458 Chronicles of Science. [July, 



calorific value of the mineral oils, the result of a series of experi- 

 ments which he has carried out by order of the Emperor. The 

 results to which these experimental trials have led this eminent 

 chemist are — 



"En general, cette chaleur est plus faible que celle qu'on 

 calcule par la loi de Dulong, et les chaleurs de combustion de 

 I'hydi'ogene et du carbone determinees par MM. Favre et Silber- 

 mann, si Ton opere sur les huiles non oxygenees. Au contraire, 

 pour des huiles fortement oxygenees comme de I'huile de houille, on 

 trouve une chaleur plus grande que la chaleur calculee par la loi de 

 Dulong. Ces limites seraient done dans la categoric des corps 

 explosifs qui contiennent plus de chaleur que les elements qui les 

 constituent n'en possedent a I'etat isole." 



The distillation of oils from the bituminous shales and cannel 

 coals of this country has within the past quarter shown a disposi- 

 tion to revival. The influx of American oils entirely stopped the 

 production of oils in these islands, by reducing the price. The 

 demand for the mineral oils and paraffin is increasing, prices are 

 advancing, and consequently, in many places, fires are being re- 

 lighted under retorts which have been for the last, two years in a 

 state of repose. 



Gold, — The quantity of gold raised during the first quarter of 

 this year at Vigra and Clogau, in Merionethshke has been somewhat 

 in excess of that produced in the corresponding quarter of last year. 

 Some other quartz lodes have been opened on in the Dolgelly 

 district with very promising results. 



With the approach of fine weather the Helmsdale diggings in 

 Sutherlandshire have attracted a large number of miners. An 

 interesting popular account of those " diggings " has been written 

 by J. F. Campbell, Esq., of Islay, called ' Something from the 

 Gold Diggings in Sutherland.' Mr. Campbell states "that more 

 than 290 men are paying a pound a month for leave to camp out 

 and work like navvies in claims of 40 feet square ; so that they 

 must be earning wages or going crazy," From the best authority 

 we are enabled to state that about 2000?. worth of gold has been 

 found since the Helmsdale burns have attracted attention. 



Platinum has been, according to the 'Mining Journal,' dis- 

 covered in Scotland. It is said to have been found in some 

 auriferous Scotch quartz, and, as we glean, in connection with the 

 gold deposits which have been exciting attention. We are disposed 

 to think this to be very problematical, and await some further 

 information. That some very minute particles of platinum were 

 found in the auriferous sands of Wick low, some years since, is 

 certain, but no quartz in the British Isles has ever yet been found 

 to contain that metal. 



