On Saltwaters of Alleghany and Keskeminetas Valleys. 47 



but in the boiler itself a much larger quantity of the yellow- 

 reddish sediment is precipitated, which becomes when exposed 

 to the air for a few days, of a deep red color. The natural brine 

 when boiled down to a specific gravity equal to from 1-124 to 

 ^•160, (=16 to 20° B.) is then drawn off into a wooden < " ' 

 " ■ " lwith£ " 



vhere it is mixed with a thin lime-milk, and well stirred. Afler 

 slearing, this brine is drawn off or pumped into the grainers 

 where after the well known process the salt is obtained either 



nne or coarse. ±5otn pans are neated by t 

 placed that the grainer is behind the boiler 

 exclusively used as fuel. 



Daring a period of four years I have analyzed quantitatively 

 brine from several wells of the Alleghany and Keskeminetas 

 Valleys, but I shall here give only the analysis of water which 

 was obtained from the salina of Mr. Peterson, in the vicinity of 

 Tarentum. 



II. Physical properties. 



When freshly pumped this saltwater appears turbid, owing to 

 petroleum which is suspended in it, though after standing a little 

 while it becomes clear and the petroleum floats on the surface, 

 forming a scum, thicker or thinner, according to the proportion 

 of petroleum which is contained in the brine, which is of a red- 

 dish-yellow color. Its taste is saline, afterwards bitter, and it 

 smells slightly of petroleum. The average specific gravity, 

 from my experiments, is found to be equal to 1-0352, at +18-5'' 

 C. The temperature of the water is equal to 17-5° C, at 20'' 

 * ':)erature of the atmosphere. If exposed to the air, the water 

 egrees becomes turbid from loss of gas (C0=') and deposits a 

 ty yellow-colored precipitate, on the sides and bottom of the 



:ttker-glass, changing after a few days to a reddish -yellow color, 



change hastened by boiling. 



III. Chemical properties. 

 A. Qualitative Analysis. 



The solid constituents of this water are divided into two classes, lite 



bydegr 



those of almost a 



1. Such as are of themselves insoluble in water, and w 

 m solution by the free carbonic acid. 



2. Such as are soluble in water. 



a. Propmiies of the fresh water. 

 , 1- Blue and red paper, and fresh prepared tincture of 

 m the least changed. 



2. Strips of paper moistened with a solution of acetat( 

 not at the least changed to a blackish or gray color, but I 

 With a pure white powder. 



3. Basic nitrate of bismuth suspended in the water re 



