ASHES FROM NGAURUHOE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12244, 18 June 1909, Page 2

ASHES FROM NGAURUHOE.

GOVERNMENT ANALYSIS

In view of the continued eruption of Mount Ngauruhoe, the analysis of the dust which fell at Rangataua is interesting. The analysis, which was as follows, was mad© by Professor Macjaurin, and was received by Mr E. H. Snow, of Rangataua :— Silica 52.95. Alumina 16.50, iron oxides 7.04, lime 8.10, magnesia 2.20, potash 1.67. soda 2.'41, titanium dioxide 0.65, sulphur trioxido 2.17, sulphur (free) 1.36, phosphoric anhydride 0.29, water and organic matter 3.85, undetermined o.Bl—loo. The sample was composed of irregularly shaped- fragments, averaging in sizo about o^oo2 by 0.001 inches, the largest- being 0.0025 by 0.002. Except for the fact that it contains free sulphur, the dust resembles trachytic an-cles-ite in composition. It is similar in composition to the sample -, of scoria from the base of Mount Ngauruhoe collected by the Director of Geological Survey in 1906, and also to volcanic dust from the eruption of Mount Ruapehu in the same year. Judging from the proportions of potash and phos■phri^acid pjesent the dust should even-' tiial'y prove beneficial to the SjOil, though the presence of unoxidised sulphur may have the opposite effect for atjne. J. S. MACLAURIN, D.Sc, F.C.S. Government Analyst. H. W. RADCLIFFE, Under-Seoretary.