MINER AL'OG Y. 
165 
the length of ninety-eight yards, by which 
^means -^o-s-V-o^- grain becomes vifibie to the 
•naked eye. 
4. Its foftnefs comes nearcft to that; of lead, 
and confequently it is but very little elaftic. 
.5. It is fixed and unalterable in air, water, 
and fire, becaufe it does not eafily quit its 
phlogiflon *, its liquid menflruum (7"') be- 
ing only made by art. 
It has, however, according to Hom- 
berg’s experiments, when expofed to 
Tfchirnhaiifen's burning- glafs, been found 
partly to volatilife in form of fmoke, 
and partly to fcorify : But this wants to 
be farther examined. It is alfo faid, 
that gold in certain circumflances, and 
by means of certain artifices in electri- 
cal experiments, may be forced into glafs *, 
and that on this occafion it becomes ^ kite, 
leaving a black dull behind it ; which, if 
fo, confirms certain other chemical expe- 
riments ; viz. That gold can, together 
with its colour, lofe fomething of its phlo- 
gifton, and yet retain its heavinefs, dudi- 
lity, &(:. 
6. When melted, k refiects a blueifh green 
colour from its furface. 
7. It diiTolves in aqua regia, which is coni- 
pofed of the acids of iea-fak and nitre ^ but 
not in either alone, nor in any other folu- 
tion of fait or acid v/hatfoever, 
B. When mixed with a volatile alcali and a 
little of the acid of nitre, by means of 
precipitation out of aqua regia, it burns 
orf quickly, in the leafc degree of heat, 
with a ilrong fulniinatiGO. 
IVl 3 
•9. it 
