IX.

CHEMICAL EXAMINATION of the MINERAL WATER of SCHOOLEY'S MOUNTAIN. BY WILLIAM JAMES M-NEVEN, M. D. Professor of Chemistry in the University of New-York, &c.

[Read before the Society, on the 13th of July, 1815.]

THE mineral water of Schooley's Mountain, in New-Jersey, has of late years acquired so much just celebrity in cases of calculous concretions, that it is equally an object of interest for the physician and chemist to ascertain the nature of a natural production which affords such certain relief in so distressing a complaint.

The bare taste and appearance of this water show that it is a chalybeate. It is strongly characterized by the peculiar astringency and savour of ferruginous impregnations. The reservoirs which receive it have need of being frequently cleansed of a yellow ochrish deposite left there, in considerable quantity, by the running of the spring. The water, though remarkably clear when first taken, becomes turbid upon standing for some time in the open air, and after a longer interval, an irridescent pellicle forms on its surface, similar to what happens, in like circumstances, to other chalybeates. Ochre and other indications of iron, are dispersed extensively through the surrounding rocks and soil. Iron ore is so plentiful in the vicinity, that furnaces are in operation, both in the eastern and western districts of the chain, of which this mountain forms part, and much of the ore is magnetical. Lime-stone

is found at the base of the hills and along the valleys. The inhabitants burn it for economic purposes.

Our learned associate, professor Mitchill, has given some interesting geological observations on this district, which he visited in 1810.*. He represents Schooley's Mountain as the middle region of the transition chain, which extends in a north-easterly and south-westerly direction across the state of New-Jersey, from the Highlands of New-York to the Delaware. These heights completely divide the waters of NewJersey. From their north-western slope all their streams descend to the Hudson and the Delaware. From their south-eastern declivity, their currents reach the ocean by Newark and Raritan bays. These elevations have, however, no pretensions to be classed with the Shawangunk Mountains, which are a distinct chain, and make part of the great Alleghany. Schooley's Mountain is of more moderate elevation. Geometrical measurement has determined that its height, above its immediate base, is more than six hundred feet; and Doctor Mitchill calculates, by approximation on the falls of water at the different milldams along the hurrying channel of the Musconetcunck to its junction with the Delaware, and on the descent thence to Trenton, that the base itself is five hundred feet more above tide-water.†

Rocks are thickly distributed over the face, and along the sides of the mountain. They consist chiefly of feldspar and quartz. Many masses may be examined without observing a vestige of mica, but a little shistus or hornblende is found embodied in its stead.

ty

The mineral spring is found in the town of Washington, in the counof Morris. It is situated in a deep defile, between two beautifully

* Vide the valuable Mineralogical Journal of Dr. Bruce, vol. 1. p. 70.

† Mitchill, ibid.

;

wooded mountains, and issues from the perpendicular side of a steep rock, about forty or fifty feet above the level of a brook that gurgles and foams over a rocky bottom, within a few paces of it. The extremity of a wooden leader is adapted to the cleft in the rock to receive the water, and convey it to the platform where the drinkers assemble and to recesses, whither the bathers retire. The spring discharges a gallon in about two minutes and a half, and the quantity is not observed vary under any changes of season or weather. Its temperature, at its issue from the rock, was found to be fifty-two degrees of Fahrenheit. I instituted the following preliminary trials in order to obtain some general notion of the substances to be expected from the analysis of this

to

water.

a. Though it seemed superfluous to examine it for iron, yet in order to observe its habitudes with the tests of that metal, prussiate of lime was added to a portion of it fresh from the spring, and tincture of galls to another. The tincture speedily turned it of a fine purple colour, and the prussiate produced a precipitate after a short interval.

b. I boiled a portion of the water, in a glass vessel, down to one half; its transparency was changed, and it assumed a yellowish green colour, such as it acquires by standing a few hours in the open air. After this boiled water had entirely cooled, it no longer gave any indication of iron to the same tests.

c. There was no effect produced by the water from the spring on infusion of litmus, nor on litmus paper.

d. It produced no change in tincture of turmeric, nor in turmeric paper.

e. The addition of concentrated sulphuric acid caused an extrication of air bubbles.

f. Acetite of lead was in nowise discoloured.

g.

Oxalate of ammonia gave some precipitate, and, to avoid ambiguity

a portion of ammonia was first added, in order to saturate any acid that might be present, since oxalate of lime is readily soluble in the mineral acids.

h. Muriate of barytes afforded no precipitate in the course of three or four hours. Yet this indication is not decisive.

i. Lime water added in equal parts produced a copious precipitation soluble in nitric acid with effervescence.

k. Nitrate of silver changed the colour of the water to a light opal. The same re-agent indicated that the water of the adjoining brook was remarkably free from muriatic salts.

The ninth experiment, especially in the quantity in which the hydrate of lime was employed, shows that the mineral water of Schooley's Mountain contains carbonic acid. When this test is mixed only in small proportion with water holding carbonic acid, the result is apt to be fallacious, as the excess of acid re-dissolves the lime. The super-carbonate of lime will remain in solution when a sub-carbonate would fall to the bottom. By the experiments (i.) and (k.) it is seen that carbonic acid is the solvent of the iron. The connexion between this result and the constitution of the mountain, is also striking. The mountain abounds in magnetic iron ore, and it is in this state that a carbonated water can take up most of the metal. The water is perfectly clear when fresh from the spring, but soon grows turbid by exposure to the air, and gradually deposites a fine ochre. A part also swims on the surface in the form of a thin shining pellicle. After it falls to the bottom the presence of iron is no longer indicated by the most delicate tests. These effects are proofs of its being a carbonated chalybeate, for the turbidness by the precipitation of ochre and the pellicle, do not take place until the carbonic acid has flown off, whether separated spontaneously, or expelled by heat.