50 On Saltwaters of Alleghany and KesJceminetas Valleys. 



tassa, a gas was expelled wliich turned curcuma paper brown, and which 

 formed white vapors when a glass-rod moistened with muriatic acid was 

 brought in contact with the gas. The same was also the case when the 

 brine was acidulated with muriatic acid and evaporated to dryness, and 

 then treated exactly as before mentioned. 



11. A solution of gypsum produced a strong turbidness which soon 

 settled as a precipitate, this was entirely insoluble in nitric acid. The 

 precipitate well edulcorated was treated with carbonate of potassa and 

 melted in a silver crucible, then the melted mass soaked in water. The 

 insoluble matter was collected upon a filter and well washed, then dis- 

 solved in muriatic acid ; the solution obtained evaporated to dryness, and 

 the dry salt treated with alcohol, in which a portion of it was dissolved. 

 The spirituous solution contained chlorid of strontium, and the parts in- 

 soluble in alcohol consisted of chlorid of barium. 



12. A portion of the filtrate was slightly evaporated, and the crystal- 

 lized chlorid of sodium was separated from the concentrated liquid. 

 This solution when shaken in a bottle with chlorine-water, became of an 

 intense brownish-red color. By the treatment with ether this mixture 

 became colorless, while the ether itself was colored. 



When by a cautious evaporation of a somewhat larger quantity of the 

 filtrate (a. a.) the chlorid of sodium was separated as much as possible 

 and the concentrated liquid evaporated until completely dry, again dis- 

 solved in water, and the solution exsiccated in a temperature of from 120 

 to 130° C, and after this operation had been repeated eight times, then 

 not the slightest trace of bromine could be detected. 



13. One part of the solution (a. a.) was shaken with some fresh boiled 

 starch, and some drops of nitric acid added, which turned the mixture 

 instantly to a deep dark blue color. 



14. Another part of the solution was boiled with phosphate of silver : 

 the liquid filtered from the chlorid of silver formed was evaporated to dry- 

 ness. This dry salt was put in a test-tube, and some sulphuric acid 

 added, and strongly heated in the alcohol flame, but no yellow-colored 

 vapor escaped here, which would have colored yellow the stripes of paper 

 saturated with solution of indigo, when brought in contact with them. 



In another experiment some of the liquid was acidulated with concen- 

 trated sulphuric acid, and mixed with a saturated solution of sulphate of 

 protoxyd of iron ; but no darker tint of the mixture was produced.— 

 Absence of nitric acid. 



15. Some of the solution was acidulated with muriatic acid, and then 

 evaporated slightly. Curcuma-paper dipped into the liquid was not 

 browned by it, but kept its natural color. — Absence of boracic acid. 



16. To a part of the solution was added caustic potash-liquor in a 

 slight excess, then heated and filtered. When a solution of salammo- 

 niac was added lo the filtered liquid neither turbidness nor a precipitate 

 was produced. — Absence of alumina. 



17. In order to determine if the (boiled) brine contains lithium, a suf- 

 ficient quantity of carbonate of soda was added to the remaining and 

 larger quantity of the solution a. a. and then boiled. After the precip- 

 itated alkaline earths had been edulcorated with water, the filtered hquii 

 was evaporated to dryness and the residue gently heated. In treatiag 



