E. Wilkinson—Native Mercury in Louisiana. 281 
certain center and gradually disappears as the distance from 
this center increases. 
The apparent center lies about 300 feet from the Mississippi 
f live oaks 
e writer took two negro men, with spades, to the locality 
and obtained several specimens of the soil one to five feet below 
the surface. He also washed out on the spot, from a small 
wash-tub full of earth, about two or three ounces of the native 
element. An analysis of two triturated specimens of the half- 
dried earth was made with the following results: 
l. Weight of soil, 500 gras. Wt. Hg, 14652 grms. %0 0029 + 
eee 6 500 - 14687 “ 00029 + 
Total, 1 kilogram. Total, 2°9339 mean, 20°002934 
Giving a mean percentage of mercury of 0:002934 per cent. 
The soil is all alluvial and fora depth of 25 feet is as fol- 
ows :-— 
_ 1. Surface, mereury-bearing stratum, six feet thick. A sandy 
soil containing blue clay and vegetable mould. 
2. Stratum of blue clay 64 feet thick. 
_8. Similar stratum to surface, but containing no mercury, 
six feet thick. 
4, Stratum of blue clay 64+ feet thick. 
It is not known how much deeper the fourth stratum 
extends. In none but the upper stratum of alluvial soil does 
mercury occur in sufficient quantity to be perceptible to the 
naked eye. 
