Well  mix  the  lemel  with  the  salts,  and  then
place  the  preparation  in  a  skittle-pot,  after  which
place  a  la5''er  of  common  salt  on  it,  and  transfer
it  to  the  furnace.  A  greater  proportion  of  the
mixture  should  not  be  put  into  the  crucible  than
will  fill  it  to  within  one  inch  of  the  top,  to  be
safe,  as  it  rises  in  the  furnace  and  may  overflow.
When  the  fire  is  at  its  height,  the  heat  must
be  continued  for  half  an  hour  longer ;  the  pot,
at  the  expiration  of  that  time,  must  be  carefully-
withdrawn,  and  placed  aside  to  cool,  when  it  may
be  broken  at  the  bottom  with  a  hammer,  and  the
gold  will  then  be  found  in  a  button.  A  little  nitrate
of  potassa  (saltpetre)  may  be  added  occasionally
when  it  is  in  a  state  of  fusion,  in  order  to  refine
the  mass  more  thoroughly ;  but  the  saltiDetre  must
be  added  with  very  great  care ;  for  if  too  much
be  put  in,  and  organic  matter  be  still  present,  it
will  rise  above  the  top  of  the  melting-pot,  and
carry  some  portion  of  the  precious  metal  with  it.
This  may  be  prevented,  however,  by  the  timely
application  of  a  little  extra  dry  common  salt,  in
powder,  and,  if  added  at  the  proper  moment,  no


1 88  TREATMENT   OF  JE^VELLER'S   LEMEL.
evil  consequences  will  result.  The  button  of  gold,
which  will  consist  of  an  alloy  of  gold,  silver,  and
copper,  may  again  be  melted  with  a  little  potash,
borax,  or  charcoal  as  flux,  and  poured  into  an
ingot-mould ;  it  may  then  again  be  worked  up,  if
of  proper  quality  after  assay  (there  is  no  advantage
in  this),  or  granulated  and  refined  as  may  be
desired.
