Page:Transactions NZ Institute Volume 15.djvu/501
Serpentine, Ṁg3 S̈12 + 2 Ḣ.—This mineral is somewhat widely distributed in New Zealand, occupying as a rule the junction line or thereabouts between the Lower Carboniferous and Upper Devonian rocks, but it is also found associated with nephrite at Milford Sound. Dr. Hector says (Jurors' Rep. N.Z. Ex., 1865, p. 412):—"This mineral occurs in New Zealand in two forms—Common Serpentine, that forms extensive rock-masses characteristic of the mineral ground in various parts of the South Island in the provinces of both Nelson and Otago; and Noble Serpentine, which occurs in thin veins associated with the jade or greenstone of the Maoris, by whom it is distinguished by the name of Tangiwai."
The principal development of the common serpentine is in Nelson, where what is known as the mineral belt may be traced down D'Urville Island through the Dun Mountain to Aniseed Valley, an isolated patch occurring again at Red Hill. It is alluded to by several observers, such as Dr. v. Hochstetter, Dr. Hector, Mr. E. H. Davis, Mr. A. McKay, and myself, in reports made from time to time on various parts of the district, and is described by Mr. E. H. Davis (Geol. Rep., 1870–71, p. 111) thus:—"Dun Mountain serpentine as a rule is of a poor variety, generally a dark green, almost black colour, appearing lighter by transmitted light: translucent at the edges and rather brittle."
It is mentioned by Mr. J. C. Crawford as occurring in small quantities in the palæozoic rocks of Wellington (Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. i., p. 4), and again at Ruamahunga (Trans. N.Z. Inst. vol. ii., p. 345); by Dr. v. Haast as veins in the Mt. Cook range and some other localities in the Southern Alps (Jurors' Rep. N.Z. Ex., 1865, p. 257); by Mr. J. Buchanan in the Awatere River, Marlborough (Geol. Rep., 1866–67, p. 35) and by Mr. D. Macfarlane at Jackson's Bay (Geol. Rep., 1876–77, p. 27). Specimens have also been forwarded to the Colonial Museum from Island Bay, Wellington, by Mr. W. F. Barraud; from Southland (Windly Creek) by Captain Hutton; from Auckland by Mr. J. B. Gillies; from Pelorus Sound by Mr. Duncan; and from the Dart River by the Hon. Captain Fraser.
Noble serpentine, as before mentioned, occurs at Milford Sound, and is described by Dr. Hector (Jurors' Rep. N.Z. Ex., 1865, p. 412) as follows:—"It occurs as boulders of various sizes, and generally much water-worn. Some of the smaller pieces when cut and polished are very attractive on account of their beautiful deep sea-green colour, their translucency, their purity, and remarkable closeness of grain. This mineral is somewhat soft, and, breaking readily, is capable of being worked into any shape with the greatest ease, and for ornamental work generally is well adapted. Its general characters are as follow: Colour, dull green and mottled black lustre, slightly resinous; fracture, splintery; streak, dirty white; hardness