Chlorine as a Solvent of Gold. 51 



five parts of peroxide of manganese, and ninety-five parts of 

 silicic acid, will yield somewhat more than fifty parts of 

 chlorine. Now those fifty parts of chlorine are capable of 

 dissolving about ninety parts of gold. 



In the western district of Victoria, and chiefly in the 

 plains between Colac and Mount Mercer, and at a distance 

 of between thirty and forty miles from Ballarat, and near 

 the road from Geelong to Mount Ararat diggings, are several 

 very large salt-pans, which in an ordinarily warm summer 

 become quite dry, and in even a damp one become suffici- 

 ently evaporated to yield with little or no trouble thousands 

 of tons of salt, which, however, is not much liked for ordi- 

 nary purposes, because of a somewhat bitter taste, derived 

 from the presence of a small quantity of chloride of mag- 

 nesium. This, however, would not matter in the production 

 of chlorine. I believe these salt-pans may be found in 

 other districts also, where they might be easily turned to 

 account. 



The value of peroxide of manganese has of late years risen 

 very high — its present price in England being near two pence 

 per pound. It has been stated, however, on good authority, 

 that this substance is very abundant in New Zealand, and 

 should there be a demand for it in this country, it could be 

 obtained there in any quantity, and at a very low price — 

 say £5 or £6 a ton. 



When I last met Dr. Otway, of Steiglitz, that enterprizing 

 and intelligent gentleman assured me that per-oxide of 

 manganese is found in considerable quantity at Steiglitz. It 

 occurs in veins several inches thick, running parallel to, and 

 frequently in immediate contact with auriferous quartz. 

 Count Dembinski examined spots there known as Yankee 

 Reef and Boxing Reef, and assured me that the auriferous 

 quartz- vein was literally imbedded in a vein of per-oxide of 

 manganese. He brought about a pound weight of the stuff, 

 which we analyzed together. 



Now putting all things at the worst, and supposing 

 that it cost us here £30 per ton, and supposing also the 

 price of salt to be £8 per ton, and one ton of coal, or fuel 

 equal to it, to be £12, even then the production of those fifty 

 pounds weight of chlorine gas, which are capable of dissolving 

 about ninety weight of gold would cost at the very outside 

 fifty shillings, including fuel and wear and tear of machinery. 

 Probably the cost price would not be so great. 



Now, for safety sake, I propose to use the chlorine in quan- 



