49 
Iron in the Metallic form has not been found in lodes. It occurs in the 
Meteoric form on the sandplains to the Eastward of York. 
Tungsten. 
Symbol W. (Wolfram) ; atomic weight , 184 ; specific gravity , 18 0. 
This element never occurs free in nature, its principal native compound 
being Wclfram, which is a tungstate of iron and manganese. It is of dark greyish 
black colour, with reddish brown streaks. Its hardness is 5*5, and specific gravity, 
It is being used in the manufacture of steel shot, which it makes very hard 
and brittle, also increasing the specific gravity ; but although of considerable value 
for this purpose, such a very small quantity is used that it produces a very false 
impression when the price per lb. is quoted. In Cornwall alone there are hundreds 
of tons of it, which have been dressed away from the tin. If there were any great 
demand for it, the owners of these mines would be delighted to sell it at a very 
low figure. 
Manganese. 
Symbol , Mn.; atomic weight , 54 m 0; specific gravity , 8. 
Compounds of manganese are widely distributed; it is never found itself in 
the native state, but generally occurs in the form of black oxide. 
Pyrohmic .—Manganese oxide.-—Mostly fibrous, radiating, divergent, massive, 
or in reniform coatings. Its colour and streak are black and non-metallic, its 
hardness is 2*5, specific gravity 4*8, and composition, manganese 632, oxygen 36’8. 
It can be distinguished from iron ores, as it is not so hard, and imparts a deep 
purple to a borax bead. 
It occurs in several places in this Colony, but is not of sufficient value to work, 
but should be always tested, as it often contains large quantities of cobalt. 
It is used in the manufacture of steel and for colouring glass. 
Nickel and Cobalt are both rare metals, and have not yet been found in this 
Colony; but should prospectors find samples they think to be ores of these metals, 
they had better have them tested, as they probably will not be able to do it them¬ 
selves in the bush. 
Aluminum. 
Symbol , Al. ; atomic weight , 27'3 ; specific gravity , 2 56. 
This element, although forming a large portion of the earth’s crust in the 
form of silicates as clay, feldspar, &c., is never found in nature in the metallic 
state, in which state it was first obtained in 1828. 
It is a light silver colour metal, being both malleable and ductile, melting at 
a full red heat with no tendency to oxidise. 
It alloys readily with many metals forming alloys, one of which is aluminium 
bronze, which consists of nine parts copper and one of aluminium; this is hard, 
malleable, and has the colour of gold, and is capable of taking a high polish. 
It is the lightest metal known, which, added to the fact that it does not rust, 
will make it of considerable commercial value. 
Corundum (sapphire, ruby, and emery). It occurs mostly in six-sided prisms, 
but also granular of a blue-greyish, blue-red, yellow-brown, or black colour, being 
transparent to translucent. Its hardness is 9, specific gravity about 4, and 
composition, oxygen 46*8, and aluminium 53*2. 
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