The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1872-09-28
Our Olio.
MERCURY.

Mercury, or quicksilver, is 10 some
respects the most remarkable Of all the
metals. Indeed, so unique is it at first
appearance-ruuuing ut ordinary ten.
peratures like water--that most people
would be surprised to hear it called a
metal; yet since il answers all the re
cognized metallic tests, it must uatur.
ally fall under that class Of substances.
II is liquid metal; as tin or iron are
liquid metals when heated to much
higher temperature. Mercury, however
loses its liquid character about forty
degrees below zero, when it becomes
hard aud maileable, like lead. 1t
ceases to appear as a liquid, too, when
rubbed or violently shaken long enough
to divide it into very fine PARTICLES 1t
then takes the form Of gray powder,
all metallic look also being lost
Mercury his bees known by more
various names than almost any other
metal, but most Of them have been de
rived from some Of its obvious charac
terislics. 1t bore among the aueicnts
hard compound name, which transla
ted, means Water silver" aud the two
most significant letters of this old title
have afforded the symbol, Zig" by
which it is now designated in all chemi.
cal and scientific works. OF course, its
lustre, SO much like silver, aud its
fuidity, suggested this to the ancients.
So also our Quick silver" is merely
the translation Of another name sugges
ted ia the same way. Any one who
attempts to hold or to pour it, will
appreciate the appositeness Of the term.
When again the name niak ers attem pied
to gi g to the various metals the names
ofthe old heather divinities, they called
this after Mercury, whose office was said
to be that Of messenger to the gods, aud
whose reputed agility made it SO appro.
pirate that this swiftly flowing active
material should bear his name. Ii has
cluus to the substance longer than
their heathenish divine titles have to
any OF the other metals--rerhaps be.
cause it fits 50 we'll The term ''mer.
curial, too, as We apply it to various
people, fits we'll, whether we conceive it
derived from this bright quick metal,
or the 1.-THE and volatile divinity of old
The chief use Of mercury is in the
arts. Considerable quantities in the
aggregate are required in the manufac.
ture OF barometers and thermometers
Tor which purpose mercury is on the
whole much better suited than any
other material. But vastly larger guam
titles are required for various alloys
1t is curious quality of mercury that
it SO readily enters into combination
with so many other materials Drop q
piece Of gold leaf upon it, and the leal
disappears like snow upon water Min
gle silver with it, and the silver is
absorbed like sugar 10 the teacup; aud
so Of many other metals. The coating
on the back Of mirrors is at first an
amalgam Of mercury and tin, from
which, however, the mercury is after
ward chiefly expelled, leaving nearly
pure tin as the smooth bright covering
But still larger use, by far, is In
mining operations, as when, for example
gold or silver, with the rock which
contains it, are crushed, or ground iu 1
mill, to powder SO fine that the shin
ing particles can hardly be distinguish
ed, and it becomes necessary in somt
way to separate them. No sieve eau dC
this; aud no washing can etfectually
accomplish it. But pour mercury into
the vessel which contains the colder
mixture, and, sinking down, it seek.
out every minute particle, which, gath
crying up, it carries with it as it eachei
to the bottom. From the mass of the
amalgam or alloy thus formed, tn,
mercury is easily driven of by heat
and the more precious metal remains
Thus millions Of gold and silver ar,
annually unlocked from the rock which
for SO many ages has held its treasure
but in the operation, as can be readil,
seen, large quantities Of mercury mus
be used, and hence a continual anC
imperative demand.
| The supply Of mercury has until re
Gently been comparatively limited; Of
rather, il has been chiefly confined to ,
few places, SO that il was easy to make
the business a monopoly. BY far tn,
most important mines iu the world wer'
those at Almaden, in Spain; aud ;hes,
producing considerably more than threo