copper, while part of the arsenic gives place to antimony.* Herr Boricky describes, under the name of Zepharovichite, a new species allied to Wavellite occurring in the sandstone of Trenic in Bohemia.† Tschermak proposes the name of Simonyite for a salt lately found at Hallstadt, closely related to Bloedite, from which it differs, however, in being stable when exposed to the air. Finally, Dr. Schrauf applies the name Simlaite to a mineral from Simla in India, similar to meerschaum, but containing alumina, and belonging to the group of halloysites.§ Two Cornish minerals have lately been analyzed by Professor Church-the one a variety of kaolin, akin to lithomarge, and termed Restormelite; the other is the beautiful green mineral known as chalcophyllite, or copper-mica. The formula of restormelite may be written Al,O,.2 SiO +2 aq.; while the composition of the chalcophyllite may be thus expressed: 8 CuO. Al2O3. As2O, +24 aq. Attention is directed by Mr. S. G. Perceval¶ to the occurrence of topazes in the granite of Lundy Island, somewhat similar to the well-known crystals from the granite of the Mourne mountains. The writer of this Chronicle has for several years past been familiar with specimens of both topaz and beryl from Lundy. Professor How follows up his 'Contributions to the Mineralogy of Nova Scotia' by further notices of the two species-natroborocalcite and silicoborocalcite, now better known under Dana's names of Ulexite and Howlite.** Both minerals have been found good substitutes for borax in welding. We learn from the Levant Herald' that a large meteorite fell at Mourzouk, in Fezzan, on or about the 25th December, 1869. The fall occasioned considerable consternation to a group of Arabs who were standing near, and they immediately discharged their muskets on the unwelcome stranger.tt It seems likely that the Australian mineral lately introduced under the name of Wollongongite will in future be known by some more appropriate designation. The Rev. W. B. Clarke has pointed out that some little error has arisen in assigning to this species a local habitation and a name. In fact, the so-called Wollongongite occurs not in Illawarra, but at a place called Petrolia, formerly known as Reedy Creek, where it was recognized by Count Strzelecki as far back as 1839. Under these circumstances the name ceases to be appropriate, so that "there can be no question, I think," says Mr. Clarke, "that Wollongongite is a misnomer, and that Professor Silliman will change it." A good deal of common sense characterizes the little minera Corr. Blatt. d. z. Mineralog.' V. in Regeusburg, 1870. p. 64. ** Phil. Mag.,' April, 1870, p. 275. 'Geolog. Mag., 1870, p. 192. tt 'Nature,' vol. i., p. 538. logical guide which Dr. A. M. Thomson has published in Sydney,* for the assistance of explorers seeking to develop the mineral resources of the colony. Plain directions are given for easily recognizing the more important species-a task at all times extremely embarrassing to the unassisted beginner. 10. MINING AND METALLURGY. MINING. THE newly drafted Bill amalgamating the Mines Regulation Bill and the Metalliferous Mines Bill has been printed. We cannot but think that this amalgamation will be found to be unfortunate. Nearly all the conditions of a coal mine and a copper or tin mine are so different, that it is quite impossible to apply the same legislation to them with any hope of advantage. This is shown on the face of the Bill itself. It now comprehends three sets of General Rules: one applicable to all mines; the second, to coal mines only; and the third, to mines other than coal mines. The redrafted Bill is supposed to embody the suggestions of the representatives of all the interests affected-it is therefore probably now in that form which will become law. In the last Quarterly Journal we sufficiently entered upon the principles of the Mines Regulation Bill, and therefore we need not occupy valuable space by enlarging upon its clauses. Tin mining has, once again, resumed its condition of high prosperity in our western counties; the prices of tin ore (black tin), which have varied during the past quarter from 751. to 851. the ton, being such as to leave a large profit to the miner. The result of this is that numerous new tin mines are being opened, and the miners have full employment and are getting good wages. Copper mining is not in the same favourable condition. The Clifford Amalgamated Mines, which employed a short time since upwards of a thousand persons, are about to be abandoned, after a long and profitable_career. These mines-which comprehend the United Mines, the Gwennap Consolidated Mines and Wheal Clifford -were the most extensive copper mines in this country. The levels were upwards of sixty miles in length, and from six to seven miles of shafts had been sunk upon the lodes. This mine was remarkable for the very high temperature of its lower levels. The miners in some of the ends of the levels worked in temperatures varying from 110° F. to 115° F., the water rising in those levels being at the temperature of 120 F. This hot spring was remark*Guide to Mineral Explorers in distinguishing Minerals, Ores, and Gems.' By Alexander M. Thomson, D.Sc. Sydney, 1869. able for the great quantity of lithium which it held in solution. All the lower parts of the mine are now filled with water; a little tin is being obtained from the shallow levels; the machinery is being removed; and soon this scene of activity will become a silent ruin. At Wheal Owles, in the mining district of St. Just, there have lately been discovered some valuable samples of the oxide of uranium, which have been sent into the market and realized high prices. The Gold-fields of Nova Scotia.-The declared returns of gold for the whole province to the end of the year 1869 are as follows: The gross yield of gold in Nova Scotia during the past ten years has been 180,000 oz., representing, in round numbers, a value of 720,000l. sterling. The produce of gold in Nova Scotia for the year ending 31st December, 1869, in all the gold-producing districts, is shown in the following Table:— The produce of gold for the month of February, 1870, being according to the Mineral Inspector's Report, as follows: Mr. R. Brough Smith reports that the total quantity of gold raised in Victoria in 1869 was 1,544,757 ounces, and of this there were exported 1,340,838 ounces. The total imports into England of Australasian gold in 1869 were of the value of 7,892,7571. Since 1858 the imports have been as follows: The increased returns of the last three years were due to the opening of new gold-fields in Queensland, South Australia, and New Zealand. METALLURGY. Mr. Spence, of Newton Heath, Manchester, has patented a new process of separating copper from ores. He takes the solution of chloride of copper as now obtained in extracting copper from ores (by the wet process) which contains iron in variable proportions, and generally contains free hydrochloric acid. This solution he places in large open vats, and in another vessel of cast iron, fitted with a revolving stirrer, he places a considerable quantity of the vat waste of the alkali manufacture, or the spent lime from the gas purifiers, and to this is added a solution of sulphate of ammonia, or chloride of ammonium. The vessel or still being closed, a jet of steam of from 20 to 30 lbs. pressure is blown into the mixture. Sulphide of ammonium distils over, and is conveyed by a pipe into the vat containing the metallic solution of copper and iron, by which sulphide of copper is precipitated, and the ammonia combines with the liberated hydrochloric acid. The process is continued until all the copper is thrown down, which point is at once observed by sulphuretted hydrogen being evolved, when the process is stopped; for if continued, the ammonia would now neutralize the free acid, and the iron would then be precipitated. The sulphide of copper thus obtained is very nearly pure; it is washed and dried, and smelted into copper by any of the usual methods employed. A new process of calcining tin and other ores has been adopted by Messrs. Oxland, F.C.S., and John Hocking. The ores are introduced into a revolving iron cylinder, 4 feet in diameter and 30 feet long, lined with fire bricks, and supported at an inclination of about inch per foot on three pairs of rollers, on which it is kept constantly revolving at a slow rate. The fire passes from the fireplace over a chamber into and through the tube. The ore having been first dried on iron plates in suitable flues, at the back of the calciner, is admitted in a steady stream into the higher end of the cylinder, and the slow revolving motion imparted to it causes the advance of the ore by its own gravitation, and it is discharged in a continuous stream into a chamber between the fire-place and the front of the tube. Great economy of fuel is said to be effected by this furnace. The heat from the fuel has to traverse more than double the distance over which it passes in Brunton's calciner before it escapes into the flues, and the tube presents nearly double the amount of heating surface. None of the working parts are exposed to the action of the fire. In working it is found to be economical both as regards fuel and labour. Several patents have been taken out of late relating to the manufacture of iron and steel. Mr. Cowper, of Westminster, patents improvements in treating cast iron for the production of wrought iron and steel therefrom. By this process the purification of the cast iron is accomplished by a jet of superheated steam applied to a stream of the liquid iron as it flows from the blast furnace, so as to divide it up into small particles, and act upon them; the iron is received into a hot box, and transferred to a calcining furnace, in which it is kept hot whilst still exposed to an atmosphere of hot steam; such purified iron is mixed either hot or cold with liquid cast iron, and afterwards used as cast iron, or made into steel or wrought iron. In the manufacture of steel Mr. Julius Baur, of New York, patents a process of alloying or combining metallic chromium with metallic iron, so that chromium in a metallic state shall be present in the finished product, which is said to impart valuable properties to it. This process is distinguishable from that secured by Mr. Robert Mushett for mixing oxide of chromium in the manufacture of steel. Letters patent have also been granted to Mr. J. M. Stanley, of Sheffield, for improved modes of utilizing the heat given off during |