The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1867-07-03
Scientific and Useful.
New Metals.

New Metals.
Within the last iivc years our stock
Of mineralogical information has been
vastly increased. Time was when we
VIC were satisfied with our simple metals.
gold, silver, iron, copper, lead, and
tin. The mixed metals, brass, bronze,
pewter, ETC., succeeded, and they have
all been useful to mankind, rs have the
various notifications and mixtures OF
metals in certain degrees, which have
been applied to very important purpos
cs. Imagining that all the metals
which q kind providence had provided
were already within our powcr--ndopt-
ing, in fact, the comfortable idea that
we knew all that was worthy in regard
to this matter, wo were not prepared
for the influx Of now metals which with.
in few years past have burst upon us,
and badc lis prepare for whatever ad.
vantage was to be derived from their
use. With aluminium, the metal de-
rived from clay, we have been longest
acquainted. NNo arc tolcrably familiar
with its qualities, and have seen articles
made from il which are very light and
beautiful.
Magnesium is The ncxt mineral sub.
stance which has commended itself
to our attention. It's briliiant qualities
as an ilumnator, and the prospect that
it will become comfort to mankind as
4 special means Of ailordnc cheap ar
fetal light, render it Of peculiar interest.
OF the other new metals enough is not
yc, known to justify a prediction that
they will will be Of any special use IN
human affairs. Maliun,, indium, rnb..
dun, and c;usium arc the most lately
discovered OF these substances. 1t is q
remarkable instance Of the curious ways
OF science, that to tho pvism--formcrly
considered curious only as dccomrosing
the lines Of solar lighr, arc we. indebted
for the discovery OF most Of the ncw
metals. y philosopher well acquainted
with the appearances presented by the
burning OF various substances when
viewed through the prism, finds that
metals upon being consumed, mark lines
Of certain colors. The result is always
the same, and the presence of a known
metal becomes as we'll shown to \ prac.
teal philosopher by the spectrum or
prism rs it could ho to any &ensc---wlon
Ill burning n substance before uneN.
pcrimcntcd with, he detects lines Of
color different from anything which he
had previously known, he detects the
presence Of a new metal and sets TO
work to drag it from the substance in
which it is di(luscd, and to reduce it to
a permanent form. Very interesting
experiments have been lately made as
to the nature Of indum. 1t is found to
be most generally dlll',scd in blendc
procnred in Germany. But in fifteen
specimens OF blendc obtained in the
United States from localities at great
distances apart, no trace of ilium could
be perceived. The metal is white,
brighter than Tin: and approaching the
lustrc OF silver. 1t is soft aud duculc
and does not tarnish 1t melts at the
same temperature as lead. 1t is re.
solved into oxydcs. chloridcs, sulphidcs
and other forms. The benefit of these
in the arts is yet to be tested. No doubt
they will be Of advantage.
Rubldium is another how metal, the
uses of which are 10 b. determined.
1t also was discovered by the PRISM
1t has been found most plcn;ifully in
lcpodoitc, and is detected in many
stony substances, and in crude
saltpctrc, tobacco, coffee, tea, the sugar
beet, and other articles. What IS to be
done with it cannot yet be determined
from tho little we know of it, It is
believed that the salts may be employed
with advantage in medicine, but the
particular diseases for which they will
be useful as a remedy are yet to b.
determined.
Cmsum was discovered in tho. resi-.
dunn remaining alter the evaporation
of mineral spring. 1t resembles
potash very closely--so much so that
the ordinary chemical agents or the
blow pipe fail to supply the proper test.
The prism or spcctroscopc furnishes the
only means OF detecting this mctal.-
1t found most plcntifully in tho mineral
called pollux, found in the isle Of Elba,
and resembling nuor ophir. Polux
contains thirty.lour per cent of the
oxyd of cmsium. The uses Of this
metal and its resolvcnts arc yet TO be
ained.--PAiladclphiu Price Cur
rent.