Remarks on a Specimen of Osmium-iridium from Parapara.

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 29, 1896, Page 613

4. Sir J. Hector exhibited a specimen of the very rare metal Osmium-iridium, found at Parapara, Collingwood. He stated that the appearance of this metal always indicated country of a very high metallurgic value. Osmium-iridium was worth about twice the value of gold; and another metal, Palladium—traces of which were to be seen in the specimen exhibited—was worth very much more. The only article known which was made of this metal was a small goblet in the Paris mint. The bearings of the standard balances in the mints at Paris and London were also made of this rare metal, at enormous cost. Osmium-iridium was used for the hard tips upon gold nibs, &c. Both these metals were found at Parapara mixed with the gold recovered by the company in that locality. But what this colony should find was Thorium, which used to be worth nearly £40 an ounce, and was now in great demand for making the mantles used over gas-burners. He added that he believed it might perhaps be found in New Zealand. Owing to recent discoveries in Brazil its value was now much reduced.