Page:Transactions of the Geological Society, 1st series, vol. 1.djvu/251

 again very slowly in order to obtain crystals. But the saline mass yielded by this process did not crystallize regularly, and on being examined by reagents, was found to contain only sulphat of soda, with minute quantities of sulphats of alumine and magnesia, which had escaped the action of the carbonat of ammonia.

2. In hopes of obtaining more satisfactory results I had recourse to the following process: five ounces of the water were boiled with a solution of succinat of ammonia till the whole of the iron and alumine were precipitated. The lime was precipitated by oxalat of ammonia, and the magnesia by ammonia. The solution was then concentrated over a lamp, and gradually evaporated to dryness in a platina crucible. A white pungent smell arose, and on raising the heat to redness, these fumes took fire and burnt with a blue flame, till the whole was fused and reduced to a fixed saline mass mixed with a black coaly matter. Distilled water was poured upon this. mass and the solution filtered. This clear solution being now evaporated and dried at a gentle heat, so as to obtain the salts in a crystallized state, the mass weighed 6,3 grains, which would give 20 grains of alkaline salts in a pint of the water. The centre of this mass exhibited no distinct crystallization, though from its appearance and disposition to effloresce, it evidently contained sulphat of