Mineral Sjn-ings of the Caucasus. 307 



The loss must be rather greater in reality than is indicated 

 in the preceding tables, because the carbonates of lime and 

 magnesia must have lost a portion of their carbonic acid by cal- 

 cination ; but the effervescence produced during the solution of 

 the calcined matters in nitric acid (3) and (3), proves that the 

 whole of the carbonic acid had not been volatilized by the cal- 

 cination. I should add, that I looked in vain for fluoric acid 

 in the soil of the cavei'ii of Kuhloch, 



M. Chevreul then details the results of his experiments on 

 the nature of the matter alterable by heat ; and draws the 

 subjoined conclusions from his entire examination. 



I. The organic matter of the soil of the cave of Kiihloch, 

 destructible by fire, is formed of 



1st, A fatty acid, which in my examinations presented the 

 properties of stearic or margaric acid. 2dly, A fatty matter 

 which was not acid. 3dly, An organic acid soluble in water. 

 4thly, A yellow colouring principle. 5thly, A brown azotized 

 matter. 



A portion of the yellow colouring principle and of the azo- 

 tized matter is certainly combined with alumina and peroxide 

 of iron. It is probable that another portion of the organic mat- 

 ters is united with the subphosphates and the subcai'bonates 

 of lime and magnesia; it is also probable that in this latter 

 part, there is proportionally more azotized matter than in the 

 former. 



There is more organic and pulverulent matter in the spe- 

 cimen taken from a depth of six feet, than in that from a depth 

 of only two feet. 



II. There is in the soil some chloride of potassium and am- 

 moniaco-sulphate of potash. Consequently the chloride of 

 jiotassium and the sulphate of potash arising from the decom- 

 position of the ammoniaco-sulphale of potash by heat, which 

 could not be collected in the process adopted in the analysis 

 of the incinerated soil, nmst augment the loss occurring in the 

 analysis. 



III. The proportions of sulphate of lime indicated in 

 the ashes of the soil, are not so great as those which really 

 exist in it; because, during the calcination, a portion of sul- 

 phuric acid is decomposed. 



IV. It is probable that a })ortion of phosphate of magnesia 

 is combined willi phosphate of ammonia. 



MINi:UAI, SI'lUNGS OF TIIK CAUCASUS. 



The following analyses of the springs of Alexander, near 

 Kislavrulskii, in the Caucasus, are given by Dr. Lyall in his 

 interesting Travels in Russia, the Caucasus, &c. lately published ; 

 frym a work respecting them bv Dr. Haas, of Moscow. 



Q 4 2 In 



