106 DEPOSITS OF PHOSPHATE OF LIME. [bull. 46. 
Analyses of the amorphous nodular phosphates of Belgium. 
[I. Ciply Conglomerate nodules (A. Petermann, Bull. Acad. roy. Belgique, vol. 39).] 
Water and organic matter 6. 39 
Carbonate lime 40. 55 
Phosphate lime (21.82 phosphoric acid) 47.63 
Sulphate lime 3. 19 
Silica 0.31 
Magnesia (chlorine and alkalies not determined) 1 . 93 
100. 00 
[II. Nodules (Nivoit, Assoc, franc, avanc. sci., 1875).] 
Constituents. 
Loss by calcination (1). 
Sand and clay 
Oxide of iron 
Lime 
Phosphoric acid (2) — 
Sulphuric acid 
Chlorine 
Fluorine 
(1) Equal to phosphate of lime. 
(2) Nitrogen a 
From 
Perthes, 
at base of 
Craie 
Blanche. 
25.10 
1.65 
1.20 
50.89 
21.10 
100. 08 
46.06 
0.25 
From Ciply 
Conglom- 
erate. 
25.55 
1.30 
0.90 
51.60 
20.35 
0.12 
0.25 
0.18 
100. 25 
44.42 
0.35 
Craie Grise 
(whole 
mass, nod- 
ules and 
matrix). 
31.00 
2.10 
1.10 
54.00 
11.13 
33 
24.30 
a Some of the nitrogen is in the form of ammonia salts. 
clearly shows that these phosphates have been formed by the concentration of phos- 
phatic matter originally disseminated in lime carbonate, the concentration having 
been effected by the action of water containing carbonic acid gas derived from de- 
cayed vegetation. Even in its somewhat concentrated form the proportion of lime 
phosphate is too low and that of lime carbonate too high for the material to be used 
in the manufacture of superphosphates. "But," says the author, "by simple me- 
chanical processes, either by dry or wet methods, a product is obtained which con- 
tains from 40 to 50 per cent, of phosphate. Some experiments now being made lead 
us to hope that a proportion of 65 per cent, may be reached." These experiments in 
concentration have a great interest to us, for the reason that they may show the way 
by which the low-grade phosphates of Alabama and other parts of this country can 
be utilized. 
The diagrams accompanying this report are of interest, as they show the relation 
of the phosphatic deposits to the erosive agents which have served to bring about 
this concentration in superficial beds.— N. S. S. 
(580) 
