24(3 MINERAL STATISTICS 



No. 57,390. Bark of -white oak, 2 Ibs. ; alkanet root, 2 Ibs. ; salt, 2 Ibs. ; alcohol, 

 .V litre ; cyanide of potassium, 30 grammes ; to be added to 3 gallons of naphtha. 



No. 57,749. Naphtha, 40 gallons ; carbonate of soda, 3 Ibs. ; alum, 2 Ibs. ; hydrate 

 of lime, 2 Ibs. ; red ash, 2 Ibs. ; camphor, Ib. ; oil of saffron, 1 2 grammes ; essence 

 of tar, 30 grammes. 



No. 58,r80. Naphtha, 40 gallons ; potatoes, 50 Ibs. ; lime, 4 Ibs. ; salt of soda, 4 Ibs. ; 

 turmeric, 3 Ibs. 



No. 58,905. Gazoline, 40 gallons ; salt of soda, 1 Ib. ; cream of tartar, 1 Ib. If the 

 oil of Gautheria jyrocumbens is added the offensive odour of the mixture is said to be 

 quite overcome. 



No. 59,797. Gazoline, 40 gallons ; sulphur, 5 Ibs. ; rust of iron, 1 00 Ibs. ; onions, 1 

 bushel ; resin, 5 Ibs. 



No. 60,559. Naphtha, 40 Ibs. ; caustic soda, 1 Ib. ; alum, 1 Ib. ; salt 1 Ib. ; manga- 

 nese, 30 grammes ; water, 120 grammes. 



None of these additions can have any effect, save to disguise the colour or smell of 

 the oils, and to diminish their utility, when burnt in a lamp, by clogging up the wick. 

 They cannot in the least obviate their explosive nature. This will be at once apparent, 

 if we reflect that it is not the oil itself which explodes, but merely its vapour, when 

 mixed with a certain proportion of oxygen or of common air. Hence an oil is called 

 explosive when it gives off vapour at low temperatures. That any addition can 

 prevent this escape of vapour without occasioning a complete decomposition of the oil 

 is impossible. 



These dangerous and deceptive oils are palmed off upon dealers and consumers by a 

 very ingenious stratagem. It is not generally known that the vapour of a volatile oil 

 or other hydro-carbon requires to be mixed with a very" considerable proportion of air 

 to form an explosive mixture. Eight or nine measures of air to one of the vapour is 

 the most explosive proportion, while a mixture of equal parts burns quietly without 

 any explosion at all. In fact, to produce at will the most explosive mixture requires 

 both dexterity and experience, while it is very easy to avoid its generation entirely. 

 When it is desired to prove the complete safety of a dangerous oil, its vapour is 

 allowed to mix with a very little air ; a lighted match is then thrust in, and as no 

 explosion follows, the oil is recognised as non-explosive, and used as safe till some 

 serious accident makes its insecurity manifest and puts an end to its sale in the 

 district. 



Many of the substances added in the above-mentioned patents subside to the bottom 

 of the cask with as little effect as a handful of pebbles or small shot. 

 MrarSRAXi PURPLE. Purple of Cassius which see. 

 WHKTESAI. STATISTICS of the United Kingdom. 



Within our limited space, an attempt will be made to show the value of oui 

 mineral prodxice and to some extent of our metallurgical operations. 



Mr. Carne has given a table in the ' Transactions of the Geological Society of Corn- 

 wall,' of the production of tin in Cornwall from 1750 to 1837. We adopt this table 

 from 1800 to 1837, after which, until 1848, no exact return could be obtained. From 

 1848 the progress of tin mining to 1859 is given as a continuation of the same table. 

 Prom 1860 to 1873 the production of tin ore and metallic tin is given in a separate 

 table. 



The following is a complete statement of the produce of the mines and collieries of 

 the United Kingdom in 1873 : 



Quantities Value 



Minerals Tons C\vts. 



Coal 127,080,385 47,689,144 



Iron Ore 15,577,449 7,573,676 



Copper Ore 80,188 10 342,708 



Tin Ore 14,884 17 1,056,835 



Zinc Ore 15,969 61,166 



Lead Ore 73,400 10 1,130,367 



Iron Pyrites 58,924 3 35,485 



Manganese ....:. 8,671 6 57,766 



Salt 1,780,000 890,000 



Barytes 10,269 11 7,993 



Metals obtained from these Ores. 



Pig Iron Tons 6,545,451 17,999,989 



Tin , 9,972 1,329,766 



Copper 5,240 502,822 



Lead , 56,035 1,305,622 



Silver Ounces 537,707 134,427 



Zinc Tons 4,471 120,999 



