SCIENTIFIC SUMMARY". 
123 
Mi . Phipson, in a letter to M. Elie de Beaumont, draws attention to a 
specimen of native zinc now in the International Exhibition. The speci- 
men occurs in basalt from Brunswick, near Melbourne, Victoria. It has 
before been stated by G. Ulrich that metallic zinc has been found near 
Victoria ; and, according to Becker, it occurs also in the gold-washings of 
the Mitta River. — (H. W. Bristow.) Such cases are remarkable, it being 
very uncommon to find any readily-oxidized metal in the native state. 
The mineral lepidolite, or lithiamica, has been used as a source of 
litliia. Certain varieties contain more than 1 per cent, of the newly- 
discovered metal rubidium, and these form a convenient source for obtain- 
ing this element and its compounds. 
Welsh gold continues to attract increased attention. It is constantly 
being discovered in fresh localities of the Dolgelly district, and expectation 
is raised to a very high pitch about the auriferous region. It is variously 
found in quartz, in lead, in alluvium, and in blende. Since the beginning 
of 1861, about 7,000 oz. have been extracted from quartz-rock in the dis- 
trict. The value of the precious metal thus obtained is more than <£25,000, 
at a cost of £2,000, exclusive of the royalty of one-twelfth paid to the 
Crown. At Clogau, lately, no less than 142 oz. were obtained from 840 lbs. 
of quartz. Later accounts state that the district is now being examined 
by Mr. Mosheimer, commissioner from California to the International 
Exhibition. He pronounces the district very favourable, but condemns 
the mode of extraction used at Clogau. It is said he is so confident of the 
value of some lodes, that he has purchased large interests, sanguine of 
being well repaid. Explorers have now found their way to the isle of 
Anglesea, where there is much quartz that resembles that of the gold- 
bearing districts. 
Metallurgy . — The preparation of cast-steel is attracting very considerable 
attention. Bessemer’s process and modifications of it are fast gaining 
ground. It has frequently been objected to this process that it did not 
sufficiently or even sensibly remove the sulphur and phosphorus from 
the cast-iron. Mr. G. Barry, of the Ebbw Vale Iron Works, Monmouth, 
has patented certain improvements in the manufacture of iron and steel, 
one object of which is to get rid of these objectionable constituents. He 
takes ordinary wrought-iron and raises it to a very high temperature in 
a melting-furnace along with fuel and fluxes. The heat obtained is much 
greater than that required to melt the iron, which combines with some of 
the fuel, and becomes carbonized. By subsequent puddling, much of the 
sulphur and phosphorus are got rid of along with the carbon. If neces- 
sary, the carbonization and puddling are repeated. He thus obtains puri- 
fied wrought-iron. This may be carbonized in the same manner sufficiently 
to convert it into hard steel. And from this soft steel is obtained, by 
re-melting it in a separate furnace, and blowing air through it. By these 
processes nearly all the pig-iron produced in this country becomes available 
for the manufacture of cast-steel. 
An important memoir on this subject by M. Fremy, well known from 
his researches on the composition of steel, has been lately read before the 
French Academy of Sciences. He remarks that steel is growing in im- 
portance so rapidly that it is incumbent on any nation wishing to preserve 
