Additional Notice of Tungsten and Tellurium. 155 



13. With nitric acid it formed a colourless solution, not de- 

 composed by v.'ater. 



14. It did not dissolve in muriatic acid, till a few drops of ni- 

 tric acid were added. 



15. The white oxide heated with charcoal in a small coated 

 recurved glass tube, afforded brilliant metallic globules, which 

 rose by distillation, collected in the bend of the tube, and re- 

 sembled drops of quicksilver, except that they were solid. 



C. Remark. 



The above facts having induced the conclusion that the metal, 

 thus unexpectedly discovered in the ores of tungsten, was tellu- 

 rium*, we were led to search for external characters by which to 

 judge what specimens contained it. The ores from Transylvania 

 (the only telluric ores with which we are acquainted) bearing no 

 analogy in appearance or composition to those before us, we 

 were led to inquire whether the tellurium in these latter ores was 

 in combination with tungsten, or merely in mixture. The ex- 

 ternal characters detailed in Part II. tend perhaps to fortify the 

 latter opinion. If we mistake not, we there found a proper ore 

 of tellurium mixed with a proper ore of tungsten ; but we have 

 also by chemical means found tellurium where similar external 

 characters were not apparent. Before the appearance of our 

 next Number, we hope to obtain pure and better specimens. In 

 the mean time we add the following facts. 



1. A crystal, and a massive piece of Uie kind described under 

 Part II., were digested in nitro-muriatic acid. 



2. Both oxide of tungsten and oxide of tellurium were ob- 

 tained from all of them. 



3. Many specimens have been examined which have afforded 

 tungsten onlv, and no tellurium. 



At a convenient time it is hoped that a more complete exa- 

 mination of this subject may be presented to the public. 



In the mean time, we may submit to mineralogists and che- 

 mists, whether, if this is not a new mineral, it is not at least a 

 new association of two minerals before known. It has not been 

 forgotten that gold and silver are frecjuently combined with tel- 

 lurium : neither of them has, however, been discovered (although 

 sought after by proper tests) during the above trials. 



Yale College, (U. S.) March, 1819. 



• Several of the facts, we are aware, accord witli the properties of bis- 

 muth, between wliieli and tellurium there are several stroin; points of re- 

 semblance; but a number of other facts appear irreconcileablc with the pro- 

 perties of that metal, and of every other except telluriMni. 



LITHO- 



