Chemical analyses, optical properties, and specific gravities are presented for nine axinites. A reciprocal substitution relationship is demonstrated between Mg and Mn2+, and a linear variation diagram is constructed between refractive indices and the (Fe2++Fe3++Mn2++Ti) ions calculated on the basis of 16(O,OH). The composition of these axinites is independent of the composition of their host rocks; their colour appears to be independent of the Fe2+/Mn2+ ratio for the range of iron and manganese values of the specimens investigated.

The separation and estimation of small quantities of manganese in the course of exact analysis of igneous and metamorphic rocks has long presented a difficulty. The element is almost universally present, in amounts varying from a few hundredths of one per cent. to over one per cent., the higher figure being reached in the basic rocks, especially in those rich in ferromagnesian minerals. In the ordinary course of analysis, if no special method be adopted to separate and remove manganese, this element tends to be distributed between the 'ammonia precipitate' and the lime and magnesia. It has been shown by G. Steiger that when the usual methods are employed, the manganese tends to be distributed in a quite haphazard way among the three precipitates; no definite proportion is retained by any one of them, although as a general rule most of the manganese is found with the magnesia and least with the lime.

During recent years a considerable industry has grown up at Paris in the synthetical manufacture of corundum for jewellery purposes by means of the process devised by Professor A. Verneuil. In place of the fragments of natural ruby used in previous attempts, ammoniumalum is the material employed. After careful preparation to free it from potash and other impurities, it is ground to a powder and placed in a sieve at the top of the oxygen tube of an inverted blowpipe. The sieve is tapped by a hammer at regular intervals, and uniformity is in this simple way produced in the amount of powder that falls; the necessary adjustment is effected by varying the height through which the hammer falls. To minimize the cost of production, a few alterations have been made in the original apparatus.

In a paper in Zts. f. Kryst. IX. 186, Professor Laspeyres states that the yellow enerustation uponFelsSbanya stibnite is not ecrvantite, but a sulphide of zinc, which he determines to be wurtzite, chiefly on the optical ground that a black interference cross was observed between crossed nicols, for the chemical proof based on the solubility in cold concentrated hydrochloric acid can hardly be regarded as very conclusive, considering the fact that he had no true wurtzite with which to make the comparison, but only so-called schalenblende, spiauterite, etc. On this account it seemed desirable to test the solubility of wurtzite in HCl, and accordingly a series of experiments as to the comparative solubility of wurtzite, spiauterite, voltzite and different varieties of blende was made by treating small fragments with cold concentrated HCl, (as was done by Professor Laspeyres) in small tubes, in the mouth of which strips of lead acetate paper were inserted.

In the last Number of the Society's Journal I described some crystals of apatite (francolite variety) from St. Just district of Western Cornwall; I have now to bring to the notice of the members some very fine beautiful crystals of this same mineral which I have received from Mr. Henson.

In point of beauty and lustre they far surpass any of the apatites that have yet been found in England.

The crystals are in the form of hexagonal prisms, doubly terminated with basal planes and narrow pyramid planes; colour pale bluish green, translucent with strong vitreous lustre.

They vary in size from a pin's head to half-an-inch across.

Natural Mn oxides are an important component of biogeochemical cycles in many environmental settings. Mn oxides are strong oxidizing agents, facilitating the breakdown of organic contaminants and enhancing humification of soil organic matter. Interactions with metals and radionuclides, including surface adsorption, sequestration and oxidation can lead to incorporation of metals into insoluble mineral phases and a consequent reduction in bioavailability of toxic contaminants. Because of these properties, addition of Mn oxides may prove an effective treatment method for land contaminated by a range of organic and inorganic contaminants.

Specimens of delorenzite from the type locality, Craveggia, Val Vigezzo, Piemont, have been examined and found to be close to tanteuxenite from Australia. The X-ray powder patterns are virtually the same, and the chemical analyses (including the relative abundances of the rare earths) are closely similar.

Zambonini's original (1908) specimens have not been re-examined, but are without reasonable doubt the same as the specimens now described; the considerable discrepancies between the old and new analyses can be explained by the difficulty of the separations. It is suggested that the name delorenzite be abandoned despite its priority because of its association with an incorrect analysis.

The specimen which is the subject of the present note is a magnificent piece of Proustite from Chañarcilio, Chili, which has been recently acquired for the British Museum. It is a mass of lustrous crystals, measuring about 3 inches by 2½ inches, and nearly 3 inches in height.

The specimen has a peculiar cockscomb appearance, due partly to the habit of the crystals and partly to the way in which they are grouped ; the lower part consists of Proustite, interpenetrated by a little minutely crystalline white Calcite, which on one side of the specimen extends partly over the crystals in the form of darker coloured acute rhombohedra.

The structure called cone-in-cone attracted my attention when I was working at certain forms of jointing and spherulitic structures in rocks, and has been studied in a desultoiy fashion ever since. Moreover, the Museum of University College possesses some good specimens of cone in-cone obtained by the late Prof. Morris, and I received a present of others, which had been used by Mr. W. S. Gresley for his suggestive paper when he left England for America. But though I formed some general conclusions on the subject, I abstained from writing, because I felt doubt concerning one point of importance, and had never seen a good example of cone-in-cone in the field.

The instrumentation and procedure is described for the extraction of very small and pure samples from polished mounts and thin sections of minerals, for X-ray analysis and other micro-analytical techniques. It uses a stand-mounted, tunable ultrasonic probe (400 W/15–50 kHz) inclined at 45°C to a microscope stage. The tip of the probe, usually a steel needle, is located on the desired mineral and an appropriate ultrasonic frequency is selected. Very fine powders are produced from grains as small as 0.01–0.005 mm. A distinct advantage of this technique is that, as different minerals powder at different rates and different frequencies, it is possible to separate a single mineral from an intergrowth of two or more minerals.

A suite of sheared syenites occurring along the western margin of the Eastern Ghats Belt, India have developed extensive flame perthite in K-feldspar. Albite flames show large variation in size, shape and abundance. Field, petrographic and chemical evidence suggests complex interplay between differential stress, recycling of K-Na-Ca and supply of Na by infiltration for the development of flame perthite. Partial replacement of pyroxenes, plagioclase and alkali feldspar by amphibole, biotite, nepheline and calcite causes internal recycling of Na-Ca-K in a closed system. Representative compositions of the minerals are used to constrain the model dissolution–reprecipitation ion-exchange reactions involving Na and K either as reactants and/or as products. A substantial proportion of Na+ required for the development of the albite flames, originates from Na metasomatism accompanied by ductile shearing in the feldspathic rocks, providing an ideal open system wherein both the differential stress and Na+ are made available for the development of the flame perthites. This process probably augmented the replacement of K-feldspar grains by flame albite and the K+ released was carried away by the fluid or, possibly, augmented the biotite-forming reactions in the associated quartz-poor syenites and, hence, trigger the Na-K cycle in these rocks.

Rapid, accurate silica determinations have been made titrimetrically following decomposition by HClO4-HF in a ‘Teflon’ vessel, the volatilized silicon tetrafluoride being precipitated as K2SiF6 in a HF-KF-glycerol-alcohol mixture. After filtration and washing with alcohol the precipitate is dissolved in boiling water, then titrated with NaOH. This method has many advantages over conventional gravimetric or spectrophotometric procedures.