358 A NEW VARIETY OF ASPHALT. 



des Bitumes," (Ann. de Ch. and Ph., lxiv. 141,) has sought a classification with regard to 

 their contents of Petrolene and Asphaltene, which he supposes would account (by varying 

 mixtures) for the above mentioned differences. 

 Petrolene, from his experiments, contains 



Carbon, ..... 88-5 



Hydrogen, . . . . . 11.5 



1000 



and is isomeric with oil of turpentine. Asphaltene is C 20 H 16 O 3 containing 



Carbon, ..... 75-0 



Hydrogen, ..... 9*9 



Oxygen, ..... 14-8 



99-7 



The bitumen of Bechelbronn, which, according to Boussingault, is a mixture of 85-4 

 petrolene and 14-6 asphaltene, contains, 



Carbon, . 86-8 



Hydrogen, . . . . 11-2 



Oxygen, ..... 2-0 



100-00 



The asphalt from Coxitambo bears a great analogy to the melan-asphalt. According to 

 Boussingault, "its fracture is largely conchoidal, it is of great brilliancy, and would be 

 taken from its black colour and lustre for obsidian." Its density (Loewig, from Boussin- 

 gault) is 1*08. It dissolves with great difficulty in petrolene and in the fat oils, which 

 Boussingault supposes to arise from "the great cohesion of the natural asphalt." By a 

 later analysis by this celebrated chemist, (Ann. de Ch. and Ph., Ixxiii.) it has the following 

 composition, which will bear comparison with my results for melan-asphalt. 



Carbon, ..... 88-63 



Hydrogen, ..... 9-69 



Oxygen and Hydrogen, . . . 1-68 



100-00 



From the foregoing analysis and behaviour I infer that the substance from Hillsborough 

 is not coal, nor any variety of coal, but a true and a new variety of asphalt. In allusion 

 to its beautiful and brilliant black colour, I propose for it the name melan-asphalt. 



