216 Rocks and Minerals of Westfield. 
clear solution was decanted off, and paper dipped in it, in- 
flamed without perceptible redness. 
Supposing the quantity taken, too small, the experiment 
was repeated with fifty grains of the mineral, and more than 
its weight of potash. ‘The dry mass obtained, as in the last, 
was treated with alcohol in a similar way. Papers dipped in 
the solution and inflamed, presented nothing different from 
what was observed in the last experiments. 
Part of the alcohol was distilled offand the remainder eva- 
porated to dryness, and re-dissolved in the alcohol that had 
been separated by distillation, shaken, and suffered to stand 
twenty-four hours. Papers were prepared, some of which 
were dipped in the solution, and others in alcohol; they both 
burned alike when inflamed. To discover what the alcohol 
had taken up, the alcoholic solution was evaporated to dry- 
ness and left exposed to the air. In a few hours it was damp ; 
a little distilled water was then added, and tests applied, with 
the following results. 
The carbonated alcalies, pure ammonia, and oxalate of am- 
monia threw down precipitates. 
The portion to which carbonate of ammonia had been add- 
ed, was filtered, and phosphate of soda applied; the result 
was a copious precipitate. 
These trials of course, indicate both lime and magnesia. 
Recollecting that Black mentions the circumstance of mu- 
riate of lime, dissolved in alcohol, burning with a red flame, 
I formed some of that salt, and put alcohol over it; shook it 
and set it on fire. The flame was distinctly red. ‘The salts 
of strontia, dissolved in alcohol, and inflamed, exhibiting the 
‘same appearance, inclines me to regard this test of lithia, as 
somewhat ambiguous. 
It is easy to see that the lime obtained from the mineral, 
according to the trials with tests, must have escaped detec- 
tion, by burning the alcoholic solution of its muriate. This 
may possibly have arisen from using too large a proportion of 
alcohol ; and in this way lithia may have escaped detection 
also 
The silex from the 50 grains weighed, after ignition, 36 
grains—not far from the proportion in which it exists in the 
Petalite. 
By the continued heat of the blow-pipe, I was able to fuse 
a small portion of the mineral] held by platina pliers. 
