372 
The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. 
[Noy. 
the serpentine quarry, Griffin Range, of the New Zealand Serpentine Com¬ 
pany, and were supplied by Mr. H. S. Nicholl, the company’s manager :— 
1 . 
2 . 
3 . 
4 . 
Silica (Si0 2 ) 
33-40 
38-20 
36-40 
33-90 
Alumina (A1 2 0 3 ) 
2-35 
3-23 
1-00 
1-91 
Ferrous oxide (FeO) 
3-16 
3-60 
3-31 
3-24 
Ferric oxide (Fe 2 0 3 ) 
2-32 
3-04 
2-72 
2-62 
Lime(CaO) 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
Nil 
Magnesia (MgO) 
38-30 
36-62 
39-20 
38-73 
Alkalies (Na 2 0, K 2 0) 
0-10 
0-10 
0-10 
0-10 
Chromic oxide (Cr 0 0 3 ) 
0-40 
0-70 
0-70 
0-70 
Nickel oxide (MO) . . 
0-21 
0-23 
0-21 
0-23 
Loss on ignition 
19-60 
14-50 
16-20 
18-40 
99-84 
100-22 
99-84 
99-83 
No. 1. Dark serpentine, heavily streaked with magnesite, &c. 
No. 2. Dark serpentine, lightly streaked with magnesite, &c. 
No. 3. Light serpentine, heavily streaked with magnesite, &c. 
No. 4. Light serpentine, lightly streaked with magnesite, &c. 
Analyses made in Dominion Laboratory (J. S. Maclaurin, Dominion Analyst). 
An analysis was made of the carbonate in No. 1 sample, with the 
following result:—- 
Insoluble in acid . . .. .. . . 847 
Iron oxides and alumina .. ' .. .. . . 2-26 
Lime .. .. .. .. .. .. Nil 
Magnesium carbonate .. .. .. .. 89*53 
100*26 
A dark metallic mineral in No. 4 was magnetic, and contained iron, 
but not chromium, nickel, or titanium. It is probably magnetite, though 
somewhat more soluble in hydrochloric acid than magnetite usually is. 
Nos. 1 and 4 were also examined for platinum, but none was found. 
Since the above analyses were made the carbon dioxide present has 
been determined in fresh portions of the samples, with the following results :— 
1. 2. 3. 4. 
6*50 per cent. 3*40 per cent. 2*85 per cent. 4*40 per cent. 
The corresponding percentages of magnesium carbonate are 12*41, 
6*49, 5*49, and 8*40. These results are lower for Nos. 1 and 3 than would 
be expected from an inspection of the samples. The presence of some 
talc, and perhaps brucite, explains any discrepancy of this kind. 
Prices of Magnesite and Dolomite. 
In 1917 raw or uncalcined magnesite was quoted at £3 per ton f.o.b. 
Adelaide, whilst “ burnt ” unground magnesite was quoted at £11 10s. per 
ton, and powdered burnt magnesite at £12 10s. per ton. At Melbourne the 
f.o.b. price of finely ground calcined magnesite in damp-proof bags was £16 
per ton, and of ground calcined magnesite in bulk £10 per ton. At Sydney 
f.o.b. quotations for dead-burned (ground) magnesite packed in barrels were 
from £15 to £15 10s. per ton, and for calcined dolomite £3 10s. to £4 per ton. 
Quotations for magnesite were supplied by the following : S. A. Daven¬ 
port, 35 Brockman’s Building, Grenfell Street, Adelaide ; Permasite Manu¬ 
facturing Company Proprietary (Limited), 9 Queen Street, Melbourne; 
Heathcote Chemical Company, North Melbourne ; Fifield Magnesite and 
Refractories Company (Limited), North' Avenue, Camellia, N.S.W. ; C. P. 
Curlewis and Co., Builders’ Exchange, 12 Castlereagh Street, Sydney. 
