1 8 Dr. J. W. Webster's Examination 



The specific gravity was remarkably low, being but 2*05 *. 



Before the blow-pipe it exhaled a sulphureous odour, but 

 was not fused. 



The specimen was reduced to powder and submitted to the 

 action of a magnet of considerable power, but no attractable 

 particles were separated. A portion was heated to redness 

 on a platina spoon ; it emitted the sulphureous odour, and its 

 weight was diminished rather more than 21 per cent.; the re- 

 sidue acquired a brown colour; it was again presented to the 

 magnet, but nothing was attracted. 



(1.) One hundred grains of the stone were introduced into 

 a tubulated retort with dilute muriatic acid ; the beak of the 

 retort was plunged into a solution of acetate of lead, slightly 

 acid, and contained in a small tubulated receiver. A mo- 

 derate degree of heat was applied, and the digestion continued 

 for twelve hours. A slight quantity of sulphuret of lead was 

 formed, but not sufficient to admit of being collected and 

 weighed. 



All action upon the powder having ceased, the fluid was 

 turbid, apparently holding a substance which I imagined to 

 be the sulphur in suspension ; at the bottom was an undis- 

 solved residuum. 



(2.) The fluid was carefully separated and filtered ; the sub- 

 stance remaining upon the filter was washed with distilled 

 water, and thoroughly dried ; it proved to be sulphur, and 

 weighed 18 - 3 grains. 



(3.) The insoluble residuum was mixed with pure potash, 

 and exposed in a silver crucible to heat sufficient to cause the 

 fusion of any siliceous earth. The crucible being placed in 

 an evaporating dish, hot distilled water was poured upon it 

 until the contents were completely removed. The resulting 

 fluid was treated in the usual manner with muriatic acid, 

 with the addition of the acid which had been digested upon 

 the stone in the first instance. The quantity of silex obtained 

 after calcination amounted to 29*5 grains. 



(+.) The solution, the bulk of which had been considerably 

 augmented by the addition of the water with which the pre- 

 cipitate (3) had been washed, was carefully evaporated to 

 rather less than a pint. Carbonate of potash was added until 

 it ceased to produce any precipitate ; the whole was mode- 

 rately boiled. When the precipitate had completely subsided, 

 the supernatant liquor was decanted, and distilled water sub- 

 stituted. The precipitate was collected and boiled with pure 

 potash ; the liquor after filtration was treated with muriatic 



* The lowest specific gravity of any meteorolite on record, is that of the 

 St. Etienne specimen, which is but T-94. 



acid 



