t 
VICTORIAN MINERALS.—CASE XIII 75 
82. Psinomenane (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 (cold, 
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 :— 
1. 2. 3. 4, 
Oxides of manganese ... 54°28 ... 49°28 ... 6263 ... 77:14 
Sesqui-oxide of iron ... 20°16 ... 1873 ... 1031 ... 6:03 


Baryta IR ap Haik mg CHAh o TIF ero INRE 
Oxide of cobalt ... an PEW oy Soom EHP Gp = 
Oxide of copper ao (RE op WHn op Un aon 
Lime ... tee aa 140) = 41:00) 2s — ee — 
Alumina tee w — o Dom — mw JRE 
Silica ... rt te Ge ge ES) ae 2 A Satis 
Water ... ki a, OB s WER go JOW re ONP 
100°36 100°71 98:87 9900 




. From Parkin’s Reef, Tarrangower, mammillary crusts in crevices and joints of the quartz. 
. From Ramshorn Gully, Sandy Creek, narrow yeins and mammillary crusts. t; 
. From Strathloddon, fine botryoidal crusts in crevices of hard ferruginous sandstone. 
. From Gippsland, massive, with cavities filled with earthy matter, 
aon 
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. 
84. EARTHY COBALT-ORE. 
McKenzie’s Diggings. 
Composed of manganese, iron and 
cobalt in variable quantities. The cobalt 
: of : 
83A. DIALLOGITE (Carbonate varies from 1 to 14 per cent. 
Manganese). 
Port Phillip Company’s Mine, 
Clunes. 
Forms mammillated and botryoidal 
crusts of a rose-red color on quartz and 
psilomelane. Presented by R. H. Bland, 
Esq. 
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 844), 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 
