1919 .] 
Departmental Reports. 
207 
Lab. 29, 1895, p. 37. Takaka (6683) ; Ruamahanga River (6762). 
Lab. 30, 1897, p. 36. Picton (7217/A, B — graphite). 
Lab. 31, 1898, pp. 43, 44. Pakawau (7576 — graphite) ; Nelson (7685- 
plumbago) ; Waikaka (7418). 
Lab. 33, 1900, p. 41. Hutt (8452). 
Lab. 34, 1901, p. 38. Nelson (8785 — graphite). 
Lab. 35, 1902, p. 27. Avondale, Marlborough (9139 — graphite). 
Lab. 40, 1907, p. 37. Woodbury, South Canterbury (532/1, 2—graphite). 
Lab. 41, 1908, p. 36. Murray Creek, Reefton (1144 — graphite) ; Para- 
para (1217). 
Lab. 42, 1909, p. 45. Anatori River, Nelson (1643/1, 2). Neither 
sample contained graphite. 
Lab. 49, 1916, p. 38. Collingwood (1011/1, 2). 
Analyses of the material from Woodbury, South Canterbury (Lab. 40) 
as contained in Geological Survey records are—- 
(1.) 
(2.) 
Carbonaceous matter .. 
.. 14-4 
8-7 
Water 
1-4 
0-9 
Ash .. 
.. 84*2 
90-4 
100-0 
100-0 
(1) From Tripp’s country, Woodbury. (2) From Black Hill. 
The samples were forwarded by Mr. J. M. Barber to the Geological 
Survey in May or June, 1906. Dr. Maclaurin remarks that they “ are 
not true graphites, but merely altered coal.” 
General Remarks. 
The numerous records of graphite occurrences in New Zealand indicate 
a probability of workable deposits being found if search is made, especially 
in north-west Nelson. Three kinds of natural graphite—namely, crystal¬ 
line, flake, and amorphous—are mentioned in market reports. Crystalline 
graphite is the nearly pure material, found in pockets and lenses, which 
can be put on the market without any preliminary treatment. At the 
present time far the largest supplies come from Ceylon. Flake graphite 
is the same material as crystalline graphite, but has been produced from 
less pure deposits by some process of concentration. Amorphous graphite 
is in part not true graphite at all, but altered coaly material which has 
lost all its hydrocarbon, though it has not undergone the molecular change 
required to reach the stage of graphite as known to the mineralogist.* 
Such material has no heat-resisting power, nor is it suitable for the manu¬ 
facture of lead-pencils, &c. Since 1897 artificial graphite has been made 
in large quantity in the electric furnace. 
Crystalline and flake graphite are used mainly for making “ plumbago ” 
crucibles, stove-polish, foundry facings, paint, lubricating, lead-pencils, 
glazing (gunpowder, &c.), electro typing, and steam-packing. Amorphous 
graphite may be used for pencils, foundry facings, paint, &c. Artificial 
graphite is used for the manufacture of paint, dry batteries, lubricants, 
and for electroplating and glazing. What are known as graphitized electrodes 
are also made for use in electric furnaces. 
* The “ amorphous ” graphite that can be classed as true graphite is minutely 
crystalline. Hence the term is a misnomer. So-called amorphous graphite is either 
crystalline or it is not graphite at all. 
