part was left, which when dried in a red heat weighed 54 grains, having the properties of silex.

4. The muriatic solutions evaporated to the point of crystallization, during which grain of oxide of iron separated, shot into tabular crystals of muriate of barytes, but on the side of the evaporating vessel some needle-shaped crystals were formed which seemed to announce the presence of strontites. A few of these were washed in alcohol, which, on kindling, burnt with a carmine red coloured flame.

5. This circumstance, together with the yellowish tint, which the last formed crystals had, induced me to redissolve them. The solution treated with caustic ammonia let fall a light brown precipitate, weighing when dried grain. It appeared to be a mixture of oxide of iron and alumine, for on adding a little dilute sulphuric acid, an aluminous taste was observable, and prussiate of potass separated a prussian blue precipitate.

6. The solution was now decomposed by carbonate of potass, and muriatic acid added to the precipitate. The solution was opalescent, and let fall a very trifling portion of, what I supposed to be alumine. On leaving the solution to spontaneous evaporation, nothing but tables of muriate of barytes appeared with the exception of a few acicular crystals.

7. Desirous of evaporating the small portion of strontites, with which the barytic salt seemed to be associated, the whole of the crystals were dissolved in warm water, and barytic water added, which immediately threw down a precipitate, so trifling in quantity however, that when dried, it could not be detached from the filter. The paper was steeped in alcohol and the latter set on fire. It burnt with a distinctly tri-coloured flame of Red, Yellow and Blue.

8. 100 grains of the powdered spar which were submitted to a red heat, sustained a loss of 2 grains.

9. One half of the alkaline solution which contained the sulphuric acid of the fossil was saturated with an acid and evaporated. Nothing separated but a very little silex.

With the other half, I intended by reproducing the sulphate to get in this direct way, the proportion in which it exists in the fossil, but by an accident a part of it was lost, and the muriate had been too freely used to afford an accurate determination. The following approximation however will be thought sufficiently near. The portions dissolved with effervescence in muriatic acid in the 1st 2nd and 3rd processes, may, without sensible error, be reckoned carbonate of barytes containing according to Klaproth 78 per cent. barytic earth. The sum of these parts is 157.30 which multiplied by .78 gives 122.69 the barytic earth contained in 200 grains. But in the sulphate the earth is to the acid nearly as 2 to 1 therefore 100 grains of the barytic spar contains

VI. Mineralogical notice respecting the WEST RIVER MOUNTAIN, Connecticut river-by COLONEL GIBBS.

THIS Mountain having been announced in the American Geography and in the annals of the American Academy, as volcanic, I had the curiosity to visit it. As the neighbourhood is granitic, and the mountain itself craggy, my expectations were not very sanguine.

On ascending it I found no trace of eruption, and no species of rock but the granite and gneiss. There had been however, a shaft sunk of about 40 feet, near the top, from whence hematite iron ore was taken many years ago, and some small pieces lay scattered about. As it was impossi

ble to descend the pit, I could not ascertain the breadth of the vein.

From this hole, (as the inhabitants of the nearest house informed me) noises like thunder had been heard many years ago, and a flame had been seen near the spot. The first report probably arose from the wind rushing through a cleft of the mountain near the shaft; the last from a popular superstition through the country, that the presence of the precious metals is frequently indicated by a flame which arises from the ground at night. I found also that the neighbours believed in the existence of these metals in the mountain. It is probable therefore that some traveller less superstitious, but not less ignorant than these good people, took their stories and gave us an account of a volcano.

At the Museum at Hartford, I was shown "a piece of the real lava of the West Mountain," as a confirmation of the report. On examination, I found it to be the hematite ore abovementioned.

VII. Chemical examination of a MINERAL WATER from Litchfield, State of New-York-by Mr. JOHN GRISCOM.

A

FEW bottles of mineral water lately discovered in Litchfield, in the county of Herkimer, in this State, having been put into my hands for examination, the following experiments were made with it, the insertion of which in the Mineralogical Journal is submitted to the editor; though not without hesitation, as the want of leisure absolutely prevented me from applying to the examination that share of attention which would have been necessary to satisfy my own mind fully with respect to the contents of the water. What I have done may, however, serve to stimulate some other person, possessed of better opportunities, to undertake an analysis of this spring. While most of the noted

mineral waters of Europe have been examined with scrupulous accuracy, it is much to be regretted that so very few of those of the United States have claimed the attention of scientific men. I cannot but hope, from the very laudable design of this Journal, that its pages may become the vehicle by which the public will be made acquainted with the chemical constitution of a great number of our medicated

waters.

To furnish a complete account of a mineral spring, it is necessary that the experimenter resort to the fountain; that he examine the geological structure of the adjacent country; determine the physical character of the spring; and operate with large quantities of the water. But until opportunities for this occur, it is desirable to have at least so much information as may be obtained from the application of re-agents to small quantities of the water. The spring at Litchfield, I was informed, has been resorted to with great effect for obstinate cutaneous diseases, as well as for others of a different nature.

The following local description is from a gentleman* who has surveyed the country round the spring.

LITCHFIELD SPRINGS are so called from a township of that name in the south part of the county of Herkimer. They arise from the ground in a flat near the head waters of the Unadilla river, at the height of land between the waters running into the Mohawk and Susquehannah rivers. The country around them is very fertile, and well inhabited. At about two feet below the surface of the flat around the spring, for some distance, is a bed of round stones of various kinds and sizes, most of which, however, are lime-stone.] West of the springs is a Hill of the height, I should judge, of 70 feet-its base is lime-stone rock, through which I suppose the springs pass. The country generally abounds in lime-stone. There is a run of

* R. V. Cooper, Esq.

this stone running from the North River (perhaps further,) through Schoharie, (where I am told there is a similar spring) Otsego, Chenango, Onondaga, Cayuga, Ontario and Genessee, to lakes Erie and Ontario. This vein is in some places narrow, and in others it spreads to a great distance. I have uniformly found that where this stone is prevalent the country is fertile. The springs are a few feet apart, and of an equal size: the water perfectly clear, but in passing over logs, sticks, &c. it leaves a white stringy substance adhering to them. The place is much resorted to by the neighbouring people for cutaneous complaints, and generally effects a speedy cure. They also mention many other disorders for which the waters have been useful. I can truly say that they give a man a fine appetite for his dinner.

EXAMINATION OF THE WATER.

WHEN a bottle which had been well sealed was first opened, the water was perfectly transparent, but on standing exposed to the atmosphere a few hours it became turbid. Its taste was sulphureous, and its smell slightly fœtid, somewhat resembling the washings of a gun-barrel.

EXPERIMENT I. Infusion of litmus, added to a portion of the water was not altered in colour. This test evinced the presence of a drop of sulphuric acid in a pint and an half of rain water. Infusion of red cabbage (an excellent and convenient test) was tried with like result.

II. Paper which had been stained by the blue petals of the Iris, or common flag, after being slightly reddened by very diluted muriatic acid, had its blue colour restored on immersion in the water. Litmus water reddened by distilled vinegar, was restored by the fresh water.