38 The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. [Jan. 
Wad (impure Hydrous Manganese Oxides).—'Used for paints. See also 
Manganese-ores. 
Water .—There is no need to detail the uses of water; but its insertion here 
will remind the reader that water is in the strict sense a mineral, and is 
included by the ordinary scientific definition of a rock, whether in the 
solid or liquid state. A reminder of New Zealand’s immense water¬ 
power resources may here be given also. 
Water, Mineral.—New Zealand is richly endowed with potable and thera¬ 
peutic mineral waters. 
Wolfram. —Tungsten-ore. See also Scheelite. 
Zinc-ores .—Source of metallic zinc and zinc-alloys'. Zinc oxide is used for 
paint and other purposes. Other compounds containing zinc are used 
in the arts and manufactures. 
Zircon .—A minor gem-stone ; also used for watch-jewels. Zircon-sand is 
used as an abrasive. 
The following pre-war prices of some common minerals and rocks at 
San Francisco are recalculated from a table given by Lang in the article 
previously mentioned :— 
Chrome iron 
Per Ton. 
£ s. d. 
. . 3 19 2 
Barite (barytes) 
.. 4 
13 
4 
Diatomaceous earth (ground) 
.. 3 
10 
0 
,, (infusorial earth) 
.. 2 
6 
8 
Dolomite 
.. 2 
11 
4 
Garnet 
.. 3 
0 
8 
Gypsum 
.. 0 
14 
0 
Mica (ground) 
.. 9 
6 
8 
Ochre (ground) 
.. 3 
19 
2 
Pumice (ground ?) 
.. 5 
16 
8 
Talc (ground) .. ' > . . 
.. 4 
4 
0 
Quartz (lump) 
.. 0 
11 
8 
„ (ground) 
.. 2 
16 
0 
Manganese (oxides) (ground) 
.. 5 
16 
8 
Slate (ground) 
.. 5 
2 
8 
Some of the prices given above are surprisingly high, especially those of 
pumice and of ground quartz and slate. They are, it must be remembered,, 
not the prices at the production-points, but as delivered to the factories. 
In the case of pumice it would appear that a profitable export trade from 
New Zealand to the United States could be established, even if the price 
quoted is that of ground and not of crude pumice. 
Among the industries not yet established to any extent, for which 
favourable conditions as regards supply of raw materials seem to exist in 
New Zealand, may be mentioned—(1) Carbide of calcium ; (2) cement 
shingles (for roofs) ; (3) detersive or scouring soaps ; (4) glass ; (5) paints 
(with haematite, ochre, and green earth as stocks); (6) pottery of all 
kinds ; (7) tiles and terra-cotta ware ; (8) varnishes (kauri-gam). 
The time seems also to have arrived when a determined and scien¬ 
tifically controlled effort to establish iron and steel industries ought to be 
made. Much experimental work and some search for materials, such as 
dolomite, are required, however, before the erection of large works can be 
deemed advisable. 
