ANALYSIS OF MAGNETIC IRON-ORE. 53 



oxides of iron, with a little siliceous matter, in the 

 form of grains of quartz. 



The specimen on which the following experi- 

 ments were made, was found in a Danish vessel 

 which had been brought as a prize to Leith. A 

 collection of minerals was found on board this 

 vessel, which, from the abundance of cryolite 

 that it contained, was supposed to have been made 

 in Greenland. This collection was purchased by- 

 Mr Thomas Allan and Colonel Imrie, and is re- 

 markable for containing two new species of mine- 

 rals, to which the names of Allanite and Sodalite 

 have been given. 



The appearance of common magnetic ironstone, 

 is so well known, that any description of it would 

 be superfluous. The specimen examined, was 

 massive ; of the specific gravity 4.7619 ; and had a 

 variety of phosphate of lime adhering to one of 

 its sides. 



Sulphuric acid has but little action on this ore, 

 though, by the assistance of heat, an imperfect so- 

 lution may be produced. With muriatic acid, it 

 effervesces very slightly when previously reduced 

 to a fine powder ; and by long digestion on a sand 

 bath, a complete solution may be obtained, with 

 the exception of a white powder, which amounts 

 only to a small quantity. 



If the white powder remaining undissolved be 

 digested for several days in muriatic acid, the 

 liquid becomes milky, and passes in that state 



d3 



