56 
EAST WING. 
General Calamine (19h), carbonate of zinc, is an important zinc ore. 
SSeraiT""^ Chessylite (21d) and Malachite (22b) are respectively the 
bine and green hydrated carbonates of copper, and are ores of 
that metal. Malachite is found in large masses ; and by reason 
of the high polish which it takes and its beautiful markings, i& 
much used for ornamental work of various kinds. 
Passing to the silicates we come to Olivine (22f), one of the 
less hard and least valued of the precious stones ; when of a 
yellow colour it is known as the Chrysolite, while the pistachio- 
green variety is the Peridot of jewellery. 
Hiddenite (23a), a rare lately discovered emerald-green variety 
of spodumene, has been introduced as a precious stone. 
Asbestos (24c) is a variety of hornblende used in the arts ; it 
is found in long fibres, and in some of its varieties is so flexible 
that it can be woven into gloves and other articles ; examples 
will be found among the worked specimens in the Pavilion at 
the end of the gallery. The term asbestos, unquenched or un- 
quenchable, was applied td the mineral by the ancient Greeks,, 
because, owing to its being unaltered by heat, wicks made of it 
were used in maintaining the sacred perpetual fires of their 
temples. Kapkins of asbestos were cleaned by being thrown 
into the fire ; asbestos cloth was also used in the process of 
cremation to keep the ashes of the body distinct from those of 
the fuel. It is now largely employed for more prosaic purposes, 
such as the lining of iron safes, packing for steam-pipes and 
boilers, and in gas-stoves. 
Jade or Nephrite (24d), a much valued mineral, belongs to- 
the same mineral group as hornblende. It has few known 
localities, and it has been difi&cult to find an answer to the 
question as to whence the older workers of jade can have got 
their material. The various shades of colour and the beautiful 
polish which this tough mineral will take are illustrated by 
specimens in the case. The worked specimens from 'New 
Zealand, of which there are several exhibited, are now rare. 
An immense water-worn mass, found some years ago in Asiatic 
Eussia, is shown in the Pavilion. 
Meerschaum (23g) is the light soft porous mineral used for 
tobacco-pipes : it is a hydrated silicate of magnesium. 
>Serpentine (25a) is another hydrated magnesium silicate : the 
