45 



JAMAICA CHALK. 



By F. Watts, F.I.C., etc., Government Chemist, Jamaica. 



In connection with the question of the prod uc< ion of citrate of lime, it 

 is interesting to note that carbonate of lime suitable for the manufacture 

 may be procured in many parts of Jamaica where lime-stone abounds. 

 For this purpose the material should be in a friable condition so that 

 it may be reduced to the state of a fine powder without much labour 

 it should also be free Irom notable quantities of impurities such as 

 Magnesia, Iron, Alumina and earthy matters. 



Analyses have bee a made of two samples to ascertain their suit- 

 ability for this purpose, the results are as follows : — 



Analyses of Jamaica Chalk. 



Carbonate of Lime 

 Carbonate of Magnesia 

 Oxides of Iron and Alumina 

 Earthy matter insoluble in acid 

 Water 



Undetermined loss 



I. 



II. 



94-51 



91-55 



•59 



•36 



traces only 



11 



3-51 



2-00 



•63 



4-69 



•76 



1-29 



10000 



100 00 



No. 1. — Is a specimen of compact friable chalk, almost perfectly 

 white in colour, obtained from a site on Chalky Hill Road, about four 

 miles from St. Ann's Bay, at an elevation of about 600 feet. 



No. II. — Is a friable chalk, less compact than I. of a pale cream 

 colour, obtained on road from Papine Corner to Hall's Delight 



No doubt these samples represent the character of numerous simi- 

 lar deposits widely scattered over the island. 



ADDITIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT. 



LIBRARY. 



Annals of Botany. Deo. 1898. 



Botanical Magazine, Nov. and Dec. 1898, Jan. 1899. [Purchased.] 

 British Trade Journal, Nov. and Dec. 1898. [Editor.] 

 Bulletin Royal Gardens, Kew. Add. Series 11, and App. 1. [Director.] 

 Chemist and Druggist, Nov. 5-26, Dec. 3 31, .fan. 7. [Editor] 

 Garden, Nov. 5, 12, 19, 26, Dec. 3, 10. [Purchased] 



