344 



QnCKSILVKi; DEPOSITS OF TUE PACIFIC SLOPE. 



is luaiiitestly of variable composition. The t'ollowiiio- fio-ui-e.s g-ive the 

 results: 



Weight of aiimple .. 



Gold 



Silver .. 



Mercuric sulpbide 



I.e.itl sulphide 



Cujtric sulphide 



Antimunious and .irsenious Rulphidea. 

 Ferrie oxide 



Grants. 

 1, 021. 0000 

 0. 0009 

 0. 0003 

 O.OOU 

 0.0899 

 0.00C4 



Omina. 



3, 403. 0000 

 0. 0034 

 0. 0012 

 0. 0070 

 0. 0720 

 0. 0424 

 7S. 0308 

 3.5924 



Specimen III was taken from a crevice at some points of which hot 

 water ami gas still escape, but from a portion of the fissure no longer 

 active. Qualitative examination showed the presence of mercury, gold, lead, 

 copi)er, antimony, arsenic, iron, aluminium, manganese, traces of nickel, 

 lime, traces of strontium, magnesiuni, sodium, jjotassium, lithium, cfesium, 

 rubidium, free silica, and free sulphur. The bases were combined as sili- 

 cates, carbonates, sulpliates, sulphides, chlorides, borates, and phosphates, tlie 

 last in small quantities. The color of tlie material showed that the greater 

 part of the arsenic and antimony was in the form of sulphide. Special 

 determinations of the mercury were made with portions of this deposit 

 After drying and pulverizing, the carbonates were extracted with dilute 

 chlorhydric acid and the heavy metals were dissolved in aqua regia The 

 jirecipitate given by sulphureted hydrogen was leached with cold, yellow 

 ammonium sulphide and the residual sulphides were weighed. A portion 

 of this residue, heated in a closed tube with sodium carbonate and pure 

 iron powder, gave a sublimate of metallic mercury. This sublimate was 

 tested by uniting the globules to larger ones, by amalgamating gold, and 

 by conversion into mercuric iodide in a closed tube. From another por- 

 tion mercnrous chloride and gold were precipitated by phosphorous acid. 

 The gold produced the characteristic tint and a button of metallic gold in 

 a pure state was finally extracted. Another portion of specimen III, ex- 

 amined quantitatively, gave the following result: 



Oramt. 



Weight t.iken a,6X..0000 



Mercuric siilpliiile fotiDtl 0.0034 



Sulpbiiles of iirsonic ami nutiiuouy 4. 2725 



