6 Records of the Geological Survey of India. [ vol. v. 
Mr. Mallet himself had also brought back with him from Europe some very interesting and 
valuable additions, all of which have been embodied in the general series. 
It is at all times a difficult, and costly task to form a really valuable series of minerals. 
Many varieties can be obtained only at rare intervals and under favorable circumstances, and 
excepting by the purchase of some good collection, the growth of many years of constant 
attention, it would be impracticable now to produce any extensive and really fine col¬ 
lection of minerals within a limited time. The object, therefore, has been to render 
our series as practically useful as was possible, leaving the obtaining of handsome 
or showy specimens of various species to such future opportunities as may occur. The 
general value of the series may be gathered from a summary of the number of representatives 
of each group into which it is divided. 
We have of— 
Native Elements 
Species. 
14 
Specimens. 
106 
Sulphides, Arsenides, &c. ... 
48 
298 
Chlorides 
6 
16 
Fluorides 
6 
56 
Oxides 
39 
523 
Anhydrous Silicates 
75 
445 
Hydrous Silicates 
65 
315 
Tantalates* Columbates ... 
6 
11 
Phosphates, Arscniates, &c. 
33 
103 
Borates 
5 
10 
Tungstates, Molybdates, &c. 
7 
23 
Sulphates, Chromates, &c. 
22 
93 
Carbonates 
20 
198 
Oxalates 
2 
2 
Hydrocarbon Compounds 
11 
40 
358 
2,239 
The most important additions have been native Gold, native Platinum, and Platinum 
metals; native Sulphur from Ladak; very fine crystals of Galena; Cinnabar, Nickel 
and Cobalt ores; Bournonite; Tetrahedrite; soluble Chlorides from Stassfurt, Fluorides from 
Greenland; Cuprite from Cornwall; Hsematite; Spinel; Magnetite; Rutile; Pyrolusite ; 
Diaspora; Manganite; Limonite; Brueito; Psilotnolune; Wad; some remarkably fine 
specimens of quartz and opal ; Wollaston!te from Auerbach; varieties of Augite and Horn¬ 
blende; Tuehyllite; Beryls from Donegal; Emerald from Siberia; Olivine; many very fine 
additions to the Mica and Felspar series; Tourmaline; Kyanite; Sphene; Dioptase; a few 
additions to the Zeolite series ; Serpentines from the Lizard; Margarite from North America ; 
Pvromorphitc; Lazulite; Borates, especially Boracite in beautiful crystals; Tungstates; 
Molybdates; some fine crystals of Crocoisite; soluble sulphates from Stassfurt ;• Siderite; 
Cerusite; Niellite and other organic compounds, in addition to many rare minerals, which 
were unrepresented in the collection previously. 
Mr. Mallet has carried out this re-arrangement with great zeal and success. He had 
slight aid for a time from Mr. Alexander, but on his departure was alone in the work. And 
the ability with which it has been done under excessive difficulty as to space, and other 
important inconveniences, and in rooms specially badly lighted, have borne ample testimony 
to the many advantages of study in Europe, which Mr. Mallet had been liberally allowed 
to reap during three months’ timo in addition to his furlough. The cost of this indulgence 
has been much more than repaid to the survey, not only by the additional knowledge so 
earnestly acquired by Mr. Mallet, but also by the valuable series he brought back with him. 
