\96 



MR hatchett's observations 



ANALYSIS OF THE BITUMEN FROM BOVEY. 



Analyfis of the A. 100 grains, reduced to a fine powder, were digefted 

 bitumen from during 48 hours with fix ounces of alcohol, the vefTel being 

 placed in fand moderately warmed. A deep reddifli-brown 

 tincture was thus obtained ; and the operation was again twice 

 repeated, with other portions of the fame menftruum, until it 

 ceafed to acl; upon the refiduum. 



The whole of the ipirituous folution (which had been cau- 

 tioufly decanted) was then fubjecled to a very gradual diftilla- 

 tion in an alembic, and yielded a brown fragant refin, which 

 weighed 55 grains. 



B. The refiduum. which could not be diflblved by alcohol, 

 wasdigefted in boiling diftilled water, but this did not acl upon 

 it ; the whole was therefore collected on a filter, was gradually 

 dried, without heat, by mere expofure to the air, and then 

 weighed 44 grains. 



Thefe 44 grains confided of a light, porous, pale-brown fub- 

 ftance, which, being melted, formed a black, fhining, brittle 

 mafs. It burned with the odour of afphaltum, but rather lefs 

 difagreeable, owing moll probably to a fmall portion of the 

 refin, which had not been completely extracted by the alcohol. 

 It was infoluble in water, and in alcohol, but was readily 

 diflblved by heated fat oils; and in every other particular was 

 found to poflefs the properties of afphaltum. 



The 44 grains of afphaltum, when burned, left a refiduum, 

 which weighed three grains, and confifted of alumina, filica, 

 and iron. 



By this analyfis it appears, that the bitumen which accom- 

 panies the Bovey coal, is a peculiar and hitherto unknown 

 fubfiance, which is partly in the ftate of vegetable refin, and 

 partly in that of the bitumen called afphaltum, the refin 

 Its component being in the largell proportion, as 100 grains of the above- 

 P arts - mentioned fubfiance afforded, 



Refin ' - - - • - 55 

 Afphaltum - - - - 41 



Earthy refiduum - 3 



s . 99. 



Thus we have an infiance of a fubfiance being found under 

 circumstances which conftitute a foflil, although the characters 

 of it appertain partly to the vegetable, and partly to the mineral 

 kingdom. 



§ VI. 



