272 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION B. 



ignited to exj3el ammonium salts. The residue was taken 

 up in a small amount of water, chloroplatinic acid was 

 added in sufficient quantity to give a coloured solution 

 with alcohol and ether, with which- the precipitate was 

 exhausted. 



The residue was then washed by decantation with small 

 quantities of cold water till there was only a small platinum 

 precipitate left, which was then dried and ignited in a 

 porcelain crucible. This, taken up with a drop of dilute 

 hydrochloric acid and tested spectroscopically, gave the lines 

 of potassium, sodium, and lithium. The alcohol and ether 

 extract was evaporated to dryness in a porcelain crucible, 

 ignited to decompose the platinic chloride as above, and with 

 the spectroscope gave the lithium line strongly. The 

 aqueous extract v/as also found to contain lithium. In no 

 case Avas there any indication given of the presence of 

 rubidium or csesiura. 



8.— THE JARVISFIELD MINERAL WATER, PICTON, 

 NEW SOUTH WALES. 



By ALBERT J. SACK, F.C.S. 



The town of Picton, New South Wales, was formerly 

 known by the name Stone Quarry. It is situated in S. lat. 

 34° 10', and E. long. 150° 44', and is distant by rail 53 

 miles south-west from Sydney, on the Main Southern Road. 

 The town contains a population of about 1000, and lies in a 

 valley bordered by fertile hills, and is 500 feet above sea level. 

 The land in the district is rich, and supports a large agri- 

 cultural and dairy farming population. 



The springs are situated on the old mihtary gj-ant (1822) 

 of Jarvisfield, made to the late Major Antill, of H.M. 73rd 

 Regiment. The land has continued in the ownership of the 

 same family, and is now the property of John Macquarie 

 Antill, Esq. The springs are about one mile from the 

 Picton Railway Station, but are only 200 yards from the 

 railway line. 



The geology of Picton and neighbourhood may be 

 described as consisting of alternations of Wianamatta shales 

 and Hawkesbury sandstones, both of which are of Triassic 

 age. The former constitute the agricultural surface and 

 appear as ridge, hill, plain, or valley, as a consequence of 



