330 A. LIVERSIDGE. 
The above table shows that in forty experiments there was 
a loss of gold from the nucleus in two cases, in five others 
there was no change, but in thirty-three there was an increase in 
weight, this increase varying from ‘00005 g. to ‘0836 g. The 
heavier deposits could be separated as a continuous film by bend- 
ing the gold plate backwards and forwards a few times. 
The foregoing experiments show that gold is deposited from 
solution upon a nucleus of gold in contact not only with metalli- 
ferous sulphides and arsenides, which form strong galvanic couples 
but also with such substances as iron oxides, charcoal, graphite, 
sandstone, granite, quartz, clay and marble, which form but weak 
galvanic couples with the gold plate, and as we might expect, the 
deposition goes on more slowly in the latter cases. In Daintree’s 
experiment the glass of the bottle may have formed a couple with 
the gold fragment. 
Gold in Natural Waters. 
Very little is accurately known as to the solution of gold by 
natural waters, we know, it is true, that gold has been deposited 
from solution, and we also know that its deposition from such is. 
still going on, and several references are made to its deposition 
in this paper, but the search for gold in meteoric and mine waters 
has not met with satisfactory results; the analyses which have 
been made do not absolutely prove that gold is present in solution, 
the presence of gold has been detected but it nay have been held 
there mechanically. Accordingly I have thought that it would 
not be amiss to give a brief resumé of the papers which I have 
come across upon this matter. 
In the case of sea water, however, E. Sonstadt published a 
communication in the Chemical News, Oct. 4th, 1872, upon the 
presence of gold in sea water, and stated that he had not determined 
the amount, but that it was less than one grain perton. A letter 
appeared from him upon the same subject in the Chemical News 
of March 11th, 1892, confirming his previous statement, both as 
to its presence and to the smallness of the amount, “being far less. 
than one grain to the ton.” 
