279 



This agrees very well with the following formula: — 



3 Al Si2 -f (Mg k)3 Si + 3 H.) 



Dr. C. T. Jackson read a description, with an analysis, of 

 Asphaltum recently discovered in New Brunswick, as 

 follows : — 



On the 16th of last March, Henry W. Fuller, Esq. of Boston, 

 sent me a box of specimens of a new kind of fuel recently dis- 

 covered in New Brunswick. It was regarded as Cannel Coal of 

 a peculiar kind. 



This substance proved to be a very beautiful variety of As- 

 phaltum. It is jet black, glossy, and free from smut. It breaks 

 with a broad conchoidal fracture like obsidian, and presents a 

 brilliant surface. 



It is a little softer than rock salt, which scratches its surface. 

 Its specific gravity is 1.107. 



It softens and melts when exposed to heat in close vessels. 

 When inflamed it does not run, but burns freely with a bright 

 yellow flame and a little smoke. Heated in a glass flask, it gives 

 off an abundance of bituminous liquid analogous to Petroleum, 

 and leaves a very light and bulky coke of a brilliant black color 

 and very porous. When exposed to heat in a covered platinum 

 crucible, an abundance of carburetted hydrogen gas is given ofl^, 

 which burns with a large and brilliant yellow flame, having a 

 high illuminating power. 



The Asphaltum is but slightly acted upon by alcohol or by 

 ether, yielding a little yellowish matter, which is obtained by 

 evaporation of the solution. Oil of Turpentine dissolves a con- 

 siderable quantity of the Asphaltum, forming a varnish such as is 

 used by engravers. 



Weighed portions of the Asphaltum were taken for analysis, 

 and on being heated in a covered crucible so as to expel all the 

 volatile matter, the coke remained and was weighed. The 

 results of two trials gave, — 



1st. 2nd. 



58.5 of volatile matter 58.8 of volatile matter 



41.5 of coke 41.2 of coke 



loO.O 100.0 



