898 Transactions.—Chemistry. 
sample on examination proved to be very similar to the one already des- 
cribed, consequently made up in principal part of oxygenated hydrocarbons, 
and therefore a substance far removed from solid paraffin, and so very 
inferior in value to this mineral. But as I have said, professional opinion 
differs, and differs greatly in regard to these points. No doubt what have 
been taken for fair samples of it have differed somewhat in character, 
but still, as I conceive, hardly so much as to allow us to explain this 
divergence in the way indicated. It appears to me that this divergence of 
opinion is in greater part to be properly ascribed to the various methods of 
analysis employed in testing it. 
The annexed table clearly shows the very great divergence there is in 
the results obtained by Mr. Dixon, of the Technical College Laboratory, at 
Sydney, Mr. Cosmo Newberry, Government Analyist, of Melbourne, and 
myself respectively :— 
Dixon. Newberry. Skey. 
Kerosene i Be sa AES cee 
Intermediate oils =... oat ee 31 
Heavy oils... Be <., “oo 73 
Paraffin re pe -- 80-0 9°3 
Carbon .. ae ik Saeed sa | — 
Earthy matters a .-_ = 24 26-9 
a: eee 3 113 
Mineral os ne a pier 49-4 
100-0 100°0 100-0 
These results are certainly very discordant. It should be remarked, 
however, that Mr. Dixon’s result could be got upon the sample I examined 
by washing out the earthy matter, drying the residue, and submitting it to 
a distillation which, towards the end, is destructive. 
Mr. Newberry’s results agree with mine pretty nearly as regards the 
earthy matter, but not, as you will observe, in respect to the water, while he 
has no representative of the 49-4 per cent. of carbonaceous matter which I 
find, and which is fundamentally different to either oil or paraffin, and also 
is of far less monetary value. 
Assuming that the trial oe of this analyst have given results approst- 
mately correct, the analysis, when completed, will, he considers, give 63 per 
cent. of paraffin, as against 9-3 per cent. by myself, and 80 per cent. by 
Mr. Dixon. Mr. Newberry values the article at £28 per ton, after being 
- ofp 
cleansed ; an estimate which is, 1 sey ee for ar rege So 
SIT En ee nes TS ea ae ve ee ee eet 
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