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Mesozoic or Secondary.— The geological division between the Cainozoic 
and Palaeozoic. 
Metallurgy.— The extraction of metals from ores. 
Met amorphic. — Changed or altered. 
Meteorite.— Metallic masses that have fallen from the air. Aerolite. 
Mia-Mia. —A bough shed over a shaft. 
Mica. — A mineral that will split up into thin transparent places. 
Micaceous. — Rocks consisting largely of mica, or minerals having a scaly 
appearance like mica. 
Mice-eaten.— Quartz full of holes. 
Mineral. — A term used to distinguish the inorganic portion of the earth 
from the animal and vegetable kingdoms. 
Mispickle. — Arsenical pyrites. 
Mountain Blue. —Blue copper ore. 
Mountain Cork. —Asbestos. 
Mountain Green. —Green copper ore. 
Mountain Limestone. — Dolomite. Magnesian limestone. 
Mullock. — A soft mass of country or decomposed dyke, containing gold or 
other metal. Also decomposed and broken rock mixed in a lode. 
Mundic. — Iron pyrites. 
Muriatic Acid. —Hydrochloric acid. Spirits of salt. 
Naphtha. — A liquid volatile, and highly inflammable variety of bitumen. 
Needle. — A small iron rod for making the touch-hole used in blasting. 
Nip. — T he pinching of a vein in passing through hard country. 
Nitre.— Nitrate of potash. Saltpetre. 
Nodule. — A small lump. 
Nugget. — A large solid mass of alluvial gold. 
Ochre.— Pigments mostly earthy oxides of metals. 
Oii< Shales.— Highly bituminous shales, from which mineral oils are 
distilled. 
Opaline.— An earthy form of gypsum or magnesian limestone. 
Open Cast.— When a lode outcrops at the surface and is taken bodily out 
without sinking a shaft. 
Ore. — T he portion of the lode stuff which contains the metal. 
Organic.— Of animal or vegetable origin. 
Orpiment. —Yellow sulphide of arsenic. 
Outcrop. — When the lode or bed comes to the surface. 
Ovoid.—E gg-shaped. 
Oxide. — A compound of oxygen with a metal. 
Paddock. — A way of working a claim, the whole mass being taken out in the 
form of a large square pit. 
Paint Gold. — Very thin coatings of gold on the faces of stone. 
Palaeozoic (Ancient Life). — The name given to the strata which contain the 
oldest forms of life, and it is amongst these that most of the mineral deposits are 
found. 
Pan. — A dish for washing gold. Also to wash gold. 
Parafin.— A wax-like substance obtained from the distillation of petroleum 
and other bituminous minerals. 
