J. W. Mallet on the Separation of Lithia and Magnesia. 427 
I. (6) II. (3) 
Teroxyd of bismuth, 64-24 contains 6°65 1-45, contains 
Cibeicada h, on contains phd oxygen, "oa cont a oxygen. 
Water, 235 “. 09 « 2°79 48.0" 
The atomic ratio of BiOs : COz : HO is therefore: 
in analysisI, | 222 : 1:83 : 2:85 
in analysis 1, 212 : 1:86; 2-48 
The first analysis corresponds nearly with the formula: 
9(BiOs, COz)+2(BiOs, HO)+10H0, 
the second with: 
6(BiOs, COz) + BiO:, HO + 7HO. 
These analyses, like the one made by Prof. Rammelsberg, 
prove, (and that is all, I think, which can be expected from the 
€xamination of so impure a mineral,) that the Bismuthite from 
Chesterfield District is a basic carbonate of bismuth with water. 
_ A new locality of bismuthite is in Gaston county, N.C., where 
it has been discovered by Dr. Asbury of Charlotte, N. C., to 
whom I am indebted for specimens of it. It occurs there asso- 
ciated with native gold in yellowish-white concretions, which are 
usually pulverulent, but sometimes show a crystalline structure. 
In the matrass it yields water, becoming yellow, and on higher 
heating fuses easily into a brown mass, which assumes a straw- 
yellow color on cooling. Upon charcoal it is easily reduced into 
metallic bismuth, whilst the charcoal is covered with yellow in- 
crustations, having a white margin ; for a moment the character- 
istic bluish green flame of tellurium may b bservec a 
Dissolves easily in chlorhydric and nitric acids with 
cence of carbonic acid. The solution gives the reactions of ter- 
oxyd of bismuth. . we: a 
hope to be able to procure more of it in order to maké a com- 
—_ examination which will be of interest, as the material can 
e obtained in the state of great purity and would assist in oe 
the doubts still remaining as to the composition of bismuthite. 
Philadelphia, March 14, 1857. 
SEL) Separation of Lithia and Magnesia; by 
ree On ae Ph.D. | 
In #] iption of methods for the separation of magnesia 
ih he eg wre we find in the standard works on analyt- 
