Ammonium Chloride at Frankston. 135 



this oxidation of hydrogen chloride to be due to atmospheric oxygen; 

 the action being catalysed in a marked manner on the surface of 

 the very finely divided ash. The acid yielded a yellow solution 

 containing aluminium, trivalent iron, ealcium, magnesium and a 

 little sodium. An undissolved residue of fine white powder was 

 mainly, if not entirely, silica. 



The air-dried ash retained about 6 per cent, of moisture, but 

 much larger proportions were present in samples freshly collected. 

 From the earths, the analyses of which are detailed in the next 

 paragraph (3), ashes were obtained which were extracted Avith hot 

 water and also with dilute nitric acid. In each of the four cases 

 examined, chloride and sodium proved to be present. These ashes 

 were obtained by burning in an open dish small quantities of earth 

 and organic matter; probably under such conditions of ready com- 

 bustion in an abundance of air, the action between salt and nitro- 

 genous matter does not occur to more than a slight extent. 



3. Samples of earth, with accompanying organic matter, were 

 taken from four different places. Big decayed roots and thick leafy 

 surfaces were rejected, so that from the point of view of vegetable 

 matter, these samples are below the general average. The water 

 content was, of course very variable. 



It would be absurd to claim that such samples represent fairly 

 the composition of the heterogeneous area undergoing combustion. 

 Nevertheless, the analyses of them are not without value in giving 

 an idea of the nature of the area. 



The samples will be referred to as A. B, C and D respectively. 

 A was taken from just below the top layer on the island, about six 

 feet from a smoking vent ; it was more earthy than the samples from 

 other parts. B was from the middle of the island, about eight or 

 nine inches below a very thick, leafy surface. It contained many 

 fine roots. C was about one foot below the surface, and was quite 

 close to a vent. It was hot and smoking when collected, fairly free 

 from fine roots, very moist, and contained a number of tiny white 

 specks, probably of ammonium chloride. These three samples were 

 all from the island. D was from the bank -of the lake just under 

 the surface layer, and six feet from a smoking vent. 



The following remarks are necessary in explanation of the analyti- 

 cal tables : — " Moisture " is that portion of the specimens which was 

 volatilised in an air oven at 110 deg. C. " Combustible matter " 

 represents the portion oxidised and volatilised on heating to redness 

 in an open platinum or silica dish. The "ash" is the residual 

 matter. " Total nitrogen " Avas determined by the method of 

 Kjeldahl. oxidation of the organic material being readily accom- 



