Davis.] 106 [April 6, 
presence of its due equivalent of CIH, the deposition of the gold on the 
sarbon, while the copper will be found in the solution, That the action 
of carbon in effecting such changes is not evanescent has been shown, but 
may be repeated in brief : 
A filter containing one hundred and sixty pounds of charcoal in the ope- 
rations of the mill, after a continuous flow of chlorine solution for ten 
days, and passing sixteen thousand gallons (representing eighty tons of 
ore) was still effective in producing the above results. Some few writers in 
their hasty experiments failed in getting satisfactory results and dismissed. 
the subject as ‘“‘the wild dream of a mad inventor.’’ 
The following formula is offered as explanatory of the reactions attend- 
ing the deposition of gold from its solution by charcoal : 
AA 2 Au free, 
mW BuO, + 
O18. 
83 Carbon... UO ie at 
TH? 6 Cl1H 
Loh: ae ae 
08 : bra poniidermuite Oo OOF 
Chemistry teaches that ‘‘Chlorine has a powerful affinity for hydrogen, 
and when brought in contact with other bodies, in the presence of water, 
will decompose the water by combining with the hydrogen forming C1H 
and liberating oxygen. Thus, substances are frequently oxidized by 
chlorine to a higher degree than by nitric acid. Kane teaches that 
“‘Selenious acid (SeO*) and chlorine in the presence of water is con- 
verted into selenic acid (SeO*) and hydrochloric acid (C1H). 
SeO? + Cl + HO = Se0? + CIH.” 
Reasoning from analogy, we may explain the reactions in the deposition 
of gold: by substituting carbon for selenious acid in this formula; in 
which case the carbon is oxidized at the expense of the water, the hydro- 
gen uniting with the chlorine to form ClH. 
That such are the reactions may be assumed, a priord, as all the ele- 
ments involved are satisfied according to their equivalent affinities, and 
form definite compounds, leaving the gold free ; and it follows, that the 
deposition of the gold is occasioned by the conversion of the chlorine 
(which is a solvent of the metal) into chlorohydric acid (in which gold is 
insoluble), and it is in nowise owing to an attraction or affinity of carbon 
for gold. i ’ 
As copper is soluble in muriatic acid it is not affected by the change in 
