15s <;kological report. [1256, 257, 258 



may be taken as indicative of the extent to which the sulphureous mineral exists 

 in the mass. In burning: the sulphur is driven off, while iron remains behind 

 in that condition (peroxide) in which it exists in red ochre or in Venitian Bed. 

 If the ash is white, yellowish- white, greenish, or gray (as is the case in most of 

 the lignites of Mississippi which I have tested in this respect), or only slightly 

 reddish, it may be taken as a proof that there is not enough of ihe mineral to 

 injure tbo quality of the fuel, either as to solidity or for other purposes to which 

 it is applicable. 



256. I ought to mention, in connection with this subject, a simple method by 

 which Iron Pyrites, or sulphurct of iron, can always be distinguished from any 

 of the metallic ores for which it is so frequently mistaken. A most all the tales, 

 of mines or minerals discovered in this State, have started from the discovery 

 of lumps of this mineral, which most frequently occurs within the lignitic 

 formations of North Mississippi, loth tertiary and cretaceous. The trial usu- 

 ally given it by persons in the country, is melting it down in an iron spoon in 

 a blacksmith's forge — adding to it as "fluxes,'' not unfrequently, substances 

 which, like blue and white vitriol, sugar of lead, etc., themselves contain other 

 metals; these, uniting with the sulphuret of iron, form metallic looking lumps 

 when melted down in the high heat of a forge. Even the pyrites by itself, 

 however, when melted in this way, will produce a regulus, which is variously 

 claimed as being zinc, brass, tin, silver, etc., according to the fancy of the discov- 

 erer. The high heat used in this process, or the addition of fluxes of any kind, 

 or both, serve only as hindrances in arriving at any definite result ; but by 

 attending strictly to the following directions, a certain, and in this State, an 

 unvarying result w r ill be obtained with all the deceptive yellow, metallic-look- 

 ing ores found in our formations : 



257. Let the mineral be powdered, under a hammer or in a mortar, as fine as 

 may be — at least as fine as rifle powder, but finer whenever possible. Then let 

 & small quantity of this powder — not more than three or four thimblefuls — be 

 spread thinly on a clean iron shovel, and heat the shovel to redness — but by no 

 means higher, in an open fire, without bellows or fan. The mineral will turn black, 

 and then inflame and burn with a blue, sulphur ilame, the odor of whose fumes 

 will be readily recognized. Let the flame burn off quietly, without raising the 

 fire; when it has nearly or entirely gone — after the lapse of twenty minutes or 

 half an hour — stir the powder about on the shovel with a stick ; crush it if it 

 has baked together (which it will do if the heat has been too high at first), for 

 which purpose the shovel may at any time be removed from the lire, without 

 in any manner endangering the result. The powder having been again spread 

 on the shovel after stirring, joast it for a while as before, until every tiace of 

 flame is gone. The Stirling and roasting may then be repeated, and the heat 

 raised to a full red — though this generally will not be necessary ; for if, after the 

 second roasting, the shovel be lempved ft om the fire, the powder Willi 

 appear black, but on cooling will tuin ted — the shade varying a little according 

 to the purity of the mineral and the heat employed, 1 ut always between that of 

 a hat d- burnt brick and Venitian Red; if the mineral has not been finely pow- 

 dered, the tint may be made plainer by crushing the grains with a hammer; and 

 if the roasting has been imperfect, the interior port on of such grains may still 

 be black or biown ; but if roasted again, will also tuin red. 



'1 he red powder is simply red ochre ; it contains no metal but iion, which, in 

 the natural mineral, was combined with sulphur. 



258. There is another, but somewhat slower process, by which pyrites may 

 readily be recognised by any one. Powder the mineral as before, put the pow- 

 der on a plate, n.oisten it all over with water, and keep it moist for a few 

 days, in a moderately warm place — say on the mantel. The powder will very 

 scon taste of copperas, which may also be seen on the sides of the plate ; and a 

 piece of tan-bark (Black Oak or Black Jack is best) will rapidly tuin blue and 

 black, when laid on the powder well wetted. 



