The Land of Midian, vol 1 | Page 5

. . . . . .11.40
_______ 100.00
No. 18. "Box No. 48a," Gypsum from Sharm Yaharr. Partly
semi-transparent and granular, and partly dull white and opaque. It was
found to be hydrated sulphate of lime, or gypsum, with carbonate of
lime, and some sand, magnesia, and chloride of sodium.
No. 19 "Box No. 35," Dust and stones from Sharma, yielded no results.
Section 2.
Examination of the mineral specimens contained in a box sent from
Egypt. As the specimens were unlabelled, they were marked A, B, C, D,
E, F, G, H, and I, respectively.
No. 21. A. "Copper ore." A fair average specimen was prepared for
examination from the several lumps of ore and marked a.
a. It was submitted to analysis, and found to contain carbonates of lime
and magnesia; silica, alumina, and oxides of iron; and of-- Copper
(metallic) . . . .5.72 per cent. b. A portion of the copper mineral, from
which the rock or vein-stuff had been detached as far as practicable,
was found to consist of impure hydrated silicate of copper
(bluish-green chrysocolla) and carbonate of copper. It was assayed and
found to contain of-- Copper (metallic) . . . .23.14 per cent.

No. 22. "B." A lump of soft, ochrey red-brown ironstone, coated with a
thin layer of greyish white substance. A fair average sample, inclusive
of this external layer, was prepared for examination, and was found to
consist of– Peroxide of iron (per cent. ) . . .81.14
Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.50 Silica. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.07 Sulphuric
acid, lime, magnesia, alumina 4.29 _____ 100.00
The peroxide of iron contains 56.8 per cent. of metallic iron. The
greyish white substance was found to consist of silica, alumina,
sulphate of lime, and a little oxide of iron and magnesia.
No. 23. "C." Lump of red ironstone associated with sand and earthy
substances, containing Peroxide of iron (per cent.). . . 68.09 Water of
iron (per cent.) . . . . . 1.93 Silica and sand . . . . . . . . . .18.17 Lime,
magnesia (in small quantity), alumina, carbonic acid, sulphuric acid
(traces) .11.81 ______ 100.00 The peroxide of iron contains 47.66 of
metallic iron.
No. 24. "D." Lump of white quartz said to contain visible gold. I did
not observe any, but found a few minute specks of pyrites, and partially
resembling mica.
No. 25. Lump of quartz associated with red-brown oxide of iron. It
yielded no results.
No. 26. Lump of rock in which the "turquoise" occurs. There was a thin
layer of greenish blue turquoise mineral on one surface, and minute
seams of a similar substance throughout the specimen.
a. The layer of turquoise mineral, from which the rock or vein-stuff had
been detached as far as practicable, was found to contain phosphoric
acid, alumina, oxide of copper, oxide of iron, and water; which occur in
turquoise.
b. After the layer a had been separated, a fair average sample of the
rock was found to contain 1.69 per cent. of metallic copper. It was also
assayed and found to be free from silver[EN#7] and gold.

No. 27. "G." A variety of jasper, having a somewhat polished, and
irregular and deeply indented surface, the result of sand-action. The
fractured surface was red, with patches of yellow. It was found to
consist chiefly of silica, coloured with oxides of iron.
No. 28. "H." Lump of "sard," of a pale-red flesh colour. A variety of
chalcedony. It was found to consist almost entirely of silica[EN#8].
No. 29. "I." Lumps of pure ironstone.
A small lump of metal[EN#9], supposed to contain antimony[EN#10]
and platinum, was brought for examination by Captain R. F. Burton. It
was submitted to analysis, and found to be iron and combined carbon,
or white cast-iron, containing small quantities of lead, copper, and
silver, and free from antimony, platinum, and gold. It is evidently the
product of a fusion operation. A few "shots" of lead were attached to
the surface of the metal[EN#11].
Dr. Percy concludes the assays in these words:--
Three of the specimens (Nos. 14, 15, and 19) from the same locality
contain gold. The amount of gold, however, is small. I consider these
indications of the presence of the precious metal not altogether
unsatisfactory; and certainly to justify further exploration. My
conviction is, that the ancients were adepts in the art of extracting gold,
and that, owing to the small value of human labour, they could get out
as much of the metal as could now be done. They knew perfectly what
was worth working and what was not; and I think it likely that what
you have brought home, had been