230 Mr. Chenevix’s Analysis of 
the separation I desired, and of determining the proportion 
of each. 
Upon 100 parts of the ore, a sufficient quantity of strong 
muriatic acid was poured. A total solution was effected, accom- 
panied with disengagement of caloric. The liquor was, at first, 
of a very deep brown, approaching somewhat to the tinge 
which water will receive, when strongly impregnated with the 
colouring matter of dried vegetable substances ; but, upon 
being exposed to the air, and boiled some time, it became like 
every other muriate of copper; and a plate of polished iron 
precipitated 88 of metallic copper. From this last experiment 
it was evident, that no metallic copper was contained in the 
ore. But still the deficit, to be supplied by oxygen, amounted 
to no more than 1 2 ; while the copious disengagement of nitrous 
gas, in the first experiment, indicated that the metal was not at 
its maximum of oxidation ; and the rapidity with which it 
seized upon an addition of oxygen, sufficiently shewed, how 
strong was the affinity of that principle for copper, in that 
particular state in which it exists in the ore. 
I imagined it would be expedient to attempt some precipi- 
tations by other reagents, and make some further experiments. 
For this purpose, I dissolved some more of the ore in strong 
muriatic acid ; and, when I thought that the acid had taken up 
as much as it could contain, and that the colour had arrived at 
its deepest tinge, I gently drew off the clear liquor, using all the 
precaution which the nature of the experiment allowed, to pre- 
serve it from the contact of the atmosphere, and proceeded to 
examine it. Knowing this solution of muriate of copper to be 
very concentrate, I attempted to dilute it ; but, what was my 
