^6 NOTES ON THE MINERALS FOUND NEAR BRISTOL. 



GOLD 



Was obtained with the silver in very minute quantity in the 

 Walton limestone. It was procured by dissolving the silver bead 

 in a small portion of nitric acid, perfectly free from Hydrochloric, 

 when the silver was dissolved, leaving a skeleton of gold as a dark 

 purple powder. 



As pure nitric acid is not easily to be procured, the gold may 

 be separated by dissolving the bead of alloyed gold and silver in 

 nitro-hydrochloric acid^, diluting with distilled water, filtering off 

 the chloride of silver, and evaporating to dryness. 



The percentage of gold was, of course, only an excessiv^ely 

 small one , but the fact of its presence at all in pure carboniferous 

 limestone is remarkable. 



The essay has been verified by Mr. Merry, of Swansea, whose 

 experience in such matters is well known. In one sample Mr. 

 Merry only finds a trace of gold, and in another, 3 grains per ton. 



