the presence of didymium and lanthanum also being proved. 
Metals of the yttrium group, but of higher atomic weight (erbium, 
ytterbium, etc.) occur in small proportion with the yttrium. Count- 
ing the water as basic the ortho-columbate formula is deduced: 
M’” Nb Oy. 
Mr. Seaman has also analyzed a columbate from the Wiseman 
mica mine of Mitchell county, which had formerly been regarded 
as euxenite, but which is shown to agree neither in physical char- 
acters nor in chemical composition with that species. The sub- 
stance is compact, reddish-brown in color, with luster between 
resinous and adamantine, and with pale yellowish-brown streak, 
“ardness = 5.5. Spec. grav. = 4.33. The analysis gave 
A WO, oO, UO; YVO; C&O; DLO, LaO, . FeO 
SH Vranica inj 
47.09 "eee 
G0 Ho 
"53 9.55 = 99.67. 
Unlike euxenite, no titanium is present, and the deduced form- 
ee that of an ortho-columbate, M”, Cb, Og, while euxenite is a 
ity and lumbate. The percentage of water, the low specific grav- 
the appearance of the mineral, with its external crust of 
15.15 £3.46 1.40 4.00 7-09 
