There are two outcrops of rhodonite rock at the same stratigraphical horizon in Lower Carboniferous rocks in the Railway Quarry at Meldon. One of these is zoned outwards from rhodonite, through calc-silicate hornfels to quartzite. Well-formed crystals occur in drusy massive rhodonite; examples have been measured and drawn.

The distribution of As and Sb in a series of Skaergaard rocks and some of their minerals has been investigated using neutron activation analysis, and the geochemical behaviour of these elements during the fractionation of a basic magma is discussed.

It is concluded that As3+ is probably accepted into octahedral lattice sites usually occupied by Fe3+, Mg2+, Ti4+, and Al3+, and that there is also some substitution of As5+ for Si4+ and Al3+ in tetrahedral sites. There is a strong tendency for the element to concentrate in both interstitial and late-stage liquids.

Sb seems to show a marked preferential entry into early (magnesian) olivines, as in the case of Ni. The analytical results indicate that the substitution of Sb3+ for Fe2+ probably accounts for most of the Sb in silicate and oxide minerals. The tendency for Sb to concentrate in the residual Skaergaard liquids is less marked than in the case of As, but greater than in the cases of V, Cr, and Ni.

As and Sb have also been determined in four chondritic meteorites, in which the As/Sb ratio ranges from 8·5–12·4. Analyses for As and Sb in the standard rock powders G-1 and W-1 have also been made.

A twin-law study of the plagioclase indicated metamorphic origin of the charnockites and volcanic origin of the basic members of the charnockite series. The original volcanic products have been influenced by the later metamorphism, resulting in the various basic members. The twinning in the plagioclase is considered to be primary. The perthite in the charnockite is of orthoclase variety and indicates a higher temperature of formation than the charnockites of other areas containing microcline. The orthopyroxene in the charnockite series is hypersthene and the clinopyroxene is sahlite. Hypersthene is inferred to have formed at the expense of sahlite, hornblende, biotite, and garnet.

This paper describes a technique for the identification and quantitative determination of crystalline phases in granulated blast-furnace slag by means of incident light microscopy on polished and etched samples. The crystalline phases (including periclase) observed in high-magnesia granulates are reported and their mode of occurrence illustrated.

The mineralogy of the green, yellow, and brown secondary constituents occurring as amygdales, irregular infillings, and replacements in the Rajmahal basalts of eastern India and commonly described under the ill-defined names palagonite and chlorophaeite, has been revised on the basis of optical, X-ray, and thermal studies. The results indicate that these coloured constituents, which have been chiefly derived by the alteration of pyroxenes, iron ores, and primary glass, belong to the clay minerals, particularly smectite and vermiculite. This brings in question the validity of the terms palagonite and chlorophaeite which, though widely current in basaltic literature, have no definite mineralogical identity. It is suggested here that they are but forms of clay.

The estimation of molybdenum and tungsten when present together has proved difficult, as is indicated by the large number of methods put forward for their determination. Many of the methods given are for one or other of these elements only, a note often being added that the presence of the other invalidates the method. The estimation of molybdate and tungstate in the mineral powellite has been briefly described by one of the authors (A. A. M.): molybdate and tungstate were precipitated as oxinates (Mo,W)O2(C9H6ON)2 and the molybdate (MoO4″) determined by measurement of the optical density at 230 mµ of a solution containing molybdate and tungstate. The amount of tungstate present was then estimated by difference. The property of the molybdate ion, MoO4″, to absorb strongly in the ultra-violet has been further investigated and it has been found that, if a wave-length of 240 mµ is chosen and the proper precautions taken, the MoO4″ ion can be estimated without significant interference by the WO4″ ion. Methods are given for the analysis of the common molybdate and tungstate minerals, together with results obtained during the course of this investigation.

An unusual occurrence of adularia as a porphyroblastic mineral in an Upper Pre-Cambrian marble from Zambia is described, and optical and chemical data given. The presence of good cleavages oblique to the crystal faces indicates that the latter are hemi-orthodomes and high index pyramids, although the crystals are of simple form.

A detailed study of ilmenite concentrates from Chavara and Manaalakurichi deposits has brought to light several interesting textures traceable to exsolution, eutectic crystallization, and replacement and alteration. Magnetite-ilmenite, magnetite-ilmenite-picotite, ilmenite-picotite, ilmenite-hematite, and ilmenite-rutile exhibit exsolution intergrowths. Part of the ilmenite seems to have been formed either by oxidation of ulvöspinel or from a cubic phase of ilmenite by monotropic inversion. Some of the ilmenite-hematite intergrowths display either an emulsoid or a triangular type of texture. Subgraphic intergrowth is observed between ilmenite-magnetite and ilmenite-rutile, suggesting an eutectic relationship between them.

Magnetite-hematite, magnetite-goethite, and magnetite-maghemite intergrowths are the result of alteration of magnetite. Sphene also partly replaces some ilmenite grains.

The proportion of ilmenite grains with and without intergrowths and the probable origin of the intergrowths and their effect on the marketability of ilmenite concentrates are discussed in the paper.

Apparatus using cold-seal pressure vessels of molybdenum-0·5 %-titanium alloy, where each vessel is protected from oxidation by an argon gas jacket, is described. At 1000 bars pressure these vessels can be used for long runs at temperatures up to 1200° C, an increase of approximately 300° C over the range of conventional Stellite vessels. The possible use of other alloys to extend the range of this type of apparatus further is briefly discussed; pure tungsten has been shown to be too brittle.

The transformation of manganite during heating has been studied by single crystal X-ray diffraction methods. It is observed that manganite transforms into pyrolusite keeping its original axial directions parallel to those of the transformed phase. Pyrolusite then transforms into Mn2O3 with its [001] ‖ [110] or [100] of Mn2O3; of Mn2O3 and [010] ‖ [001] of Mn2O3. Evidence of an intermediate product in the pyrolusite → Mn2O3 reaction has been found.