REPORT OF CHEMIST. 1097 
‘doubt, blank analyses were made using nearly similar amounts of all 
the chemicals, but omitting the clay. No lithia was found in such 
blanks. Hence, the interesting fact. is certainly proved that Ohio fire- 
‘clays contain lithia. 
This is, I believe, the first recorded instance of the presence of 
this element in clays of the United States. It was found almost 
invariably. It has not been possible as yet to ascertain the mineral 
combination in which it exists, but presumably it exists as lepidolite or 
lithia mica. Considering the enormous deposits of clays, which the 
survey samples represent, this is another instance of the wide distribu- 
tion of the so-called rare elements, which, when carefully looked for, 
will probably be found, as Prof. Crookes has lately found zirconia, in 
most unsuspected places. 
Another element found in the Ohio clays, but hitherto, I believe, 
unreported in the survey, is titanium. It was first noticed in the clays 
‘from Logan during some analyses made in the Mining Laboratory of 
the University, some 3 or 4 years ago. The following method of 
determining it was devised for the survey work, and found quite satisfac- 
tory as a means of dissolving and separating this somewhat refractory 
element : 
One gramme of the clay was fused with sodic carbonate, then 
-digested with water, and filtered. A large part of the silica is separated 
thus as sodic silicate. The residues, containing some silica, iron, 
-alumina, and the titanic acid, is then dissolved in hydrochloric acid. It 
gives a clear solution, to which sulphuric is added, and the mixture 
evaporated on the water-bath until the hydrochloric acid is expelled; 
this evaporation precipitates most of the silica, but owing to the strong 
‘sulphuric acid present, none of the titanic a id (Ti O,). The solution 
was now cooled, diluted with cold water, and filtered into a large beaker 
or flask, nearly neutralized with sodic carbonate, and an excess of 
-sulphurous acid added to reduce all iron. The solution was now boiled 
slowly for some hours, the sulphurous acid being replaced from time to 
. time as it was expelled by boiling. The titanic acid is rapidly precipi- 
‘tated as a flaky, easily-filtered, precipitate, which is filtered off, dried, 
-and then fused with a little bisulphate of potassa, extracted with cold 
water, and the solution treated as before. The reprecipitated titanic acid 
is pure, and, after weighing, may be tested > the blow-pipe for iron as 
‘@ precaution against error. 
