Page:Transactions of the Geological Society, 1st series, vol. 2.djvu/113

Rh after the evaporation of successive portions of the brine, called by the workmen pickings, and of which I procured specimens, is entirely soluble in water.

The brine appears to contain, besides muriate of soda,

1. A sulphate, or sulphates, (by Exp. c.]

2. Lime, (by Exp. f.)

3. Magnesia, (by Exp. g. h.)

The sulphuric acid may be in combination either with lime, magnesia, or soda, or with all the three.

The lime and magnesia may be in combination either with sulphuric or muriatic acid, or with both.

§ 12. These preliminary experiments were made upon the brine from the live different pits; and as all the specimens gave the same results, I considered it only necessary to determine the proportions of the several ingredients in one of them. I employed for this purpose the brine from Walker's pit, as being the strongest.

From one ounce measure of brine weighing 542.8 grs. I precipitated the sulphuric acid by nitrate of barytes, separated the precipitate, and washed it with distilled water, until no change was produced in the washings by nitrate of silver, and taking care to add all these washings to the brine. I now precipitated the muriatic acid by nitrate of silver, which last I added in excess. The muriate of silver was washed with distilled water until no change was produced in the washing by muriate of soda. It was then dried in a low sand heat over a lamp, until it became of a