MINERALOGICAL CHEMISTRY. Miner a 1 o gi c a1 C h e mi 8 t r ye ii. 63 Origin of Native Sulphur. A. W. KRUEMMER and R. EWALD (Centr. Jlin. 1912 638-640).-A large cavity in gypsum met with in the Barsinghausen mines was lined with bitumen resting on which mere large crystals of sulphur. Between the gypsum and the bitumen was a zone of calcium carbonate; and the gases in the cavity contained hydrogen sulphide and hydrocarbons. The sulphur had no doubt been formed by the reducing action of the hydrocarbons on the gypsum for example I. CaSO + CH4 = CaS + CO + 2H,O = CaCO + H2S + H,O. 11. H,S + H,O + 0 = 2H,O + S. The deposits of sulphur in Sicily which are associated with gypsum and outbursts of gas containing hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide have probably been formed in a similar manner.I,. J. S. Asphalt Theory of the Formation of Naphtha. K. W. CHAKITSCHKOV (Chem. Zeit. 1912 36 1402).-The author finds that the decomposition products of Russian asphalt exhibit similarity to many Russian mineral oils. Specimens of the former yield when distilled paraffins oils and residues analogous to and in approxi- mately the same amounts as the mineral oils as shown in the appended table B. p. Decomposition product. Mineral oil (Groeny). t o 110" 5.72% (D 0.720) 4'78% (D 0.705) 110-150" 10.63% (D 0.765) 10'45% (D 0.7443) 150-220" 26.5 % (D 0.8108) 16.2 % (D 0.7219) The author is k d to the conclusion that naphtha is a product of the decomy;osition of asphalt. H. W. Vrbaite a New Thallium Mineral from Allchar Macedonia. B. J E ~ E K (Zeitsch. Kryst. Milt.1912 51 364-378). Chemical Examination of Vrbaite. FR. KkEmfK (Zbid. 379-3S3).-The new mineral was found as small (about 1 mm.) crystals embedded in realgar and orpiment. The crystals are orthorhombic u b c = 0.5659 1 :0.4836 with a tabular or pyramidal habit and a good brachypinacoidal cleavage. The mineral is opaque with a metallic to semi-metallic lustre and a greyish-black colour but in thin splinters it is dark red and translucent; the streak is bright red with a tinge of yellow. H = 38 D 5.30. It is readily fusible before the blowpipe and is easily soluble in nitric acid. Analysis gives the formula TlAs,SbS representing a thallous salt of the acid HAs,S in which one atom of arsenic is replaced by antimony Ti. Sb. As. S. Fe. Total. 29.52 18'34 24.06 25-20 1-55 98-97 L.J. S.ii. 64 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. Iron Sulphide in the Miocene Clays of Govt. Samara Ruaeia. BRUNO Doss (Jahrb. Min. 19 12 BeiZ.-Bd. 33 662-7 13). -In boring for artesian water on the estates of the Brothers Melnikov in the Novo-Usensk district outbreaks of natural gas containing 67.65% CH 20.70% N were encountered. The clays in these borings are impregnated with a black very finely divided iron sulphide which differs from the hydrated iron sulphide met with in the black mud of lakes and ponds. The material is magnetic D 3.57-4-16 (the true value being probably 4-2-4.3). Analysis gave Fe 46.24 ; S 51.92 ; insoluble 3*95% corresponding with the formula FeS,. I n another analysis the figures correspond with Fe,S7. The material is soluble in cold dilute hydrochloric acid with evolution of hydrogen sulphide and i t is much more readily attacked by various reagents (potassium cyanide potassium hydroxide iodine solution etc.and even by boiling water) than is iron-pyrites. The material is regarded as a labile phase of iron disulphide and is named melnikovite. Its mode of origin is discussed; it is regarded as having been derived from a colloidal form of iron sulphide. Bauxite of the Croatian Karst and its Origin. MIJAT KIBPATIC (Jahrb. Nin. 1912 Beit?.-Bd. 34 513-562).-Twenty analyses are given of bauxite from various localities in Croatia and also in Dalatuatia and Bosnia; the extreme values shown are quoted under I and 11. Analysis I11 is of the bauxite (" wochenito") from Wochein Carniola L.J. S. SiO,. TiO,. ZrO,. A1,0,. Fe,O,. MnO. CaO. Ign. Total. I. 0.87 nil. nil. 24'54 1-80 nil. nil. 8-11 - 111. 61.31 trace trace 16.95 12.46 trace - 6'40 99.75 11. 33.00 8'51 2.71 66.68 26.89 1-21 6.79 19.97 - At these localities the bauxite occurs as beds in limestone and dolomite; i t is dull red in colour and usually oolitic i n structure. Microscopical examination shows that the main constituent has the form of minute isotropic granules ; this material is named sporogelite (compare Tudan this vol. ii 69) and to it is assigned the com- position Al,0,,H20 corresponding with the crystalline diaspore. This colloidal material is sometimes white but usually it is coloured by intermixture with colloidal iron oxide and hydroxide. Other minerals present although usually only in small amounts include diaspore hydrargillite quartz felspar amphi boles felspars micas epidote rutile zircon etc.The same materials were obtained when the limestones and dolomites were dissolved in acid ; and it is considered that these bauxites as well as those from some other localities (France Italy Georgia etc.) represent the insoluble residues resulting from the weathering of these rocks. On the other hand certain other bauxites (from the Vogelsberg) and laterite are the products of decomposition of basalt and other silicate rocks. L. J. S. A New Deposit of Chrome-iron-ore in Northern Caucasus. N. BESBORODKO (Jahrb. Min. 1912 ; Bed.-Bd. 34 783).-Veins of compact to granular chrome-iron-ore have been discovered in serpentineMISERALOGICAL CHEMISTRY.ii. 65 about 18 km. south of the village Psemjonowka in prov. Kuban. Analysis I of an ore sample corresponds with about 85% of chromite. ‘Secondary minerals occurring in the serpentine (an altered olivine- rock) include chrysotile antigorite chrome-chlorites (kaemmererite and kotschubeite) revdinskite carbonates and quartz. The revdinskite {anal. 11) is apple-green with brownish patches and occurs sparingly as a thin coating on the serpentine. SiO,. Cr,O,. A1,0,. FeO. NiO. MnO. JIgO. CaO. H20. Total. 11. 20 5 - 25‘.0 6.2 - 29.9 - 23.4 102.0 I. 1’66 59.09 8.08 18.43 - 0.20 12.47 0.91 0.80 101’04 I n the same district chromium and nickel minerals respectively fuchsite and millerite were detected in a contact-metamorphic rock (silicate hornfels).L. J. S. Carboniferous Limestones of the Avon Gorge Bristol. MILDRED B. CHAPNAN (Geol. ilfay. 191 2 [v] 9 498-503).-Tmenty- one analyses are given of limestones from the various fossiliferoua zones. The extreme values are CJO 29-38-5.5*63% ; RlgO 0-16*76% ; CO 24.62-44*72% ; Fe,O + Al,O 0.08-5.S7:$ ; insoluble in hydro- chloric acid 0.02-43.99% ; P,O 0-0.14%. The insoluble residue consists of quartz black carbonaceous mhtter chalcedony weathered felspar zircon and tourmaline. Those limestones which have been formed under coral-reef conditions contain very variable amounts of insoluble residue whilst those which were r.tpidly deposited near a coastline are more pure. L. J. S. Tsumebite a New Lead Copper Phosphate. KARL Busz (Iiestschrijl Deut. Nccturf. Aertze illunster 19 12 188- 185).-The new mineral occurs as small emerald-green crystals with cerussite and chessylite on snow-white calamine (ZnCO,) the littter cementing fragments of reddish-brown dolomite in the mines at Tsumeb Otavi German South-West Africa.The crystals are monoclinic with (6 b c = 0.9974 1 0.8215 ; p = d1°44’. Analysis agrees with the formula P205,5(Pb,Cu) 0,8H,O PbO. CuO. P,05. H,O. Total. Sp. gr. 63.77 11‘79 12.01 012.33 99.90 6.133 L. J. S. Ludlamite from Ashio Japan. NOBUYO FUKUCHI (Beitr. ) A . Japan 1912 No. 4 192-194).-This iron phosphate is found in tilo Ashio copper mines prov. Shimotsuke as druses of light green trans- parent crystals with a bright vitreous lustre. It is associated witti crystals of vivianite and it sometimes foras pseudomorphs after vivianite.The crystals are monoclinic and have the form of thick six-sided tablets with a perfect basal cleavage. H = 3& ; streak white. Analyses give the formiila Fe,(OH),( P0,),,7H20 FeO. P,OP H,O. Insol. (in HCl). MnO h1,Q3 Ca0,MgO. 53‘21 32-03 14‘60 trace traces 50.54 31-38 13.79 3.67 - L J. S. VOL. CIV. li. 5ii. 66 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. The C o n s t i t u t i o n of Some ‘‘ Salic ” Silicates. HENRY S. WASHINGTON (Amer. J. Sci. 1912 [iv] 34 555-571).-Accepting Streng’s and Groth’s suggestion that the quinquevalent groups ( R’Si)v and (R”Al)Y and in some caFes the decioalent group (CaSi,)” are present in certain silicates the author shows that the constitution of all the members of the felspar leucite nephelite and scapolite groups and nearly all the zeolites can be interpreted in such a way as to explain readily their composition mutual relations poly- and iso-morphism resistance to acids and their relation t o the mutually common end alteration product kaolinite.The felspar~ lenads (felspathoids including leucite nephelite and their congeners) and most zeolites are regarded as salts or isomorphous mixtures of salts of an alurnino-silicic acid H,AISi,O or most probably of a polymeride of this the five hydrogen atoms being isomorphously replaced by the groups (RSi)” (R”Al)’ and (R”Si,)” R’ being K Xa and Li and R” being Na K Ca and rarely Ba and Sr. The scapolites are interpreted as salts of a different aIumino- silicic acid H,oAISi,O, the hydrogens being entirely xeplaced by t h e radicles (NaSi) and (CaAl)2.DENZ~ SAT^ (Beitr. Min. Japan 1912 No. 4 139-141).-The water issuing from the hot springs of Obama prov. Hizen is clear and odourless with a slightly alkaline reaction and a temperature of looo. Three analyses of water from different springs are given that from the Funtfi-yu contains per litre CaCO 0.32150; FeCO 0,01626 ; Na,SO 0.63517 ; NaC1 5.66341 ; KCI 1.63388 ; MgCl 0.53582 ; CaCI 0.2’7539 ; SiO 0.21800 ; total solids 9.20390. Analysis of a snow-white incoherent hinter forming a small cone around the orifice of this spring gave SiO,. Fe,O,. A1,0,. MnO. CaO. MgO. K,O. Na,O. CO,. C1. Ign. Total. 16‘59 0‘41 0-18 1-80 38’28 7’28 0.20 0.89 23.28 1.03 10’46 100.40 T. S. P. Sinter from the Geyser of Obama Japan. D15’5 1.006. L. 3. s. A Felspar of Porto-Scuso (Sardaigne).GIUSEPPE CESARO (Bull. Acud. roy. BeZg. 1912 553-569).-A detailed account of the crystal- lographic examination of a felspar from Porto-Scuso which analysis shows t o be a sodium orthose with two molecules of sodium oxide and one of potassium oxide. The numerical data are tabulated. The author discusses the effect of the replacement of potassium by sodium on the values of the fundamental angles and from his results calcu- lates the values of these angles for a purely sodium orthose. At the end of the paper he gives an account of a method for measuring under the microscope the angle of the optical axes in a section passing through the obtuse bisectrix and inclined t o the acute bieectrix. The error for the method is calculated t h a t for 2t,b being 30’ that relative t o a being 2’ ; for 2V 22’ to 24’.Sericite from North Wales Penninite and Labradorite from Ireland. ARTHUR HUTCHINSON and WALTER CAMPBELL SMITH (Min. Mag. 1912 16 264-2’il).-Sericite (anal. I) occurs as talc-like W. G.MINERALOGICAL CHEMISTRY. ii. 67 aggregates of pale-green flakes in quartz veins intersecting dolerite and slate at Tan-y-Bwlch Merionethshire. Refractive indices @ = 1.589 y=1*594 2E=6B050'. I n composition i t conforms with type I of Clarke's formula Al(Si0,)3A12R3'. Ponninite (anal. 11) forms colour- less to pale brown hexagonal plates in the ophicalcite ("Connemara marble ") which is quarried at Recess Co. Galway. In composition H,,Mgl,A1,Si,0,9 it approximates to pseudophite. Labradorite (anal. 111) occurs as large porphyritic crystals in dolerite dykes at St.John's Point near Ardglass Go. Down. The optical constants are a= 1.5630 p= 1-5665 y = 1.5712 2V=8lo48' extinction on (001) - 1l0 on (010) - 23" ; angle (001) (010) = 85'57'. 33NaA1Si30,,5KA1Si30,,62CctA1,Si,0,. Formula H,O. H,O. SiO,. A120,. Fe,O,. FeO. CaO. NgO. K20. Nn,O. (> 105"). (105"). Total. Sp. fir. I. 46.51 36.58 0.51 0.48 0.44 0.46 7.84 1.77 5.03 0.11 99.73 2.798 11. 34.81 16'21 1-09 0.36 0.75 30.05 1'85 - 12.71 1.89 99'72 2.619 111. 52-33 30.22 0.40 - 12.52 - 0-55 3.62 0 3 6 100.30 2'706 Laumontite from Ashio Japan. NOBUYO FUKUCHI (Beitr. Min. Jcqmn 1913 No. 4 190-192).-A vein of lsumonite occurs in lipnrite the country-rock of the Ashio copper mines prov. Shimotsuke. Crystals are perfectly colourless and long-prismatic in habit.Analysis of the fresh crystals gave the following results corresponding with the formula H,CaA1,Si,01,,2~H20 ; other determinations of water varied from 16.02 to 16.43%. v L. J. s. SiO,. A1,0,. CaO. H20. Na,O,I<,O,MgO etc. 50.79 18'49 10'69 16-20 3-53 On exposure to the air the crystals soon fall to a white powder in which was found only 14.44% water corresponding with the formula H,CaAl2Si4Ol,,2H,O. The latter formula is the one usually given for laumontite. L. J. S Minerals of Taiwan ( = Formosa). Y~HACEIIR~ OKAMOTO (Beitr. Min. Japccn 1913 No. 4 157-188).-Fifty-one species of minerals (including petroleum and coal) are described ; analyses are given of the following. Hornblende as black crystals in the horn- blende-pyroxene-andesite of the Daiton volcanic group (anal.I and 11). Fuller's earth (?) white greyish-blue or yellow and more or less greasy from Hbko-tG (anal. 111) ; hygroscopic water 10.50", ; portion soluble in hydrochloric acid 64.96%. SiO,. AI,O,. Fe,O,. FeO. MnO. CaO. MgO. Na,O. K,O. Ign. I. 43'99 15-04 13'76 - 0'52 10.55 11-35 0.34 0.19 3'44 11. 41-67 14'14 - 16.18 0.69 11.10 14-16 1.98 nil. 111. 56'06 19-72 11'35 - - - '2.25 not det. - Alunite occurring as crystals (up to 2 em. across) with auriferous enargite and native sulphur in the Kinkwaseki gold mines; IV. of pale violet and V of white alunite. -+ SO:;. Also,. Fe,O,. MgO. K,O. H,O. Insol. Total. Sp. gr. IV. 34.90 37'40 trace nil. 6.18 13.24 7.42 99-14 2.787 V. 38.65 35-88 0.69 6.09 Il'tjO 6'42 99'33 - VOL.civ. ii. 6ii. 68 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. A radioactive mineral consisting of barium and lead sulphate is deposited together with native sulphur etc. by the Hokuto hot springs in the Daiton volcanic group. The water has a strong acid taste (containing free hydrochloric acid) an odour of hydrogen sulphide and a temperature of 80-90°; i t contains in 1000 parts Na,S04 1.9055 ; NaCI 0.9990 ; AI,(S04) 0.6588 ; KCI 0.7130 ; NH,Cl 0.6073 ; CaSO 0.4787 ; FeSO trace ; Fe,(SO,) 0.5420 ; MgSO 0.2024 ; AI,(HP04)3 0*0012 ; BaSO 0.0007 ; PbSO trace ; H2Si0 0.2174; HBO 0.0710; HCI 1.9596. D?$ 1.0150. The radioactive material forms a coarsely fibrous crust (anal. VI) or clusters of brown rhombic plates (anal. VII). These crystals are zoned and have angles agreeing approximately with those of barytes and anglesite ; D 6.1; the a-ray activity is 0.0366 that of uranium oxide. Analysis VIII is of an accompanying dirty-grey crust of siliceous sinter.PbO. BaO. SrO. CnO. SO;. Fe20y. 9lzO3. Mg.0. KzO. NazO. HzO. Ign. P,05. 9iO.L. Totnl. VI. 21'96 32.04 0'93 0.51 3031 3'93 0'8s 1'04 nil. 0.53 2'53 - 0.01 1'27 96'44 VI1. 19'3s 42'27 trace 0'17 31 70 0.43 0.4s 0% 0 14 1.53 - 2'74 nil. 0.97 1(,0'09 VIII". - - - 0 13 2 4S 2.11 2.27 0.30 0'14 0 73 - 14'04 trace 77'10 100'20 Ti02 trace. L. J. S. The Tourma line Group. WALDEMAR T. SCHALLER (Zeitsch. K r p t . Min. 1912 51 331-343).-The following determinations of the physical constants and analyses mere made on crystals of tourmaline Locality. Colour. Sp. gr. Axis c. W . F.W-E (Ka). I. Nba ..... .................. Pale red 3.05 0'4448 1.651 1.630 0,021 11. Mesa Graude California Red 3.04 0'4479 1,647 1.628 0'019 111. Y > ' 7 7 ) Palegreen 3.04 0.4489 1.646 1.628 0.015 IV. Ramona California ...... Black 3-22 0.4534 - - _- V. L o s t Valley Califorilia Black 3.16 - - - - Total less I. 37'89 10 2s 43 S.5 0'04 0.11 0.11 0'07 - - 2 43 1% 3'47 0.10 !M*97 11. 37.57 10 65 42.18 trace 0.19 0'24 1.20 - - 2.05 1.92 3'38 0'39 99.80 TI I . 36.72 lO'(i0 41.27 O ' O ( i 1'13 1.48 0.57 - - 2.23 1.76 3.33 0'31 (39'03 I V . 35'21 10 43 36.07 0.23 11'11 0'98 0'25 0.19 - 1.92 trace 3 51 - 99.90 V. 39'96 10% 93.28 0.36 11 04 0'13 0'42 3.48 - 2.16 - 3.31 - 100 75 SiOF D203. hI2O3. Ti203. FeO. MnO. CaO. MgO. KzO. KazO. Li20. Hz0. F. 0 for F. These new analyses conform very closely with Penfield and Foote's general formula HzoB2Si,0z1 (A 1899 ii 304).Together with some earlier analyses they are discussed in detail. The ratio of (H,O + 4F) SiO ranges from 3.72 12 to 4.17 12 and in the special formuh proposed water is given as 3H20. Further the alumina varies inversely in amount with the other bases (R = Fe" Mn" Ca Mg K2 Na Li and H2 in excess of the 3H,O). The end com- ponents as plotted on a curve are 12Si0,,3B,O3,8A1,0,,3RO,3H,O and 1 2Si0,,3B,03,5A1,0 1 2R0,3H20. I n analysis I of Elbn tourmaline still more alumina is present and the component 128i0,,3B20,,9A1,0,,3H20 is assumed. There may also be several other members of the series for example 1 2SiO 3 B,O 7 A1 203 6 R 0 3 H ,O. Other special types are introduced by replacing KO by MgO Li20 etc.MINERALOGICAL CHEMISTRY. ii.69 The composition of Ramona tourmaline (anal. I V ) is for example expressed by the mixing of the following three components 1 2Si 0 3B20 8A I2O3 3 H,O 3 H,O 12SiO 3B,03,7A120,,6Fe0,3H,0 1 2Si0,,3B203,5A120 1 2Na,0,3H20. Comparing the chemical composition and the physical constants it is noticed that the specific gravity crystallographic axis c refractive indices and double refraction reach a maximum with AI,O 35-36% and that this point separates two series of tourmalines. Magnesia- free-tourmalines contain more and magnesia-tourmalines less than this amount of alumina. The former occur in pegmatites whilst the latter are usually found in metamorphic rocks and are brown or black in colour.L. J. S. Minerals from the Pegmatite of Ampangabe’ Madagascar. ALFRED LACROIX (Bull. Xoc. Jranf. itfin. 1912 35 180-199. Compare A 1912 ii 1182).-The pegmatite of Ampangab& near Miandrarivo consists of microcline quartz and muscovite and is exploited for beryl of gem-quality. This beryl is of the prismatic type very poor in alkalis D 2*713-2*721. The gem materialbis of a fine blue colour but delicate pink colourless yellow and green stones are also found. Other minerals present in the pegmatite include monazite in crystals columbite crystals D 5.52 (anal. 1 by Pieani) ampangabeite (A. 1912 ii 567) striiverite etc. The striiverite is found as large tetragonal crystals (up to 6 kilos.) which are usually elongated in the direction of a pyramid-edge (1 11 I1 l) and sometimes twinned on (101)) giving them an orthorhombic aspect.These crystals are optically uniaxial and positive and have angles very close to the angles of rutile. The material is iron-black with a conchoidal to uneven fracture D 4.91 ; anal. I1 by Pisani. TiO,. Ta,O,. Cb,O,. SnO,. FeO. MnO. AI,O,. Total. I. - 12.60 64.60 0’40 15.00 7.30 - 99.90 11. 71.15 10’14 - 0.05 15’84 - 1.80 98-98 I n SL beryl-bearing pegmatite from the west of Miaidrarivo is a fresh monazite which in thin flakes is transparent and clear yellow U 5.1 1 anal. 111 by Pisani. Loss 011 P,O,. Ce,O,. (La Di),Os. (Y,Er),O,. Tho,. A1,013. Fr,O,. ignition. Total. 27’45 31.85 27’90 2.93 9‘15 0.21 0‘42 0.74 100‘65 L. J. S. N a t u r e and Origin of “Terra roma.” FRAN. TU~AN (Jahrb. Min. 1912 Bed.-Bd. 34 401-430).-Terra rossa occurs in the crevices and cavities of the bare corroded limestones and dolomites of the Karst district and i t represents the insoluble residue left by the denudation of these rocks.It consists mainly of minute amorphous particles of aluminium hydroxide A1203,H20 ; and for this colloidal mineral (corresponding with the crystalloid diaspore) the name sporogelite is proposed. The red colour is due t o colloidal ferric hydroxide ( 2Fe2O,,3H,O) ; and various accessory minerals are present as minute grains namely quartz mica epidote hydrargillite diaspore amphibole felspar garnet rutile etc. The residues (averaging 0.32%) 6-2ii. 70 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. obtained by dissolving the limestones in dilute acetic acid or the dolomites in dilute hydrochloric acid have the same reddish colour and are identical in mineralogical composition with the terra rossa.Analysis of terra rossa from various localities gave K20,h'a20 Si02. Ti&. Zr02. A120,;. Fe203. MnO. CaO. MgO. 1&0. HzO. COz. Total. I. 0.37 8-51 0-45 55.37 21-76 trace trace trace trace 13.45 - 99.91 11. 26-20 0.51 0.81 39-14 14.03 1.45 - 18.14" - 100.28 111. 35.42 0.30 0.10 32-89 15-03 0.93 0.43 trace 15.32 0.23 100.55 IV. 43.61 trace trace 27.80 11.75 trace 1-64 15.43" - 100.23 V. 47.89 0.96 24.38 12.63 1-18 0.68 {-b2 11.86 0.39 100'29 VI. 46-27 0.80 26.61 12.64 0'12 1'13 ) trace 13'32" - 100.89 VII. 26.47 trace 20.19 18.03 1.32 13.19 11'24 9-12 99-56 VIII. 32.11 25'69 6.20 - 14'44 0.48 11-33 10.77 100.97 IX.66.57 O'i2 0.09 21-87 5.72 - - - 5*58* - 99.95 ' Loss 011 iguitioii. Analysis I of the purest material from iupanjac Bosnia is interpreted as sporogelite 70.38% ; colloidal ferric hydroxide 22.025% ; rutile 6.88%; zircon 0.48%. I n the other analyses the silica is present partly as quartz and partly as colloidal silicic acid the latter being soluble in dilute hydrochloric and nitric acids. I n anal. 11 for example 8.99% of the silica is soluble and represents 43089% colloidal silicic acid intermixed with 39.54% of sporogelite. The sporogelite is regarded as an original constituent of the lime- stones and t o have been precipitated as such from the sea-water at the time that t h e limestones were deposited. The bauxites oE the same region are identical chemically and mineralogically with the terra rossa but they are of earlier date (compare KGpatie this vol. ii 64).L. J. S. Analysis of Red Earth from the Floor of an Ancient Hut. JOHN 0. HUGHES (Chern. News 1912 106 247)-A reddish- brown earth obtained from the floor of one of the ancient huts forming the stone fortress on the top of Penmaenmawr Carnarvonshire was found to have the following composition substances insoluble in hydrochloric acid silica etc. 83.82% ; alumina 2.47% ; iron oxide 4-7 1 % ; magnesia 1-457L ; sodium and potassium oxides 052% ; phos- phoric anhydride 1.2274 ; sulphur trioxide 0.13%; water (at l l O o ) 1.86% ; loss on ignition 3070% ; manganese oxide calcium oxide carbon dioxide and chlorine traces. Embedded in the earth were a few small pieces of charcoal The author is of the opinion that the earth is the ash of some combustible substance (possibly peat) mixed w.P. s. MASUMI CHIKASHIGB and TADASU HIKI (Zeitsch. ccnorg. Chem. 1912 '77 197-199).-A meteorite which fell in 1904 at Okano in the province of Tamba Japan has been examined. The meteorite which weighs 4742 grams contains Fe 94*S5% ; Ni 4.44% ; Co 0.48% ; P 0.23%; Cu trace and has D 7.98. The ground-mass consists of nickeliferous iron showing Neumann's lines on etching. The phosphide occurs as distinct 1 he bdite crystals. Heating at 1300O for thirty minutes causes granulation of the mass and the Neumann's lines disappear. witli a portion of the surrounding soil. A New Fall of Meteoric Iron in Japan. C. H. D.MINERALOGICAL CHEMLSTRY.ii. 71 Meteoric Fall near Holbrook Arizona. GEOI~GE P. MERRZLL (Smithsonian MiscelZ. Collections 1912 60 No. 9 1-4. Compare Foote A. 1912 ii llSS).-The stones of t h i s recent and remarkable fall resemble in lithological character those of the Pultusk (Poland) shower of 1868 and in Brezina's classification belong to '( spherulitic chondrite crystalline Cck." The material consists of orthorhombic with occasional monoclinic pyroxenes and of olivine with small scattered masses of metallic iron and iron sulphide ; numerons chon- drules are set in a loose aggregate of particles The iron sulphide forms granules up to 8 mm. across and resembles pyrrhotite in its bronzy lustre ; it is however non-magnetic Dz'c = 4.61 and analysis I1 gives the formula FeS proving the material to be troilite.The stone has D22'G = 3.48 and contains silicates 87.48 ; metal 4-85 ; troilite 7.56 ; schreibersite 0.1 1%. Analysis by J. E. Whitfield of the metallic portion gave I the sulphide 11 and of the silicate portion the results under 111. Fe. Xi. Co. Cu. S. Total. I. 90.50 8-68 0'64 0.29 - 100*11 11. 63'62 nil. 36'50 100*12 SiO,. A1,03. FeO. CaO. MgO. MnO. NiO. Na,O. Total. 111. 41.93 4'30 21.85 2'40 29.11 0'25 0.08 trace 99'92 L. J. S. Meteoric Stones of El Nakhla El Baharia (Egypt). GEORGE T. PRIOR (Mi@ gag. 1912 16 274-281. Compare A 1911 ii 1106 ; 1912 ii 361).-One of the stones weighing 274 grams of this recent fall was examined. Thin sections show a holocrystalline aggre- gate of green diopside and brown olivine (there being no hypersthene as stated in previous accounts) with a little interstitial matter consisting of felspar laths.The diopside shows " herring-bone " struc- ture and its optical constants are a =; 1.685 = 1.69 y = 1.72 2V = 44-4So c L - 40-44' ; its composition I1 (calculated from I and 111) corresponds with 3MgSi0,,3CaSi0,,2FeSi03. The olivine is characterised by the presence of dark brown to black enclosures with a definite crystallographic orientakion ; a = 1.75 p = 1.785 y = 1.80 2V = 67'; analysis I11 is of selected grains and IV of the portion of the stone soluble in hydrochloric acid corresponding with ZFe,SiO,,Mg,SiO,. This olivine is near to hortonolite and is much more ferriferous than any meteoric olivine previously described. The bulk analysis of the meteorite is given under I corresponding with the following mineral composition diopside 76.70 ; olivine 13.25 ; felspar 6.76 ; magnetite 1.87 ; ilmenite 0.73 ; chromite 0.49 ; troilite (?) 0.17 ; water 0.24%.Si02 A1,0,. Fe,O,. FeO. CaO. NgO. Total. Sp. gr. I." 48'96 1'74 1-29 19'63 15.17 12-01 100.45 3-47 11. 52'73 - - 14-93 1 9 2 2 13.12 100*00 3'42 111. 32.59 - - 51.80 1.11 15'60 101-10 3.98 * Also TiO 0.38 ; Cr20 0.33 ; MnO 0.09 ; Na,O 0'41 ; K20 0'14 ; S 0'06 IV. 33.06 - - 51.67 1.86 13.03 99'62 - H20 0'24.ii. 72 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. Consisting mainly of monoclinic pyroxene and olivine with no metallic iron this meteorite approaches most closely to the angrite group. L. J. S. Meteorite Fall in Central Japan. TETSUQORO WAKIMIZU (Beis-. Min. Japan 1912 No. 4 145-150).-A fall of stones was observed on July 24 1909 near the town of Gifu prov. Mino. Twenty-four stones the largest weighing 4039 grams were picked up over an area of 12 x 5 km. The material D 3-57 is classed as a white chondrite with very little nickel-iron and iron sulphide. Under the microscope it is seen to be holocrystalline and to consist essentially of olivine and bronzite. Analysis gave SiOa. PzOs. Ti02. Fe2O~ Fe. Ni. Mn. CaO. MgO. S. SO3 C. Hz0. Total. 41'013 0.455 0'1lG 5'170 30'5S3 0'1S3 0'910 2.76s 24.707 2.185 0.231 trace 0.331 99.227 1,. J. S.