The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-07-31
DUCKS SILVER.

AON>
rock called cinnabar, composed of mer-
curry and sulphur. The cinnabar is crush
ed and exposed to the heat, when the
metal, in form Of vapor, passes into ves-
sci suitable for the purpose, when it is
cooled. Then, being reduced to it's liquid
state, it is pure and fit for use.
When men working in the mines heat
the rocks, the quicksilver will sometimes
roll out in drops as large as pigeons
egg, and fall on the ground in million
sparkling globules. 1t is said to be very
beautiful against the dark, red rock, gilt
tering everywhere with this Giving sill
ver," while every crack and crevice is
also filled with it.
just as wood floats on water because
it is lighter, SO large stones thrown into
kettle of mercury would float on top, it is
so much more heavy substance than
the stone.
There are only four important locali-
ties where it is obtained, California,
Peru, Austria, and Almaden, in Spain.
The nearest mines to us are those in Cal
ifornia.
The mines in Peru were discovered in
curious manner. Cinnabar, when ground
very fine, makes a beautiful red paint.
The Indians used this to ornament their
bodies on great occasions. This caused
the country where they lived to be ex-
amined, and the cinnabar was found.
The Romans used this paint hundreds
of years ago in decorating their images
and in painting their pictures. 1t is of
great value now in our times, and we call
it vermilion.
This wonderful quicksilver is very USE
full in separating metals from the rocks to
which they cling.
The rocks are crushed fine, sifted, and
washed until as much of the gold and
silver is removed as possible. Then it is
placed in a bottle with the quicksilver,
which seems to absorb it at once, separ-
ating it entirely from every particle OF
sand or rock.
If the metal to be cleaned is gold, you
will see yellowish mass of sort of paste
or amalgam. This is heated, and the
mercury or quicksilver flies away, leaving
behind it pure gold.
It was only after years of patient toll
and very many unsuccessful attempts
that this woodworking process was
brought about.
Not many years ago, near the rich gold
mines Of California there were discovered
large mines of quicksilver. Previous to
this, all the quicksilver had to be ship
ped to this country from foreign shores,
which made it very hard to obtain, and
very expensive
Now. the tables are turned. For we,
after supplying our own demand, can
supply other countries ourselves plenti-
fully.
Although mercury is SO useful in many
ways. it is also deadly poison, and its
vapor SO dangerous that in the search for
it many persons have lost their lives.
Not many years ago, the mines of Aus
tria took fire, and thirteen hundred work
men were poisoned, many of them dying
in consequence ; and the water used to
quench the flames, pumped into river
near by, caused all the fish in The river to
die.
Have you ever seen mercury carried
about 1t is put in sheep-skin bags and
cast-iron bottles. 1t is so heavy that, in
stead of an ordinary cork, an iron stopper
is used, screwed in
Sometimes, these bags do sad havoc,
as in the case of storage of several in a
hold Of a ship, bringing to this country.
Some of the bags leaked. Everybody on
board was poisoned. Every bit of metal
was covered with silver coating OF
quicksilver.