Chemical Examination of Bituminous Coal. 



371 



Three specimens, Nos. 6, 7, and 8, (taken as heretofore,) of 50 

 grains each, were coked in close covered platina crucibles over an 

 alcoholic lamp, and then removed to and ignited in a draft fur- 

 nace at a white heat. The coke from all these was jet black, 

 shining, porous, and soft. 



The carbon being burned oJEf in a platina capsule, the results 

 were as follows, reduced to centesimal proportions. 



The average of both series is given below. 



Two specimens of 100 grains each, were heated in fine pow- 

 der to 300°, and sustained a loss of 1.9 grains, and 2.1 grains; 

 average loss 2 per cent. ; this was moisture, which is of course 

 included in the per centage of "volatile matter." 



No bitumen or liquid matter was distilled over in the coking 

 of No. 1. 



The ashes in every case were very light, and of a clear gray- 

 ish white, indicating no pyrites or peroxide of iron, and were in 

 no degree attracted by the magnet. 



The ashes of No. 7, being 3.6 grains, were treated with dilute 

 nitric acid ; 2.4 grains were insoluble residuum, chiefly silica ; and 

 the soluble matter was lime and alumina, slightly colored by oxide 

 of iron and manganese. 



The analysis of the coal, shows in the general average, (which 

 may be regarded as approaching nearly to practical results, where 

 the coal is employed in the large way,) proportions of solid carbon 

 and volatile matters, which render it well adapted to the most 

 important purposes in the arts, and probably, with a low and well 

 managed heat, to the production of gas for illumination. Its 



