1G4 REPORT OF THE CHEMIST. 



to remedy. The ceiliDg is perhaps a little low, but if the ventilation was 

 better that would matter but little. 



In regard to the work done little can be said ; it is of so varied a nature 

 that hardly any two analyses can be connected to draw any conclusions 

 from or establish any facts. 



When'the collections of the Museum are fully identified and arranged 

 there will be time for scientific work and investigation: subjects are 

 abundant, and as a repository for the Geological Survey, the Depart- 

 mentof the Interior, &c., the Museum must some day possess the largest 

 and most complete collection of the minerals, ores, and rocks of America, 

 and of the world, that has ever been collected together in any one 

 museum. 



The work done for the Institution by the chemist has been the identi- 

 fication of numerous specimens sent in from different localities, analyses 

 and assays of various ores, iron, gold, silver, &c., which have been under- 

 taken whenever it was thought they might aid in developing the min- 

 eral resources of the country. The chemist has received specimens of 

 ;:!>kl and silver ores for examination, some showing the precious metals, 

 i tliers devoid of even a trace; one interestiag specimen was received, 

 said to be from New Mexico ; the specimen was arsenical pyrite ; the piece 

 was completely tilled with small nuggets of gold from the size of a pin 

 point up to the size of an ordinary pin head ; the nuggets were not pure 

 gold, but alloyed with a little silver ; the assay gave a value of nearly 

 thirty thousand dollars to the ton. 



In iron ores the same variation has been found, some few being of 

 value, while others have been worthless ; copper ores, most as carbonate, 

 with some little native copper, have not been wanting. Lead, in the form 

 of galena, has also been received, generally as silver ore, though most 

 of it has proved of little value except as a source of lead. Tin ore has 

 also been received, though unfortunately the specimens contained no 

 tin ; one interesting specimen of this kind presented to the chemist with 

 the assurance that it contained eight per cent, of tin consisted of a mass 

 of small crystals of tourmaline. 



Among the analyses made may be mentioned one of a sample of water 

 from the Eureka Springs, Arkansas. The sample was shipped and re- 

 ceived during very warm weather, and was entirely devoid of any con- 

 tained gases. The analysis shows only the comparatively small quantity 

 of solid constituents contained in the water — 8.81 grains to the gallon of 

 23 L cubic inches. 



Among the few specimens of interest received may be mentioned three 

 small samples from the excavation for a new court-house at Scranton, 

 Pa., one of the peat, one of the black muck, and another of the jelly 

 like substance so well described by Professor Lewis, of the Academy of 

 Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, under the title of "A jelly-like sub- 

 stance resembling Dopplerite." The samples received by the chemist 

 contained 87 per cent, of water, 6.86 of volatile matter, 3^52 of fixed car- 

 bon, and 2.47 ash. 



