TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION B. 



311 



The lower veins or fissures were also calcite-lined, and contained within this 

 coating the bituminous matter. 



Besides the nodule found at Kinghorn-ness, another nodule of a similar 

 character was obtained on the Island of Inchkeitk, embedded in solid trap, ten feet 

 from the surface, and a small spring of water on that island smells and tastes dis- 

 tinctly of paraffin products. 



The Kinghorn-ness nodule has a distinct hituminous odour, is a lustrous black, 

 amorphous, soft solid, easily cut with the nail and pliable between the fingers. 

 The specific gravity is 970 (water 1,000), so that the nodule floats upon water. 

 It fuses at 176° F., and becomes solid on cooling. Experiments with the various 

 solvents upon the bituminous material showed that water and ordinary acids had 

 practically no action whatever. Alcohol, both hot and cold, had a very slight 

 solvent power, but ether dissolved a considerable proportion, giving a brown solu- 

 tion, and turpentine readily acted upon the substance, yielding a deep brown-black 

 solution. The ethereal liquid had a fine iridescent green colour when viewed by 

 reflected light. The substance of the nodule readily burns when lighted, giving a 

 strongly luminous flame. 



The analysis of the contents of the nodule gave as follows : — 



Volatile organic matter 

 Ash or mineral matter 



Per cent. 



99-38 



0-61 



Volatile gaseous matter given off below 212° F. 



99-99 

 5961 



When distilled at a bright cherry-red heat, 26*57 grains being used, the results 

 gave : — 



Volatile matter 



„ , lrvfl , • f Fixed carbon 



Coke 10-64 grains | Agh (mineral matter) 



These results, calculated to the percentage, give : — 



Volatile matter 



n i in/wi f Fixed carbon 



Coke 40-041 per cent. | Agh ^^^ ^^ 



Grains 



15-93 



10-48 



016 



26-57 



Per cent. 



59-955 



39-431 



0-610 



99-996 



The coke left behind after this treatment was a hard, black, shining, porous 

 mass, and the ash obtained by incinerating it was pure white, and principally con- 

 sisted of calcic carbonate (OaC0 3 ) and sibca (Si0 2 ). 



The material was afterwards submitted to destructive distillation at a black-red 

 heat, when the substance was found to split up into six distinct parts — four dis- 



