754 Transactions of the American Institute. 



Stassfurtite. It is found below the carnallite and only at one 

 locality. 



The extent of the great mass of carnallite, which is of a flesh-red 

 color, has been proved by exploration to be equal to 6,000,000 tons of 

 chloride of potassium. 



It is quite remarkable that the salts found below the proper salt 

 stratum are mostly hydrated, while the salt and anhydrite are anhy- 

 drous. The salt-beds in a large body cover the surface, and on passing 

 downward we meet with the different strata in the following order : 

 Kainite, carnallite, sylvite, kieserite, polyhalite anhydrite with rock- 

 salt. 



These deposits have been found also in shafts sunk at Anhalt, half 

 a mile distant from Stassfurt. 



Caustic potash and carbonate of potash are produced extensively 

 from the chloride. 



There are five products prepared for the trade from these saline 

 materials. 1. Chloride of potassium. 2. Sulphate of potash. 3. 

 Carbonate of potash. 4. Sulphate of soda. 5. Potash compounds 

 to be used as manures. To these must be added bromine and 

 bromides. 



The carnallite, which is the main substance yielding the chloride of 

 potassium, is treated in the following manner : The crude mass con- 

 tains sixteen per cent of the latter salt. By treating it in a limited 

 quantity of water a hot solution is formed, containing the chloride of 

 potassium, and leaving the common salt undissolved. This, on cool- 

 ing, will deposit the crystals of the chloride of eighty to ninety per 

 cent, like the present specimen, brought into our market. The mother- 

 water is now concentrated and treated with ether, which dissolves 

 the bromine. By adding caustic potash to this ethereal solution, 

 the color at once disappears. On evaporation, the bromide thus 

 obtained is decomposed by sulphuric acid and peroxide of manganese, 

 and the pure bromine is distilled over of specific gravity 2.966. The 

 bromine and bromides of potassium and sodium have likewise proved 

 a great source of revenue ; and yet, since the manufacture at Stassfurt 

 began, the price of these articles has been reduced to a quarter of its 

 former amount. 



The origin of the Stassfurt deposits is yet a great mystery. The 

 grounds for believing that sea-water was the prime cause, and that this 

 locality was, in former ages, an estuary of the sea, are not very valid. 

 Nor does it seem likely that salt water has been produced from saline 

 efflorescences, through which the concentrated waters were gradually 



