398 



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 Aualyist, of Melbourne, and 

 myself respectively : — 



Dixon. Newberry. Skey. 



n.t!XUStiIlfc! 



Intermediate oils 







31 



Heavy oils . . 



. . 35-0 



73 





Parafl&n 



.. 30-0, 





9-3 



Carbon . . 



.. 7-7 



— 



— 



Earthy matters 



• • — 



24 



26-9 



Water . . 



.. — 



3 



11-3 



Mineral 



— 



— 



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 w^hich is fundamentally different to either oil or paraffin, and also 

 is of far less monetary value. 



Assuming that the trial tests of this analyst have given results approxi- 

 mately correct, the analysis, when completed, will, he considers, give 63 per 

 cent, of paraffin, as against 9-3 per cent, by myself, and 30 per cent, by 

 Mr. Dixon. Mr. Newberry values the article at £28 per ton, after being 

 cleansed ; an estimate which is, I dare say, about right for this percentage 

 of paraffin. 



