The Land of Midian, vol 1 | Page 4

at the end of Chap. VIII.
The following is the text of Dr. Percy's report:--
Metallurgical Laboratory, Royal School of Mines, Jermyn Street,
London Dec 13 1878.
Dear Sir,
I now send the results of the analytical examination of the specimens
which you submitted to me for that purpose. The examination has been
conducted with the greatest care, in the metallurgical laboratory of the

Royal School of Mines, by Mr. Richard Smith, who, for the last thirty
years, has been constantly engaged in such work; and in whose
accuracy I have absolute confidence. It is impossible that any one
should have taken greater interest in, or have devoted himself with
greater earnestness to, the investigation. I have almost entirely confined
myself to a statement of facts, as I understand that was all you required
for the guidance of his Highness the Khedive.
Section 1.
Examination of the mineral specimens contained in the boxes marked
as under.
(An average representative sample of each specimen, of about six
pounds in weight, was prepared for examination from portions broken
off, or otherwise taken, by Mr. Richard Smith at the Victoria
Docks.[EN#2]
No. 1. "Box 22," Quartz from Mugnah (Makna). Quartz coloured black
and red-brown with oxides of iron. These were of two varieties, marked
22a and 22b respectively.
No. 2. The magnetic ironstone (22a) was examined and found to
contain of-- Peroxide of iron (per cent.). . . .85.29 Protoxide of iron (per
cent.) . . . 9.83 Silica (quartz)(per cent.). . . . . 3.28
The oxides of iron together contain of metallic iron 66.8 per cent.
No. 3. The micaceous ironstone (22b) was examined and found to
contain of– Peroxide of iron (per cent.). . . . 91.0
Silica. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.52
The peroxide of iron contains of metallic iron 63.7 per cent.
No. 4. "Box No. 14," Quartz from Mugnah, gave no results.
No. 5. "Box No. 27," Iron from Mugnah, proved to be haematite (which
is magnetic), with some red-brown oxide of iron and quartz. It was

found to contain of-- Peroxide of iron (per cent.). . . .75.46 Protoxide of
iron (per cent.) . . . 4.69
The oxides of iron together contain of metallic iron 56.4 per cent.
No. 6. "Box No. 7," Conglomerate from Mugnah, yielded no results.
No. 7 "Box No. 25," Quartz from Mugnah. This quartz, veined and
coloured black and red-brown with oxides of iron, was assayed with the
following results:-- Gold and Silver . . . . . . . None[EN#3]
Nos. 8 and 9. "Boxes Nos. 50 and 37,"[EN#4] Quartz and red dust from
Mugnah, yielded no results.
No. 10. "Box No. 37a," Sulphur from Mugnah. Lumps of sulphur,
crystallized and massive, irregularly distributed through a white, dull,
porous rock. The latter was examined, and found to be hydrated
sulphate of lime (gypsum), with a small quantity of magnesia; some of
the lumps of rock were coloured with oxides of iron, and others
intermixed with sand.
Nos. 11. and 12. "Boxes Nos. 3 and 6," Black quartz and white quartz
from the Jebel el-Abyaz, gave no results except a small portion of
copper pyrites in a lump of quartz (Box No. 6).
No. 13. "Box No. 47," Quartz from El-Wedge (Wijh), gave only oxide
of iron.[EN#5]
No. 14. "Box No. 5," Red quartz from El-Wedge, a quartz with
red-brown oxide of iron and earthy substances, was assayed with the
following results:-- Gold (per statute ton = 3240 lbs.)2 dwts. 15 grs.
Silver. . . . . . . . . . . . . .Traces.
No. 15. "Box No. 16," Mica schist from El-Wedge. This mica-schist
undergoing decomposition from weathering action, mixed with small
lumps of quartz, was assayed with the following results :-- Gold (per
statute ton). . . . .6 grains. Silver. . . . . . . . . . . . . .Traces.

No. 16. "Box No. 32," White quartz from El-Wedge. This quartz
coloured with red-brown oxide of iron, mixed with mica-schist, was
assayed with the following results:-- Gold (per statute ton). .3 dwts. 22
grs. Silver. . . . . . . . . . . . . .Traces.
No. 17. "Box No. 48,"[EN#6] Red sulphur from Sharm Yaharr, was
found to have the following composition, while it was free from "native
sulphur":--
Peroxide of iron (per cent. ) . . .44.36 Sand, clay, carbonates and
sulphates of lime and magnesia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14.90 Salts soluble
in water, chiefly alkaline chlorides and chlorites, and sulphates of lime
and magnesia . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29.70 Water . . . . . . . . .