568 
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF THE SALT OF SAMAR. 
the remaining earthy matter, which the acid 
had not dissolved, separated, and collected 
on the filter, well dried and weighed: it 
amounted to 37 grains. 
The muriatic solution was now treated with 
oxalate of ammonia, which threw down a 
copious precipitate of oxalate of lime. This 
being welt washed, and dried, weighed ll 
grains = 8.6 carbonate of lime. 
The remaining solution contained a con- 
siderable portion of loose muriatic acid, which 
being neutralized with pure liquid ammonia, 
a portion of alumina (tinged with yellow 
oxide of iron) was precipitated. I'liis being 
separated by the filter, washed, dried, and 
weighed, gave 4 grains. 
Calculating then for per centage, the com- 
position of this earthy matter will stand as fol- 
lows : 
Matter insoluble in muriatic acid 
(silica,) 74 0 
Carbonateof lime, 17 2 
Alumina and oxide of iron, . . 8 0 
Loss, 0 8 
lOO 0 
A No. 10.— This I found to be chiefly 
composed of sulphate of soda, with the car- 
bonate and muriate of soda in considerable 
proportion. 
A No. 15. — This gave a trace of sulphate ; 
otherwise good salt ; though the crystals are 
small. 
A No. 22.— When tested gave traces of 
sulphate. 
A No. 24.— Crystals of a pink colour, which 
disappear in the filtered solution ; the colour- 
ing matter appears to be volatile— sulphate of 
soua [jicdominatesinthissarnpie ; nocarbonate 
of soda present. 
B No. \.fro7nan old deep re-operted after 100 
years. Exajnbuition by tests. 
Nitrate of silver,. .. . Copious precipitate. 
Nitrate of barytes, . . Very copious ditto. 
Oxalate of ammonia, No change. 
Prussiate of potash, Ditto ditto. 
Litmus paper, ... . Ditto ditto. 
Turmeric ditto,. .. . Ditto ditto. 
A fair average sample was taken through the 
whole thickness of the lump. 
100 grains exposed to a gentle heat lost 
5.5 grains moisture. 
100 grains treated with nitrate of barytes 
gave a precipitate, which, after having been 
well washed and dried, weighed 136= 83 
sulphate of soda. 
I'he filtered solution treated with nitrate 
of silver produced a precipitate of chloride of 
silver, which, after having been well washed 
and dried, weighed 22 grains = 10.4 muriate 
of soda. 
The composition of this sample rs then as 
follows : 
Insoluble matter, 1 0 
Moisture, 5 5 
Sul phateofsoda,(and carbonate?) 83 0 
Muriate of soda, 10 4 
Loss, 0 1 
100 0 
A No. 6. — The salt of which got mixed 
with scum while forming, appeared very wet. 
When tested, this sample appeared to con- 
tain a considerable portion of alkali, especi- 
ally the reddish coloured part called scum 
in the list. 
lOO grains dissolved, and the insoluble mat- 
ter separated by the filter, washed and dried, 
gave 2 grains. 
To the filtered solution was added acetic 
acid till the alkali became neutralized ; after 
which it was treated with nitrate of barytes ; 
the sulphate of barytes was precipitated, and 
having been well washed and dried, w'eighed 
84 grains = 5l sulphate of soda. 
Nitrate of silver threw down a precipitate 
of chloride of silver that weighed (after wash- 
ing and drying) 30 grains = 14 muriate of 
soda. 
In order to ascertain the quantity of alkali 
in this sample, lOO grains were dissolved in 
pure water, and treated (diop by drop) with 
sulphuric acid of specific gravity 1.116 till 
the exact point of saturation was ascertained, 
by frequently testing with litmus paper. To- 
wards the point of saturation a strong efferves- 
cence took place. 'I'he solution was neutra- 
lized after 96 grains of the acid test liquor 
had been used, which is equal to 10 per cent, 
of carbonate of soda. 
This sample being very wet, the moisture 
was ascertained in the usual way, and amount- 
ed to 23 per cent. 
This sample, or rather what is called scinn 
in the list, is composed of ■ 
Sulphate of soda, 5l 0 
Aluriate of soda,.. l4 0 
Carbonate of soda, 10 0 
Insoluble matter, 2 0 
Aloisture, 23 0 
loO 0 ^ 
Samples A Nos. 25 and 26, called good and 
superior salt in the list, when tested, gave 
traces of sulphate; with this exception the 
crystals are good and pure. 
The conclusions to be drawn from the pre- 
ceding details are somewliat at variance with 
the general impression regarding the Samhhur 
salt lakes. At least my own idea, derived 
from conversation with natives engaged in the 
salt traffic, was, that the lake water was a 
deep saturated brine, which left so thick a 
cake of salt on evaporation in the hot weather, 
that it was cut out in blocks on the margin 
and brought away on bullocks. 
It would seem, however, that the shallow 
lake or inundation, would of itself leave a de- 
posit too thin to be profitably worked ; and 
that it is customary to dig reservoirs or kiydfs 
wherein several feet depth of water, alieadj 
nearly concentrated to brine, are allowed (o 
deposit their crystals on drying ; or the eva- 
poration is aided by the introduction of sticks, 
up which the saline incmstaiion rapidly 
creepiv 
