Argental Quicksilver

Amalgam of Mercury, as it is generally called, is usually soft and brittle; when gradually heated the Mercury volatilizes, and leaves the Silver in beautifully white ramifying masses; if rubbed upon Copper, it adheres to the surface, giving it the colour of Silver; and occurs upon ores of Quicksilver in two different forms, viz. regular crystals and films, the crystals are often very minute, and connected together by fluid Quicksilver into granular masses, the films are frequently blended with globules of Quicksilver. The first kind generally occurs in masses of Cinnabar, the latter on the surface of Muriate of Quicksilver. Both kinds are rare, and are found chiefly in those mines where Silver ores intersect, or are mingled with the veins of Cinnabar, as the Baron Born has remarked. The principal Countries which afford them are Hungary, the Palatinate, and Deux Ponts. Our figures are from specimens in the British Museum.