of Edinburgh, Session 1884-85. 
69 
one of the most easily refined of all the ores of nickel. This is 
readily seen from the following analyses of six representative 
samples : — 
24-28 
3-80 
0-58 
15- 75 
40-24 
16- 21 
100-86 
The average ores worked contain about 10 per cent, of a metallic 
nickel. I have here as representative a set of specimens of the 
nickel ores as could be obtained. It has a green colour, and was 
mistaken for an ore of copper at one time. 
The refined nickel is usually sent into the market either in shape 
of small cubes or round cakes. I have here specimens of each of 
these. The nickel rounds are prepared by mixing, intimately, the 
oxide of nickel refined from the ore, along with wood charcoal, and 
after stamping into the round shape (shown in the specimen), the 
cakes are dried, and the oxide is reduced to the metallic state at a 
high temperature, the round cakes still retaining their shape. Nickel 
made in this way is chiefly employed in the manufacture of German 
silver, or other alloys of nickel and copper ; it is brittle, and has a 
distinct crystalline appearance on being broken. Before proceeding 
to speak of malleable nickel and other uses of the metal and its 
alloys, I shall give a few of the analyses that have been made of 
the oxide and of the metallic nickel manufactured from the ores of 
New Caledonia. I may here mention that these analyses are re- 
presentatives of a great many hundred tons of refined oxide and 
metallic nickel derived from New Caledonia, which is believed to be 
the largest source of nickel supply in the world. 
77-67 
None 
0-47 
21-50 
0-34 
Analyses of Oxide of Nickel. 
Nickel, . . . 77-51 
Copper, . . . None 
Iron, . . . 0*54 
Oxygen, . . . 21 -30 
Impurities, . . 0"65 
Oxide of nickel, 
7-00 
11-08 
12-68 
18-04 
19-00 
Oxide of iron, 
4-47 
7-34 
7-14 
0-88 
J 6-60 
Alumina, . 
2-53 
1-56 
1-50 
1-24 
Lime, 
2-30 
1-90 
0-72 
Trace 
Trace 
Magnesia, . 
31-42 
22-50 
21-80 
16-37 
16-30 
Silica, 
40-96 
37-96 
44-00 
45-74 
44-00 
Water, 
12-00 
17-30 
12-16 
17-28 
20-00 
100-68 
99-64 
100-00 
99-55 
99-90 
100-00 
99-98 
