36 
Uranium 
Vanadium 
Ytterbrium 
Yttrium 
Zinc 
Zinconium 
u. 
... 
... 240*0 
V. 
... 51*0 
Yt. 
... 163*0 
Y. 
... 93*0 
Zn. 
64*9 
Zr. 
... 90*4 
This is a list of all the known elements, with their symbols and atomic or 
combining weights. The symbols are mostly abbreviations taken directly from 
the names of the substances themselves, but to this rule there are a few exceptions, 
principally where the name of the element is strictly English, when an abbrevi¬ 
ation of tiie Latin name is taken, as this table of symbols is used by all nations. 
The atomic weights are the relative weights the different elements l>ear to 
hydrogen, and from them the weight of any element in a certain substance can 
be determined, when the chemical formula of which is known. 
For instance we know that common salt consists of chlorine and sodium, the 
chemical formula of which is Na Cl., as they combine atom with atom. Now if we 
look uj> chlorine we find its atomic weight is 35*4, and sodium 23 0, then we know 
that in each pound, ounce, or whatever weight is taken, 35 4 parts will be chlorine, 
and 23*0 will be sodium. 
Hardness. 
The comparative hardness of minerals is easily ascertained, and, being a most 
important character, should be first tested. It is only necessary to test a few 
minerals of known hardness with a knife, and upon one another, to be able to carry 
a very fair idea of the scales of hardness in one’s mind, so that when far away in 
the bush, without proper means of testing the hardness of a mineral, it may be 
approximately determined. As a standard ol hardness the following minerals have 
been selected, ranging from 1 , the softest, to 10 , the hardest known substance-;— 
1. Talc (soapstone), easily scratched by the finger nail. 
2. Gypsum, not easily scratched by the finger nail. 
3. Cal cite, both scratches, and can be scratched by a copper coin. 
4. Fluorite, will scratch a copper coin, blit will not scratch glass. 
5. Apatite, will just scratch glass, and is easily scratched by a knife. 
6. Feldspar, scratches glass, but can only just be scratched by a knife. 
7. Quartz, scratches glass easily, cannot be scratched by a knife. 
8 . Topaz, will scratch quartz. 
9 Sapphire, will scratch topaz. 
10 Diamond, will scratch sapphire. 
The minerals which are harder than quartz are rare, but should any of them 
be met with, it will be best to send them to an expert to test and value. 
Specific Gravity. 
To obtain the specific gravity of substances, they must, be compared to some 
substance taken as a standard ; this standard is distilled water at & temperature of 
60° F., and the process is as follows: The substance is first, weighed on a balance ; 
next it is suspended from one of the scales of the balance in a glass of water, the 
other pan with the weight in it being kept clear of the water; now subtract the 
second weight from the first and divide the first by the difference obtained. 
Let us say, for instance, that the substance weighed 6 ozs., but when weighed 
in water only weighed 2 oz., we should subtract the 2 from the 6 , which leaves 4 , 
then divide the 6 by 4, which would give lj, which put down in decimals would 
read 1*5 sp. gravity. 
This at first sounds complicated, but is in reality very simple. The 
specific gravity of a substance is its relative weight to an equal body of water, 
