338 A. LIVERSIDGE. 
in veins and concretionary masses of some thickness. Where the 
bituminous matter occurs in the largest quantity, and the mass is 
quite black and friable, cinnabar is replaced by metallic mercury. 
‘‘In another locality of similar character, about ten miles dis- 
tant, gold has been found with cinnabar in crystalline masses of 
some size. In the same place, a vein of apparently compact 
quartz, about ten inches in thickness, was found to be so friable . 
that it could be easily taken out with the hand in small conchoidal 
fragments, most of which rapidly fell into fine powder. From its 
great resemblance to a vein, occurring in the Mexican Mine, 
Virginia City, which is many feet in thickness, and contains $20 
to $30 of gold and silver to the ton, attention was drawn to it, 
and it proved on being assayed, to contain with a trace of gold, 
to the value of $15 per ton. 
“These phenomena present indubitable evidences of the volatility 
of gold, silver, mercury, and iron, in presence of aqueous vapour: 
associated with sulphuretted hydrogen, carbonic acid, and boracic 
acid. Whether the contemporaneous association of these sub- 
stances may produce a definite compound possessing peculiar 
powers of solution and volatilization under the influence of elevated 
temperature, although probable, yet remains to be proved.” - 
Conclusion. 
When the metallic sulphides and arsenides are used to reduce 
the gold solution, there is no real necessity for the gold plate or 
nucleus, since the film of gold which immediately forms on the 
mineral acts as the negative element of the couple ; but it is con- 
venient to use the gold nucleus, inasmuch as the gold is deposited 
more quickly, and in a form convenient for weighing, as it is free 
from admixture with other substances, the nucleus merely requires 
to be washed, dried and weighed. When substances like powdered 
granite, glass, clay, sandstone, etc. are used, the gold plate or 
nucleus is necessary to form the galvanic couple, (although a 
weak one) and to collect the gold. 
