THE 



CANADIAN NATURALIST. 



SECOND SERIES. 



CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CHEMISTRY OF 

 NATURAL WATERS. 



By T. Sterry Hunt, A.M., F.R.S. ; of the Geol. Survey of Canada. 



It is proposed to divide this essay into three parts, in the first 

 of which will be considered some general principles which must 

 form the basis of a correct chemical history of natural waters. 

 The second part will embrace a series of chemical analyses of 

 mineral waters from the paleozoic rocks of the Champlain and St. 

 Lawrence basins, together with some river-waters ; and the third 

 part will consist chiefly of deductions and generalizations from 

 these analyses. 



I. 



Contents of Sections. — 1, atmospheric waters; 2, 3, results of vege- 

 table decay ; 4-7, action on rocky sediments ; 8, action on iron- 

 oxyd; 9, solution of alumina ; 10, reduction of sulphates ; 11, kaol- 

 inization ; 12, decay of silicates ; 13, origin of carbonate of soda; 

 14, Bischofs view rejected; 15, 16, porosity of rocks, and their con- 

 tained saline waters; 17, saliferous strata; 18, action of carbonate 

 of soda on saline waters; 19, origin of sulphate of magnesia; 

 20, 21, Mitscherlich's view rejected; 22, 23, salts from evaporating 

 sea-water, composition of ancient seas, origin of carbonate of lime- 

 24-27, origin of gypsum, carbonate of magnesia, and dolomite; 28, 

 waters from oxydized sulphurets ; 29, origin of free sulphuric and 

 hydrochloric acids ; 30, of bydrosulphuric and boric acids ; 31 of 

 carbonic acid gas; 32, of ammoniacal salts; 33-35, classification of 

 mineral waters. 



§ 1. The solvent powers of water are such that this liquid is 

 never met with in nature in a perfectly pure state: even 

 Vol. II. a No. 1. 



