373 Analyfis of a Stent ' 



when the fton£ was diffolved in acids, induced me to ima- 

 gine that one part at lead of the deficit was owing to the car- 

 bonic acid. 



To affure myfelf of itj I introduced into a fmall phial 

 ioo parts of the matter in powder, and, after preparing a 

 glafs tube, deflined to convey the gas into the lime-water, I 

 poured into it fulphuric acid diluted with a certain quantity 

 of water; a fwelling up and heat were produced, and fome 

 air-bubbles paffed into the lime-water, by which it was ren- 

 dered turbid ; but the quantity of the precipitate was fo 

 fmall, that it was impofhble for me to meafure it. As the 

 fpace, indeed, in the veffds which remained empty was fo 

 great, it is probable the greater part of the carbonic acid re- 

 mained in it. 



But this experiment fufne'sently proved to me that the io - 5 

 oflofs belonged not merely to the carbonic acid ; for, though 

 the fpace furhifhed by my veflels was pretty confiderable, it 

 would not have been capable of retaining it, and I fhould 

 alfo have obtained a greater quantity of calcareous precipitate. 

 In the hope of finding fome other fubftance, which, with 

 carbonic acid, might contribute to form this lofs, I put loo 

 parts in a retort of luted glafs, to which I adapted a fmall 

 receiver, and I expofed it to a firong heat; There appeared 

 in the neck of the retort, and even in the bottle, fome fmall 

 drops of water, the quantity of which was fo fmall that I 

 could not weigh it. But the matter taken from the retort 

 weighed no more than 91 parts. Thus it appeared to me 

 that the lofs which I experienced in my analyfes is chiefly 

 owing to water and carbonic acid. 



Having given the mod remarkable characters of the foffil 

 called gajolinite, and the precedes which appeared to me 

 beft adapted for feparating its principles, I (hall now briefly 

 explain fome of the properties exhibited by the new earth 

 extracted from it. 



ift, It is perfectly white ; but it is pretty difficult to ob- 

 tain it in that (late on account of the oxyd of manganefe, 

 which follow it in almoft all its combinations. 



ad, It has neither favour nor fmell. 



3d, It 



