An X-ray investigation has been made of synthetic pyroxenes in the system acmite-diopside, crystallized at 750° C and 1000 kg/cm2 water-vapour pressure. Lattice parameters of these pyroxenes have been determined by least squares analyses of powder diffraction patterns and show an approximately linear relationship with composition, plotted as weight per cent. A rapid X-ray method has also been devised for the determination of the compositions of pyroxenes of this series.

Yellow sapphirine with a doubled b-axis occurs in enstatite-hornblende-sapphirine rocks at the contact between dolomite marble and yoderite-quartz-talc schist on Mautia Hill, Tanganyika. It has refractive indices α 1·725± 0·002, γ 1·732±0·002, 2Vγ66°, pleochroism a pale yellow, β pale lime green, γ pale pinkish orange, and a composition corresponding to Mg3·67Mn0·04Fe2+0·17Ti0·01Fe3+0·33Als·07Si1·75O20·00. Its unit-cell dimensions are approximately a 9·85 Å, b 28·6Å, c 9·96 Å, β 110° 30′, and its diffraction pattern exhibits diffuse streaks parallel to b*, on which lie diffuse intensity maxima representing the relics of certain types of sharp reflexions of normal sapphirine ; this is interpreted as indicative of partial MgAl ordering. The associated enstatite and hornblende have compositions Mg7·58Mn0·02Fe2+0·02Ti0·01Fe3+0·13Al[6]0·25Al0·41[4]Si7·59O24·00 and K0·04Na0·16Ca1·95Mg4·37Mn0·01Fe0·052+Ti0·04Fe0·253+Al0·42[6]Al0·91[4]Si7·09O22·24(OH)1·76respectively and are accompanied by accessory hematite and pseudobrookite. Preliminary heating experiments have demonstrated the transformation of single crystals of partially ordered Mautia sapphirine to single crystals of a defect spinel phase after 48 hours at 1287° C in air; normal disordered Panrimali sapphirine remains unchanged by similar heat treatment.

Nine ferrohastingsites from the Younger Granites of Northern Nigeria and five from the nepheline-bearing rocks in the Marangudzi complex of Southern Rhodesia have been analysed chemically and their optical properties and unit-cell parameters determined.

All the minerals have compositions that can be expressed by the formula NaCa2(Fe″Mg)4Fe‴Al2Si6O22(OH)2, but the Nigerian minerals differ from those of Marangudzi in their lower alumina contents, generally greater degree of iron enrichment, lower potassium, and more variable fluorine contents. These differences are considered to reflect the differences in composition of their respective parent rocks. The compositional similarities between some hastingsites and barkevikite are commented upon and the pleochroism of barkevikite is briefly discussed.

Refractive indices of the analysed hastingsites have been plotted on the optical curves of Tröger. It is suggested that such curves are of limited use and that variations in unit-cell parameters might be a more useful method of determining the iron contents of hastingsites.

The variation in cell parameters with variation in chemical composition of the analysed minerals is also discussed.

Nickel carbonate occurs in nature as a hexahydrate (hellyerite) and as a hydroxyhydrate (zaratite), but the anhydrous species is only known as an artificial product. All of the compounds show anomalous properties that have led to confusion in the literature.

Only the calcite structure was found for NiCO3 ; hydrothermal conditions appear to be essential for its synthesis, and a variation in cell size was found with changes in duration or temperature of synthesis, or both.

Hellyerite probably is [Ni(H2O)6]CO3, which would explain its ease of decomposition and rarity in nature. Zaratite is not a single mineral, but a composite of amorphous and fibrous components. The conditions under which NiCO3 might be expected to occur are discussed. Nickel bicarbonate formed in the reactions to produce NiCO3 ; its X-ray diffraction pattern, indicating cubic symmetry, analysis, and optical properties are given.

The behaviour of nickel in these compounds is best explained in terms of crystal field theory.

From the extinction curve of a biaxial crystal mounted on a spindle stage (or one-axis stage goniometer), the related n0 curve can be derived and drawn on the stereogram. The n0 curve is the equivibration curve—or constant-refractive-index curve—that goes through the projection P0 of the spindle-stage axis. After the principal diameters (maximum 2η and minimum 2ζ) of the no curve have been measured, the angle 2V may be calculated by means of the formula cos V = sin ζ/sin η. This method can also be used for determining—or refining—the directions of the principal axes α, β, γ.

The apparatus enables a small crystal to be rotated through 360° about an axis parallel to the stage of a polarizing microscope, while immersed in a liquid of known refractive index. Angles of rotation are measured on a graduated drum to the nearest degree. The working distances separating the crystal from the objective and the condenser are sufficiently small for wide-angle interference figures to be obtained. The crystal is easily mounted and centred.

Objections are raised to the custom of reversing the pole of projection when dealing with lower crystal faces, for some points so projected no longer retain their natural interangular relations. Instead, lower face normals may be replaced by their antipodal points; these antipodal points are then projected in the usual manner, with suitable symbols. The resultant stereographic projection not only portrays all crystal faces within the primitive circle but is also strictly angle-true.

A good chemical analysis of an amphibole will give cation numbers that can be correlated in detail with the available lattice positions. The substitions that must be recognized are described. A more rigorous check of the analytical results becomes possible and the sources of error may be indicated.

An historical review of the nomenclature of the natural Os-Ir alloys suggests that the most suitable names are: For the cubic alloys, osmiridium (Steffens, 1824), i.e. osmian iridium; and for the hexagonal alloys, iridosmine (Breithaupt, 1827), i.e. iridian osmium, for alloys with 20% or more Ir, and native osmium for the very rare alloys with little or no Ir. Iridosmine may, if desired, be divided into two varieties, nevyanskite and sysertskite, following Rose and Haidinger.