128 C. Keferstein on White Copper. 



to de Guignes, it consists of iron, lead, and bismuth, without 

 containing either copper or zinc. 



The real white copper is only used in China itself, and its 

 exportation is contraband. Dr. Howison of Lanarkshire was 

 so fortunate, when in China, as to procure a basin and ewer of 

 this metal, a part of which he sent to Dr. Fyfe in Edinburgh, 

 who analysed it, and published an account of it in The Edin- 

 burgh Philosophical Journal for July 1822. 



The basin is of a whitish colour, approaching to that of 

 silver, and is very sonorous. When held in one hand, and 

 struck with the fingers of the other, the sound is distinctly 

 heard at the distance of an English mile. It is also highly 

 polished, and does not seem to be easily tarnished. 



The metal is malleable both when cold and when red hot, 

 but in a white heat it becomes brittle. By great caution it was 

 rolled into thin plates, and was drawn into fine wire. When 

 fused in contact with the atmospheric air, it oxidated, and 

 burned with a whitish flame like zinc : its specific gravity was 

 = 8-432. 



The analysis gave, in 100 parts, 



Copper 40*4 



Nickel 31-6 



Zinc 25-4 



Iron 2-6 



100 

 This result agrees, as to the ingredients, with Engestrcem's 

 analysis ; he says, in the Stockholm Transactions, " that the 

 Chinese white copper or pakfong consists of copper, nickel 

 and zinc, in the proportions of 5 : 7 : 7." This pakfong 

 bears a considerable price in China, since the above-men- 

 tioned basin cost about \ of its weight in silver. The me- 

 thod by which it is prepared is unknown ; but Dr. Howison 

 mentions that Dr. Dinwiddie, who accompanied Lord Ma- 

 cartney to' China, showed him, when at Calcutta, specimens 

 of the ore from which he was told the white copper was pro- 

 cured, and which he obtained at Pekin. The dear price of 

 this metallic combination renders probable this method of 

 obtaining it. 



An ore was lately found, also, containing only nickel and 

 antimony, which could be employed in this country. {Annates 

 deChim. t. xx. p. 421.) 



It results from the above considerations, that the white 

 copper of Suhl, and the Chinese pakfong, are similar alloys, 

 which consist principally of copper and nickel, and that this 



alloy? 



