~I 
6) University Geological Survey of Kansas. 
purities held in solution, such as calcium carbonate, calcium 
sulfate, etc. After sufficient concentration in this room, the 
brine is next conveyed into the ‘pickle room,’ or the third one 
of the smaller rooms. It is left in the ‘pickle room’ until the 
concentration becomes so great that salt crystals begin form- 
ing. It is then transferred into the last or ‘crystal room,’ and 
allowed to remain until concentration causes the precipitation 
of nearly all the salt. 
‘‘By the solar process the evaporation is very gradual. The 
salt crystals begin forming first on the surface of the brine. If 
the brine is not agitated too much by the wind, the crystals 
frequently reach a large size; that is, from one-half to three- 
fourths of an inch on one side of the cube. This is particu- 
larly true where some slender object of support, such as a 
cord, or splinter from the wall of the vat, or a coarse piece of 
any kind of material is placed in the brine. Frequently, also, 
the well-known ‘hopper-shaped’ crystals are produced instead 
of the solid cubes. 
‘‘After a good bed of salt has been deposited in the ‘crystal 
room’ it is lifted into large baskets and allowed to drain for a 
few minutes, after which it is emptied into a horse-car, hauled 
to the storerooms, and allowed to ‘cure,’ or thoroughly dry.’’ 
At these particular works the brine is sometimes strengthened 
by adding to it crushed rock salt from some of the Kansas 
mines. ‘This mixture is said not to yield so good a product as 
that made from the native brine. The brine, as taken from one 
of the vats, has been, perhaps, slightly concentrated. It has 
the following composition : 
Brine Salt Salt 
Sodiumychilori deena eee ere 120.08 98.20 98.53 
insolublesresid uepeenee een neeeee .03 LOB ts Fee ee 
Calciumysulfates. eo ee 6.92 1,24 .92 
Magnesian sulfate.................. Trace ASS oa eas 
Sodiumysulfatesrcre. ae eee eee 5189s 1 ee ae 41 
Masnesiumichlorid®. 2.3.34. ee eee 14 
WATER arc Feed oo. Say yop a ee aes SONOB. suv Ree te MARES cote 
1000.00 100.00 100.00 
(Specific gravity at 72° F., 1.085=B° 12.) 
