Gleanings from the International Exhibition. 145 



differing from solid paraffme ; they require a high temperature to 

 melt them ; and have been found on analysis to contain, in addition 

 to carbon and hydrogen, a small percentage of oxygen. 



Dysodile, in its native state, can scarcely be termed a " com- 

 bustible matter." By far the largest part of it is inorganic and 

 incombustible, as the following analysis shows : — 



Combustible matter .... 36*51 



Water, etc. . . . ■..■■..■ 2 ' 30 



Mineral matter or ash containing silica 



alumina, iron, soda, etc., . . . 61*19 



100-00 



Albertite. — Under this name a beautiful, most lustrous, and 

 intensely black substance is exhibited in the New Brunswick Court. 

 Albertite presents the general appearance of a very excellent cannel- 

 coal, and breaks with an extremely brilliant conchoidal vitreous 

 fracture. Its jet black powder, when heated in an open vessel, 

 melts, and then gives off great quantities of combustible vapours, 

 leaving a light and bulky coke. But there is one point to be ob- 

 served here of great interest — this coke is pure carbon, there being, 

 in fact, practically speaking, no ash in Albertite, as the following- 

 result proves : — 



1'55 grammes of Albertite left "001 or 1 milligramme of ash. 



This is equal to no more than *0645 per cent., while we believe that 

 no cannel-coal or anthracite hitherto analysed contains so little as 

 1*0 per cent. Among its volatile constituents Albertite contains 

 mere traces of sulphur and nitrogen. 



Together with the Albertite itself, specimens of oil produced by 

 its destructive distillation in close vessels are also exhibited. They 

 are admirably adapted for burning in paraffine lamps, affording a 

 good light, having little or no disagreeable odour, and not forming, 

 under any circumstances, an explosive vapour. In fact, a sample of 

 the oil, when submitted to fractional distillation, did not commence 

 to boil until the thermometer had risen to 338' Pahr., or 126° above 

 the boiling point of water ; while only half the oil had came over at 

 482° Fahr., one-seventh remaining in the retort when it had been 

 raised to the boiling point of mercury. 



The discovery of large sources of native mineral oil has caused 

 the manufacture of Albertite oil to be discontinued. This is a cir- 

 cumstance to be regretted, as we are convinced that it far surpasses 

 in its illuminating power, freedom from smell, and perfect safety in 

 use, any hydrocarbon oil that has come under our notice. 



We may mention, that the analysis of these two singular minerals 

 has been made by Mr. A. Church, who is continuing the investigation 

 of their composition and general properties. 



Frog in Block of Coal. — In the open court adjoining the eastern 

 annex, is a tall block of coal from Russell's new Black Vein, in 

 which has been excavated a square opening, wherein is placed a 

 glass jar containing a living frog. The statement is not definitely 



