Chemical Science, 189 



19. Test for Baryta and Strontia. — Baryta and strontia may 

 readily be distinguished from each other by the following 

 process : — Make a solution of the earth, whichever it may be, 

 either by nitric, muriatic, or some other acid, which will form a 

 soluble salt with it ; add solution of sulphate of soda in ex- 

 cess, filter and then test the clear fluid by subcarbonate of 

 potash ; if any precipitate falls the earth was strontia, if the 

 fluid remains clear it was baryta. 



20. On Meteoric StoneSf by M. Laugier. — Among the sub- 

 stances which enter into the composition of aerolites, three may 

 be considered as characteristic : sulphur, nickel, and chrome, 

 the silex, iron, magnesia, and manganese, being common to 

 other lapideous mixtures. Of these three substances the sul- 

 phur is least important, because of common occurrence in 

 pyrites : the remarkable circumstance attending it is its constant 

 union with nickel. The nickel has had most importance at- 

 tached to it, partly because it occurs in greater quantity than 

 the chromium, and partly because found in those masses of 

 iron called meteoric. 



The chrome has been considered as of least consequence, 

 because of the smallness of its quantity, and because it has 

 been said to be wanting in some aerolites, as in that from Stan- 

 nern, in Moravia. But if it be shewn that an aerolite contains 

 no nickel, whilst the stone from Moravia does contain chrome, 

 will it not be proper to consider chromium as the most important 

 character of these peculiar bodies ? 



M. Laugier has drawn this consequence from a comparative 

 examination of the stone which fell recently at Jonzac, and 

 that of Moravia, specimens of which were given him by M. M. 

 Haliy and Brongniart. 



The stone from Jonzac fell on the 13th of June, 1819, that 

 from Moravia on the 22d of May, 1808. Both present the 

 physical characters of aerolites, differing only in one of them. 

 Meteoric stones are generally covered by a compact uniform 

 dull black crust of a certain thickness ; the crust of these 

 two stones, on the contrary, is light grey, shining and glassy. 



