VICTORIAN MINERALS.—CASE XIII. 
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82. Psttomenane (Black Ferro-Manganese Ore), 
Strathloddon. : 
This ore occurs in mammillary crusts and concretions in the quartz 
reefs of all the goldfields. It also occupies, in some of the auriferous 
conglomerates, the place of the brown oxide of iron, in cementing the 
pebbles together, and sometimes contains embedded specks of gold. In 
quartz reefs it appears to be one of the most recently-formed minerals, 
as, wherever in contact, it forms coatings over most of the others (gold, 
quartz, chloro-bromide of silver, iron and arsenical pyrites, &c.). Dial- 
logite and cube-ore, which have been found at Clunes coating it, are rare 
exceptions, Its formation seems to be going on rapidly at the present 
time. The following are the results of analyses, by Mr. J. Cosmo 
Newbery, of psilomelane from different localities :— 

“ly 2: 3. 4, 
Oxides of manganese .., 54:28 ... 49°28 ... 6263 s 77°14 
Sesqui-oxide of iron an AU a EA a OUR | G 
Baryta at nao Hab ae <A ue URI) am ObIRE) 
Oxide of cobalt ... PG a St HA a 
Oxide of copper to WERE gp HS o a c 
Lime ... wd a Wa IR S a — 
Alumina ane w e a 0; ) 2 a — a Lo 
Silica ... sce ap ARE Aa ERE oi THID as BEY 
Water ... Sie te > l 2:02 eeebield sepa Ghul ys 002 
100°36 100°71 98°87 99:00 




. From Parkin’s Reef, Tarrangower, mammillary crusts in crevices and joints of the quartz. 
. From Ramshorn Gully, Sandy Creek, narrow veins and mammillary crusts. 
. From Strathloddon, fine botryoidal crusts in crevices of hard ferruginous sandstone. 
. From Gippsland, massive, with cavities filled with earthy matter. 
Sone 
Though this ore differs considerably in chemical composition from 
the European ore, it would hardly be advisable to class it as a distinct 
mineral. 
83. Wap (Earthy or Bog Man- 
ganese). 
Near Merton, Goulburn Valley. 
884. DraLLocITE (Carbonate of 
Manganese). ' 
Port Phillip Companys Mine, 
Clunes. 
Forms mammillated and botryoidal 
crusts of a rose-red color on quartz and 
psilomelane, Presented by R. H. Bland, 
Esq. 
84. EARTHY COBALT-ORE. 
McKenzies Diggings. 
Composed of manganese, iron and 
cobalt in variable quantities. The cobalt 
varies from 1 to 14 per cent. 
84a. EARTHY COBALT-ORE. 
Home Creek, Sloane’s Punt, Goul- 
burn River, 
Similar to No. 84. 
Note.—Extract from a report on cobalt-ores, by Mr. J. C. Newbery, 
Analyst to the Geological Survey :—“I have been in communication 
“with the best metallurgical authorities in England, with regard to the 
value of the Victorian cobalt-ores, and have been informed that it is very 
doubtful, whether such ores (specimens Nos. 82, 84 and 84a), as I have 
described, could be profitably worked, on account of the large amount of 
cobalt now on the English market, and its steadily decreasing value. 
This is caused by the large quantity of nickel-ore, containing cobalt, that 
