* 
REPORT OF THE CHEMIST. 95 
RESIDUE FROM ALUM SPRINGS. 
A sample of residue from the boiling down of the water of a minéral 
ring in the neighborhood of Abingdon, Virginia, forwarded by Mr. 
* cob Rodefer, yielded, on examination: 
Sulphate of oh RU se inc CEOS a i 22. 61 
PEIN OR SOUR is .5 kw hd aes Sins dak see ec bd le debos SUSU suse eases tenes ee 6, 89 
Snlphate of alumina ! 29. 11 
PRREEGORACOU Go 6) fn) g , FeRAM ks ae ie ak 
BAO Oh TNAQNES1.. . ce en cees sueueeuiwsRrusebUeeewt sojoes ess sacuee sana oue 6.91 
es is aS tikad saa sse agusd dae daeeeastccds os cet sess 554% IEC Peek: 6. 78 
BIRECHIGOS 22a iiss is dalee aed ude 4s ¥EAe SS SSE Seas oo 58.52 stoke econ s cae een 0, 94 
CEEMIALDOD <5 ane secset Cudse®eubaun tastes valecs otocs fbb oles veseecesewne ‘traces. 
EEE nee COMIDITION WiitOl ccc suie socce scene cece te see aes o one mesicceaeecae 33. 76 
Water of this and other springs of the vicinity is much in demand, 
and the mass obtained by drying down the water in kettles is called 
“alum mass.” It isa dry powder, neither efflorescent nor deliquescent, 
and of a strong and unpleasant styptic taste. It is sold by the ounce 
to those at a distance from the springs. The sources of these waters 
evidently have a close connection with the beds of gypsum and rock-salt 
about eighteen miles distant from the court-house. 
COAL. 
* 
Sample from Palafox Grant, on the Rio Grande, thirty miles above 
Lorado, Webb County, Texas; approximate analysis: 
Specific gravity, 1.333 
MRE M MEAL Oy) foe al oto) So slaicls osjsa's elas sass tessce Jd eciciast Saveles ae eets eee 2.53 
Volatile combined matter, driven off in a closed vessel at a red heat ...-..-.-- 38. 81 
EREMEC ENOL ©). 0 sa taeeh ald. ets tad, be clades Ud wtidecled case se ces see 45. 10 
ee ret te ain acts ad 6 wieisiais.c/sonicac)aaan tue sales «aim Aan aa = ae 13, 56 
100. 00 
cad oa ae bo Sb EAs ws at os daca, Spe and be slo cs abu nes aude abelaseg 58. 66 
Ash, white, slightly acid; coke, friable. 
This coal has no caking preperty, and is distinctly lamellar. In chemi- 
cal constitution it is analogous to the Virginian free-burning coal de- 
scribed by Professor W. Johnson in his report on coal, (made to Con- 
gress, 1844.) it is brittle, laminated, and has an imperfect conchoidal 
acture. 
GYPSUM. 
A sample of gypsum rock from Smythe County, Virginia, forwarded 
by Hon. John W. Johnston, yielded, in 100 parts: 
Mtemsaure, (hygroscopic)t.s- se 042) oe ssi. ae an d's deh alga cide’ wioowe West seed 6.63 
Organic matter and water of combination ...... 0.226. ss ees cose cecsee sees ees 13. 50 
IC FING 36 «2-5 eee Ras ss <.0d same vase ce eiecan aeueiawalieeek dep se» 62. 417 
EMEEMENE (EUINION. > sa Vat iate in bp ann c Gein = os tamoeenb ame atte © Mees l'see 1. 363 
ERO 0s cabs, Doe bob cal dss sdew dented Pee detebees send cease acs. trace. 
Alumina, oxide of iron, and traces of alkaline chlorides......-..........-.-4-- 11. 02 
eA was oGnlaa des os coan sadeuniagan saps we sedi ewe nN SbNeceidb= dace ewes os | OOF 
100. 000 
‘It is a semi-erystalline rock, banded like gneiss, with layers of pure 
acicular prisms of sulphate of lime, from one-third to one-half inch thick, 
which are separated by bands of gray amorphous, aluminous rock. This 
gypsum burps very white, and appears to be well adapted for all the 
