CHEMICAL SCIENCE. 207 



BORACIC ACID IN THE SEA-WATER OF THE PACIFIC. 



At a recent meeting of the California Academy of Natural Sciences, the 

 following paper on the above subject was read by Dr. John A. Veatch, of 

 San Francisco: 



The existence of boracic acid in the sea-water off the California coast was 

 brought to my notice in July, 18-37. I had, in the month of January of the 

 previous year, discovered borate of soda and other borates in solution in the 

 water of a mineral spring in Tehama county, near the upper end of the 

 Sacramento valley. Prosecuting the research, I found traces of boracic acid, 

 in the form of borates, in nearly all the mineral springs with which the State 

 of California abounds. This was especially the case in the coast mountains. 

 Borate of soda was so abundant in one particular locality, that enormous 

 crystals of that salt were formed at the bottom of a shallow lake, or rather 

 marsh, one or two hundred acres in extent. The crystals were hexahedral, 

 with beveled or replaced edges and truncated angles; attaining the size, in 

 some cases, of four inches in length by two in diameter, forming splendid 

 and attractive specimens. In the same neighborhood, a cluster of small 

 thermal springs were observed holding free boracic acid in solution. A few 

 hundred yards from these, a great number of hot springs, of a temperature 

 of two hundred and tAvelve degrees Fahrenheit, rose up through the fissures 

 of a silicious rock. Tiiese springs held a considerable quantity of borax, as 

 well as free boracic acid. Many other localities furnished similar indications, 

 but in a less extensive form. 



In progress of the examination, I found that the common salt (chloride of 

 sodium) exposed for sale in the San Francisco market, and which, it was 

 understood, came from certain deposits of that article on the sea-margin in 

 the sourthern part of the state, also furnished boracic acid. I was led to 

 attribute it to the fact of mineral springs emptying into the lagoons furnish- 

 ing the salt. It was, therefore, a matter of no small surprise, when, on a 

 visit to the localities, I found no trace of acid in any of the springs in the 

 adjacent district. This led to an examination of the sea-water, and a 

 detection of an appreciable quantity of boracic acid therein. It was at 

 Santa Barbara where I first detected it, and subsequently at various points, 

 from San Diego to the Straits of Fuca. It seems to be in the form of borate 

 of soda, and perhaps of lime. The quantity diminishes towards the north. 

 It is barely perceptible in specimens of water brought from beyond Oregon, 

 and seems to reach its maximum near San Diego. 



This peculiarity seems to extend no great distance seaward. "Water taken 

 thirty or forty miles west from San Francisco gave no trace of acid. In 

 twelve specimens, taken at various points betwixt this port and the Sandwich 

 Islands, only that nearest our coast gave boracic acid. In ten specimens 

 taken up in a trip of one of the Pacific mail steamers from Panama to San 

 Francisco, no acid was observed south of the Cortez Shoals. 



I have not as yet been able to obtain specimens of water south of San 

 Diego, neai-er the shore than the usual route of the mail steamers. Neither 

 have I been able to test the breadth of this boracic acid belt any further than 

 the fact above stated, of no acid being found at the distance of thirty or 

 forty miles west from the Golden Gate. I think it probable that it is confined 

 within the submarine ridge running parallel with the coast, the southern 

 portion of which is indicated by certain shoals and island groups. The 

 source of the acid is undoubtedly volcanic, and the seat of the volcanic 



