372 C. A. Goessmann on the Onondaga Mineral Springs. 
stances where the gypsum and carbonate of magnesia exceed 
the chlorid of sodium, or under the influence of a certain higher 
degree of temperature, the product will be sulphate of soda, 
chlorid of magnesium, carbonate of lime, and sulphate of mag- 
nesia. The essential difference between the brine and the spring wa- 
ters consists, as has been noticed, in the fact that the former contains 
_ chlorid of culeium instead of carbonate of lime contained in the lat- 
ter. The presence of chlorid of calcium in the brines practically 
excludes all sulphates, except sulphate of lime. A sufficient 
amount of carbonate of magnesia, added to the Onondaga brine, 
displaced quite readily the chlorid of calcium, by forming chlorid 
of magnesium and carbonate of lime; and would have displaced, 
finally, at the expense of the gypsum produced (if exceeding the 
chlorid of calcium in amount), sulphate of soda and chlorid of 
magnesium, provided an excess of free carbonic acid were secured 
during the whole action. Free carbonic acid never fails to 
present in the cases presented. The changes which must occur 
when the brine and spring waters become mixed are, in view of 
the preceding statements, quite obvious. The sulphate of mag- 
nesia and sulphate of soda of the waters act upon the chlorid of 
calcium of the brine, producing sulphate of lime, and the chlo- 
rids of magnesium and sodium; while the carbonate of lime 
contained in the spring waters enter simply into the mixture. 
The observation, that in several instances carbonate of lime has 
been found covering the crystals of gypsum separated in the 
wooden vats during the concentration of the brine by solar heat, 
may find its proper explanation in the temporary existence of 
Ca 
circumstances where an access of spring water to the brine has 
happened. 
Ee oking at these facts in regard to the brines from a mere 
too trifling consequence to require any serious notice. 
to the water of the springs, the result of a union with brine must 
prove quite different, if merely on account of the differences 1n 
concentration—a fact most unmistakably demonstrated the 
analytical results obtained from the water of the springs ¢ and d. 
