460 Transactions. — Chemistry. 



the quartz, though quite undetectable to the eye. The bismuth 

 preseut is, therefore, certainly native — occurring quite indepen- 

 dent of the gold, only accidentally associated with it. Bismuth 

 being a very brittle metal, would be crushed beyond all recog- 

 nition in the pounding or stamping of the quartz ; so would 

 escape detection visually, except in the quartz uucrushed. The 

 quantity of bismuth present in either of these samples is very 

 minute, and of no economic account. — W.S. — To Dr. Hector." 



