?4J Extracts from th<: Analyses of M» Klaproih. 



The excess in the sum of the products of the analysis 

 arises in all probability from the oxide of manganese having, 

 absorbed, during the calcination, a greater quantity of oxy- 

 gen than it contained in the fossil. Nature employs this 

 jnuddy manganese to delineate and colour those dendrites, 

 often so beautiful, which are found in calcareous stones, 

 in marly schists, and in the nieagre kinds of quartz. The 

 water of the mountains, charged with oxide of manganese, 

 attracted by the veins and cracks of the stone, as by capil- 

 lary tubes, deposits it on evaporating in all the ramifications 

 through which it has passed. 



Anahjsis of the Asphaltum of Albania. 

 The asphaltum or bitumen found in thick strata near 

 Avlona, in Albania, is of a blackish gray colour. This 

 fossil is compact without transparence, of a moderate lustre 

 on the surface as well as on the fracture, and of a greasy 

 polish. When scratched the traces are dull; its fracture 

 IS imperfectly conchoid, and the edges and fragments are 

 acute. 



It is light and somewhat greasy aiid soft to the touch. 

 Its specihc gravity is 1205. 



It burns with a bright and brilliant flame; and it is be- 

 lieved that it formeily entered into the composition of the 

 Greek fire. 



Asphaltum is soluble only in oils and in ether. It dis- 

 solves very well in rectified oil of petroleum. Five parts of 

 this oil dissolved without heat one part of asphaltum in 2 1 

 hours. The saturated solution had a brown colour. When 

 evaporated in a gentle heat it deposited the asphaltum, 

 under the form of a blackish brown brilliant varnish. As- 

 phaltum dissolved also very well in sulphuric ether, and the- 

 solution had a reddish brown colour. The ether deposited 

 by evaporation the bitumen, inspissated under the form of 

 a reddish brown extract. Alcohol cannot redissolve thein^ 

 Acids and caustic alkaline solutions, even concentrated" 

 and in a state of ebullition, cannot dissolve it properly. 



A hundred grains of asphaltum of Avlona analysed in 

 the dry way, distilled and calcined, are composed of 

 36 cubic inches of hydrogen gas 

 32 grains of bituminous oil 



€ of water faintly ammoniacal 

 30 grains of charcoal 

 7-| of silcx 

 7-!- of alunune 

 i of lime 



J I f)xidc 



